Any Texan who enjoys a cold beer is likely familiar with the red cans of Lone Star Beer. It’s a staple in many homes, and it’s often the beer of choice when heading out for a night with friends. But early in 2025, something strange happened: Lone Star Beer disappeared from Texas shelves and bar menus, leaving many people wondering what went wrong.
The story behind the missing beer begins with a change in production. Molson Coors, the long-time brewer of Lone Star Beer based in Fort Worth, had been handling the production of the beloved Texas drink for decades. However, by the end of 2024, their contract with the makers of Lone Star Beer came to a close. Pabst Brewing Co., based in San Antonio, had acquired Lone Star back in 1999, but they now had to find a new company to brew the beer.
This wasn’t an easy task. Pabst wanted to make sure everything about Lone Star Beer stayed perfect. They weren’t just concerned about the taste – even the can design, the packaging, and the branding all had to be just right. It was important to Pabst that they did justice to the brand, which has been a part of Texas for over 140 years.
As Pabst was negotiating a new contract with Anheuser-Busch in Houston, things didn’t move quickly. The old agreement with Molson Coors had ended, and there were some delays in finalizing the new production deal. These delays caused a shortage of Lone Star Beer on the shelves. Store owners and bar managers were aware that the beer would be back, but they also knew it could take some time before it was ready.
John Kimes, the Senior Vice President of Brewing Operations at Pabst, discussed the situation in an interview. He explained that they had expected some delays, considering the situation’s complexity. To help with the shortage, Pabst advised wholesalers to order enough inventory to last for up to 60 days. Even so, it ended up taking longer than expected.
The new company’s first batch of Lone Star Beer was ready for tasting in early February, even though the contract with Molson Coors had ended in December. The delays were due to Pabst’s commitment to making sure the beer was exactly right, from the packaging to the taste.
Kimes shared that the team spent weeks perfecting the cans, bottles, boxes, and other packaging materials. They worked hard to get the famous red color of the cans just right, paying attention to every detail.
They wanted to ensure that Lone Star Beer returned looking and tasting just as it always had. The team also made sure to get the yeast for brewing the beer just right, going through rounds of taste tests to restore the flavor to its classic taste.
By March, production was back in full swing, and Lone Star Beer began appearing back on the shelves. The beer was available in 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 25-ounce cans – with an extra ounce at no additional cost. The timing was perfect as they were able to restock before South by Southwest, a major event for beer makers. With the beer back in stock, it wouldn’t be long before Texans could enjoy their favorite brew again.
Pabst worked hard to keep the Lone Star Beer brand alive. While some people might have different opinions about the taste of beer, it’s clear that Pabst put in a lot of effort to stay true to the Lone Star Beer legacy.
Lone Star’s Brand Manager, Mark Champion, reassured fans that the classic Lone Star branding wouldn’t change. In fact, Pabst was even looking back to older, vintage logos to bring back some nostalgia for long-time fans.
One of the challenges Pabst faced was that they wanted to keep brewing Lone Star Beer in Texas, despite the fact that it could have been cheaper to have it brewed out of state. Even though Pabst had never brewed beer for its other brands, they considered doing it themselves to keep Lone Star true to its Texas roots.
Kimes explained that they never expected to be in the position of waiting for a new plant to come online, but they knew they couldn’t let Lone Star leave Texas. The beer had to stay where it belonged, and Pabst was determined to make that happen.
So, after months of anticipation and a lot of hard work, Lone Star Beer is finally back on the shelves of Texas stores. For many, the wait was worth it, and the beer’s return has been met with excitement. Lone Star Beer may have been missing for a while, but it’s now back in full force, and Texans can enjoy their favorite brew once again.
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