"If You Return the Beer Within 18 Hours and 44 Minutes, No Questions Asked"… Brewery Makes 'Cool' Offer to Thieves Who Stole $25,000 Worth of Beer

Return Deadline Set for September 9; Reward Offered

Thieves Fled With Beer After Presenting Forged Documents

A truck carrying tens of thousands of cans of beer was stolen from an alcohol distribution center in California, USA, prompting a police investigation.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Truck. Truck News website

According to the BBC on August 31 (local time), Pabst Brewing Company, which produces the popular American beer brand Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR), had 50,000 cans of beer—amounting to 40,000 pounds (about 18.1 tons)—stolen from the Anheuser-Busch distribution center in Montclair, California, on August 17. The stolen beer is valued at approximately $25,000 (around 34 million won).

A police investigation found that on the day of the incident, a similar theft occurred at the logistics center. The Montclair Police Department believes the suspects forged documents around 10 a.m. that day to take cargo worth about $45,000 (approximately 62 million won). The total value of goods stolen in both cases is estimated at about $70,000 (roughly 93 million won).

Pabst Brewing Company's 'Pabst Blue Ribbon' beer. Getty Images

On August 22, Pabst made a public appeal via social media, urging the thieves to return the beer within a certain period. The company further stated, "We will give you 18 hours and 44 minutes, and if you return the stolen beer within that time, we won't ask any questions," referencing the company's founding year, 1844.

A missing truck flyer uploaded by Pabst Brewing Company on social media. Instagram capture @pabstblueribbon

The company also announced that it would offer a reward to anyone who provides information helpful to resolving the case. The deadline for the beer's return set by Pabst is September 9, 2026.

Pabst commented, "We understand wanting to brag to your friends about having lots of PBR beer, but it would have been better if you had obtained it in a more legitimate way. We are taking this matter extremely seriously."

The police are currently expanding their investigation, focusing on the possibility that both incidents were committed by the same cargo theft ring using forged documents and fake driver information.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.