Who owns COUNTRY CLUB MALT LIQUOR?

Not to be confused with Clubtails, Clubby, Club Colombia, Social Club, Club Premium, Club

Country Club beer was originally produced by M K Goetz Brewery in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1951. M K Goetz Brewery was originally founded in 1859 in St. Joseph, Missouri by Michael Karl Goetz and partner J. J. Max. Goetz was from Alsace Lorraine, the disputed region between France and Germany, and immigrated to the United States three years prior to starting the brewery. When Goetz died in 1901, his four sons William, Frank, Albert, and Henry took over the operation.

Goetz Brewery had survived prohibition by making near beer, but by the time alcohol was re-legalized in 1933 the company was in need of a major success to stay alive. The introduction of Country Club presented an opportunity to reach a new market; only a few examples of the malt liquor style had been created by that time, and Country Club was marketed towards an upwardly mobile middle class. Early advertisements for the brand hailed the drink as “The Party Brew,” with imagery of cocktail parties and smiling housewives.

In 1961, the brewery was purchased by Pearl Brewing Company. Pearl was purchased in 1969 by Southdown conglomerate, who then sold it to General Brewing in 1977. In 1985, Pabst purchased General Brewing. By this time, the target market for malt liquor had changed significantly, and the company began advertising Country Club to minorities in the inner city. The company also faced competition from several other malt liquors by that point, including King Cobra (owned by Anheuser-Busch), Colt 45 (at that point owned by Carling O’Keefe), Olde English (owned by Pabst), and St. Ides (owned by McKenzie River Corporation). With the exception of Colt 45, all of those brands are now owned by Pabst Brewing.

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• Malt Liquor

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