If you’ve heard rumors of a “PBR shortage” recently, you’re not alone. Pabst Blue Ribbon, or PBR, has been the subject of some attention due to stories about possible short supply. Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals want to know: Is there actually a PBR shortage, or is it mostly hype? Let’s break down the main issues, address common questions, and help you understand what’s really at play.
Introduction to PBR Shortage Concerns
Over the past few years, headlines and social media posts have mentioned a looming PBR shortage. Some customers even reported trouble finding their usual cases at the local store. These stories primarily come from two points in time—one around 2018–2020 and another during the can shortages of 2020. It is vital to note that there has never been a confirmed, sustained, nationwide PBR shortage in the United States. When you dig into official supply reports and industry statements, PBR has continued production and distribution, even during turbulent periods. If you’ve had trouble finding PBR at certain stores, it was probably a temporary or local issue, not a nationwide stockout.
The 2018–2020 MillerCoors Brewing Contract Dispute
The most widely discussed PBR shortage scare wasn’t about missing beer on shelves—it was about whether PBR could keep being made at all. Unlike some competitors, Pabst does not own and operate its own large breweries. Instead, since 1999, Pabst has relied on a brewing contract with MillerCoors (now called Molson Coors) to produce PBR and other brands. The contract allowed MillerCoors to brew and package Pabst beers using their equipment and distribution—an efficient model, but one that creates risk if the partnership breaks down.
In 2018, MillerCoors signaled that it might not renew the contract when it expired in 2020. The company cited falling demand in the mainstream beer industry and “excess capacity” concerns, meaning they didn’t need to run their plants at full speed. Facing a potential loss of their primary supplier, Pabst filed a lawsuit seeking over $400 million, arguing that MillerCoors was either refusing to make their product or was demanding terms that would put them out of business.
This legal standoff created dramatic news stories about the possibility of a PBR shortage, or even the end of the brand. “Is the PBR Shortage Coming?,” “Pabst May Run Out of Beer,” and similar headlines spread quickly. If MillerCoors had stopped brewing PBR without a backup plan, supply could have dried up in stores around the country. Many homebrewing forums and beer websites speculated that “Pabst beers that are contract brewed will be in short supply” if the case wasn’t resolved.
In late 2018, just before the trial’s conclusion, Pabst and MillerCoors reached a confidential settlement. While the full terms weren’t made public, the result was clear: MillerCoors agreed to keep brewing and packaging PBR and other Pabst brands, at least for the near future. Beer kept flowing, and even as the media warned of shortages, shelves stayed stocked. For small retailers and business owners, this meant you didn’t have to scramble for alternatives or adjust inventory.
Market Pressures and PBR’s Business Challenges
Another area to consider is how PBR has performed in the beer market generally. After gaining cult status in the early 2000s among young adults and the “hipster” crowd, PBR enjoyed rising sales through the Great Recession. By 2009, retail sales volume was growing at roughly 20% annually. However, the beer market shifted quickly after that.
Sales growth for PBR slowed significantly. By 2014, growth was under 4%, and by early 2015, volume had actually dropped by nearly 3% compared to the previous year. Industry analysts attribute this decline to two main factors: the rise of craft beer options (which attracted adventurous drinkers seeking new flavors) and tough competition in the value-priced beer category from brands like Busch and Miller High Life.
Be sure to distinguish between sales trouble and a product shortage. When a brand faces sharp sales declines, the result is often surplus inventory, not scarcity. PBR’s dip in popularity and sales is a challenge for its owners, but it has not led to empty shelves for most customers. Depending on your region, you may have seen a few stores drop PBR in favor of other brands, but production continued uninterrupted.
Supply Chain Issues: Packaging Constraints and Can Shortages
The next major set of PBR shortage headlines came in 2020, as the broader beverage industry faced a very different problem: packaging. With the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for take-home beverages soared, and brewers saw unexpected spikes in sales of canned drinks. The entire U.S. beverage sector faced an aluminum can shortage, affecting soda, seltzer, and beer alike.
Major brewers like Molson Coors (the same company that makes PBR under contract) announced they were temporarily dropping less popular product lines and package sizes. This move helped them use scarce cans more efficiently. Some smaller breweries had to delay or cancel canned releases altogether. Analysts expected “rampant and unprecedented out-of-stocks” for a range of products, including certain beer SKUs.
For PBR, this situation didn’t mean a lack of beer—it meant there might be a shortage of certain can sizes or multipacks, especially in specific regions. Some customers reported trouble finding 12-packs or tallboy cans of PBR for a few weeks. It’s important to recognize that these shortages were not unique to PBR. All brewers, both big and small, had to adjust to limited can supplies, and the problem was usually resolved by altering packaging lineups or prioritizing top sellers.
If you operate a retail business, you may have noticed your beverage distributor shifting brands or package formats in 2020. Keeping your sales records and adjusting your inventory was a smart way to handle these disruptions. As supply chains have stabilized, most PBR products are again available nationwide.
Climate Change and Long-Term Brewing Risks
When discussing shortages, it’s also wise to keep an eye on future risks like climate change. Beer is heavily dependent on agricultural inputs—especially barley—which is sensitive to weather, heat, and water shortages. Scientists warn that as climate patterns shift, barley yields may fluctuate, or even decline in some regions.
One study suggests that by the end of this century, major beer-producing regions could see enough barley disruption to double the price of beer. For now, ingredient supplies remain adequate, but this is a long-term risk that could eventually affect all major brands, including PBR, if not addressed through crop science or supply diversification.
As a business owner or beer enthusiast, consider documenting your preferred suppliers and reviewing their resilience plans each year. This proactive check-in won’t prevent supply issues, but it allows you to act quickly if market conditions shift.
Conclusion: Understanding PBR Shortage Discussions
If you’ve been wondering about reports of a PBR shortage, you now have the background to interpret these stories accurately. Most “shortage” talk about Pabst Blue Ribbon boils down to a few repeat themes:
– Contract brewing risks, like the 2018–2020 legal dispute with MillerCoors, threatened future production but were resolved before causing real supply gaps.
– Broad market forces, such as declining sales or shifting consumer tastes, affect the brand’s success, but don’t lead to product scarcity on shelves.
– Industry-wide supply chain issues, mostly relating to aluminum can shortages in 2020, caused some brief and local availability issues for various products, including PBR.
– Climate and agriculture remain potential threats for beer production over the long term, but don’t pose an immediate risk to PBR’s presence in stores.
There is no evidence of a confirmed, long-term, nationwide PBR beer shortage in recent years. If you hear reports of empty shelves, chances are they relate to temporary supply hiccups or distribution changes, not a major production halt. Keep documentation of your approvals and review them annually if you’re in the beverage retail business, so you can respond to future changes quickly.
For more business insights, supply chain tips, and updates on beverage trends, visit The Biz Look. Being prepared and well-informed will help you adapt, minimize disruptions, and keep your customers supplied—even when media reports make the situation sound more severe than it is.
If you have a specific question about PBR in your area or want advice on supplier diversification, feel free to reach out to industry forums and professional groups. Once you stay updated with reliable sources, you’ll make clear-headed decisions for your business or personal needs, regardless of the latest shortage scare.
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