At a glance
Pabst Labs is an independent Los Angeles cannabis-beverage company that licenses familiar Pabst-related branding for nonalcoholic THC drinks. The distinction is essential: Pabst Brewing Company does not manufacture, cultivate, distribute, or sell these cannabis products and has stated that it holds no financial stake in Pabst Labs.
Independent company, licensed name
The cannabis company was formed by former Pabst Brewing employees and cannabis and beverage specialists. Contemporary launch reporting described it as a small standalone business rather than a brewery division. A complete named founder roster was not published in the reviewed material, so brand manager Mark Faicol and Pabst Labs representative Chuck Barlick are identified by their documented roles, not upgraded to founders.
The 2020 PBR launch
Pabst Labs announced its PBR-branded cannabis seltzer in October 2020 after an initial California retail rollout in September. The first release was a lemon-flavored, nonalcoholic 12-ounce can labeled with 5 milligrams of THC.
Current PBR High Seltzer range
The company's current storefront lists Daytime Guava, Midnight Berries, Lemon, and Strawberry Kiwi under PBR High Seltzer. Current product pages have included 10- and 15-milligram variants, showing that the portfolio moved beyond the original 5-milligram lemon can. The printed cannabinoid amount, ingredient list, and batch information remain the authority for any can in hand.
What the drink is
Pabst Labs describes the product as carbonated THC-infused seltzer without alcohol. The company attributes faster absorption than a traditional edible to the liquid format and emulsion technology.
Not Your Father's Root Beer
In 2021, Pabst Labs and Tinley's announced a cannabis-infused, nonalcoholic version of Not Your Father's Root Beer for California dispensaries. The planned 12-ounce bottle was labeled at 10 milligrams of THC. The project extended Pabst Labs beyond seltzer while using another nationally recognized beverage mark through a cannabis-specific licensing arrangement.
Manufacturing partnership
Tinley's announcement said the root beer would be produced at its Long Beach, California facility, which offered beverage manufacturing capabilities including pasteurization. Pabst Labs remained responsible for the cannabis product's production, marketing, and sales. A manufacturing partner does not make the licensed beer company an operator of the cannabis business.
California footprint and licensing
Pabst Labs' current site lists Los Angeles and California license DCC 10003262, and it routes purchases through licensed cannabis retail and delivery. The researched products and partnerships are California-specific. Familiar national beverage names do not establish lawful distribution in another state, and availability should be verified against a licensed local menu.
Press, positioning, and achievements
The 2020 launch drew coverage from the Los Angeles Times and Food Dive because it placed one of American beer's most recognizable visual identities on a cannabis drink while maintaining a legally separate operator. That licensing model and the later root-beer extension are the material documented achievements. No substantiated competitive award ledger was found in the reviewed sources.
The High Rise assessment. Pabst Labs is best understood as a cannabis beverage and brand-licensing company, not “PBR making weed.” Its story runs from an independent team and a 2020 lemon seltzer to a wider flavor and strength range plus Not Your Father's Root Beer. The present catalog, California license, alcohol-free format, and separation from Pabst Brewing are verified; the unnamed founder roster and any current nationwide footprint remain unconfirmed.