May 2, 1999 -- Everyone knew that it was coming, but it still came as a bit of a shock on Friday when the Stroh Brewery Company announced that it had finalized the sale of its brands to Miller and Pabst and exited the brewing business after 149 years.

The number four brewing company in the United States announced its intention to quit the industry back in February and the sale was finally completed at the end of April. Stroh now becomes a property management company with several breweries still to sell off, and their brands are divided between the number two brewer, the Philip Morris-owned Miller Brewing Company, and the new number four brewing company, the Pabst Brewing Company.

Under the terms of the sale, Pabst now owns the rights to such former Stroh brands as Old Milwaukee, Old Style and Schlitz. Pabst has also bought one of the former Stroh breweries, this one in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Miller gets the Henry Weinhard's and Mickey's brands from Stroh, plus Hamm's and Olde English from Pabst.

The terms of the deals with Miller and Stroh have not been disclosed, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel estimated their worth at $400 million.

Search The Real Beer Library For More Articles Related To: Stroh, Miller, Pabst

Feedback?

We're very interested in your news, notes, comments and questions, so please feel free to contact SBWoB by clicking on the link below. Or you can add your comments when you sign up for the World of Beer Update, a mid-month e-mail newsletter that brings even more of the world of beer to your computer.

Send Feedback To: beaumont@worldofbeer.com