When Philip Best retired to Germany in 1867 , Pabst and Emil Schandein — his sister-in-law 's husband and the vice-president of Best Brewery — worked to transform the company into one of the nation 's largest brewers , capitalizing on , among other things , the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that destroyed nineteen Chicago breweries and helped position Milwaukee as the leading beer-producing city in the United States . In 1889 , Schandein died , leaving Pabst as president and his widow , Lisette Schandein , as vice-president . In 1890 , Pabst changed the " Best " letterhead to " Pabst " and the Pabst Brewing Company officially began
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Pabst Blue Ribbon