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Campbell's® Chunky® and Pabst Blue Ribbon Invite Fans to "Crack Open a Warm One" with New Collaboration

Soup and beer lovers unite: Two bold, beer-infused soups are hitting Walmart shelves

CAMDEN, N.J., Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Campbell's Chunky, known for its hearty, flavor-packed soups, is teaming up with Pabst Blue Ribbon, the American beer brand known for its iconic look and taste. Together, the brands are serving up a new collaboration: two soups that bring together the crave-ability of Chunky and the smooth taste of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Just in time for soup season, the two new varieties will be available exclusively at Walmart starting this month: Campbell's Chunky x Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Cheese with Potatoes & Chorizo Soup is packed with savory chorizo sausage and hearty potatoes simmered in creamy cheese infused with Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer flavor. Pair it with a soft pretzel, serve it in a bread bowl, or top it with extra shredded cheese. Campbell's Chunky x Pabst Blue Ribbon Beef, Bacon & Beer Chili with Beans is the perfect addition to brisk fall days and features seasoned beef, hearty beans and smoky bacon, all infused with Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer flavor. Enjoy it straight from the can, load up a hot dog or drizzle it on top of nachos. "This is the ultimate flavor collaboration," said Ryan Pawling, Senior Brand Manager, Campbell's Chunky. "Our fans love bold, unexpected taste experiences, and pairing Chunky's hearty recipes with the iconic, malty flavor of PBR brings something totally unique to the soup aisle." To celebrate the launch, Chunky and Pabst Blue Ribbon are hosting a dive bar takeover at Ray's Bar in New York City on Thursday, Aug. 21. Attendees will be among the first to try out the new soup and chili paired with an ice-cold PBR, snag exclusive collab merch and get "Chunky-fied" by an onsite caricature artist. "We always like to do things a little differently at Pabst, so when the opportunity came to work with an iconic brand like Chunky, we knew this was a no brainer," said Rachel Keeton, Senior Brand Director, Pabst. "It's a bold, unexpected collaboration that celebrates flavor, fun and the spirit of both brands, and we're excited to stir things up." The two brands are also embarking on a food truck sampling tour this fall at Walmart stores across the country to bring Chunky and Pabst Blue Ribbon fans the ultimate experience closer to home. The one-month-long experience begins Sept. 3 and will feature a fusion of flavor and fun for fans who want to stop by for a bite. For more information on Chunky, please visit www.campbells.com/chunky and follow @CampbellsChunky on Instagram. For more information on Pabst Blue Ribbon, please visit pabstblueribbon.com and follow @PabstBlueRibbon on Instagram. About The Campbell's Company For 155 years, The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) has been connecting people through food they love. Headquartered in Camden, N.J. since 1869, generations of consumers have trusted us to provide delicious and affordable food and beverages. Today, the company is a North American focused brand powerhouse, generating fiscal 2024 net sales of $9.6 billion across two divisions: Meals & Beverages and Snacks. Our portfolio of 16 leadership brands includes: Campbell's, Cape Cod, Chunky, Goldfish, Kettle Brand, Lance, Late July, Pace, Pacific Foods, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Rao's, Snack Factory, Snyder's of Hanover, Swanson and V8. For more information, visit www.thecampbellscompany.com. About Pabst Brewing Company Since its founding in 1844, Pabst Blue Ribbon, the original American lager beer, has been connecting with local communities across America. Pabst Blue Ribbon engages and supports individuals who are passionate about forging their own path in life, and will continue to empower new generations who believe in the future of America. Pabst Blue Ribbon is owned by Pabst Brewing Company. American-owned and operated since its founding in Milwaukee in 1844, Pabst is one of America's largest privately held brewing companies. For more information, please visit pabst.com.

FIRESTONE WALKER RELEASES 2025 EDITION OF “OAKTOBERFEST” OAK-AGED LAGER

 

Iconic Seasonal Beer Brewed with All-German Ingredients and
Lagered in Napa Valley Wine Barrels

Paso Robles, California—Break out the steins and turn up the polka as Firestone Walker introduces the 2025 edition of Oaktoberfest—an iconic seasonal beer hailed by one Beer Advocate reviewer as “summer’s end in a can: a one-of-a-kind, delicious oak-aged fresh lager.”

 

“Oaktoberfest is made for this transition time from summer to fall,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “It’s malty and full flavored, yet also light-bodied, crushable and built for drinking.”

 

As always, the latest release is an oak-inspired homage to the popular “festbiers” that are synonymous with Munich’s legendary Oktoberfest celebration. The name “Oaktoberfest” is a riff on Firestone Walker’s longtime commitment to brewing and aging beer in oak barrels. 

 

Brewed with all-German ingredients and lagered in Napa Valley wine barrels, the 2025 Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager (5.2% ABV) is rolling out now to all Firestone Walker markets in 6-pack (12-oz cans) and draft formats.

 

All-German Ingredients

First brewed in 2006, Oaktoberfest has become a seasonal tradition at Firestone Walker. As always, the latest Oaktoberfest was made with all-German ingredients, including Weyermann Pilsner malts and Vienna malts, with a dash of Munich and Cara Red. 

 

Nevertheless, each annual release brings subtle changes as Brynildson and his team tweak the recipe. This year, Oaktoberfest mixes things up by featuring two classic German hops—Tettnanger and Hersbrucker. 

 

“These hops are loved by German brewers for delivering pronounced aromatics and noble character with a low bitterness profile,” Brynildson said. “The delicate hop influence is herbal, floral and spicy with subtle citrus notes—exactly what you want for a festbier like Oaktoberfest.”

 

Lagered in Oak

The 2025 Oaktoberfest was cold lagered in French oak barrels inherited from a Napa Valley winery. The barrels were previously used to mature the winery’s acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon. The oak-barrel lagering allows for an even smoother texture, all while remaining true to the beer’s crisp malt profile and hints of noble hops.

 

“Oak barrel lagering adds a cool complexity that makes the beer completely unique,” Brynildson said. “It provides subtle notes of vanilla and toasted oak that play well with the Vienna malts, and you might even pick up just the slightest hint of red wine fruitiness.”

 

He added, “Oaktoberfest delivers the best of both worlds—full, malty flavor with a crisp, easygoing body that’s perfect as summer fades into fall. It’s a beer that carries the spirit of our journeys through Germany’s hop fields and the vibes of Oktoberfest itself, all with a dash of California character.”

 

# # #

Founded in 1996 by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker, Firestone Walker is a family-led second-generation brewery based on California’s Central Coast. Helmed by Nick Firestone, and decorated Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker's main brewery in Paso Robles produces a robust lineup of award-winning beers including 805, California's #1 craft beer brand established in 2012; Mind Haze, a top 5 national hazy IPA; and Cali Squeeze, one of the nation's fastest-growing beer brands. The Firestone brand family also includes iconic beers such as DBA, Union Jack, and Pivo Pils, as well as the storied Vintage Series of barrel-aged strong ales led by Parabola. As a California beer company, Firestone Walker also has two additional locations: the Barrelworks wild ale cellar in Santa Barbara County and the Propagator R&D brewhouse in Venice. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine. 

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Garage Beer Conjures "Garage Fear," a Halloween Horror Takeover with Legendary Illustrator Tim Jacobus

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Garage Beer — the crisp, uncomplicated small-batch light beer is taking over Halloween. We're teaming up with legendary horror-comic illustrator Tim Jacobus for a collaboration that can only be described as frightfully good (we thought of that ourselves) and unlike anything the beer world has seen before.

Introducing: Garage Fear. An animated/comic horror-verse takeover featuring limited-edition 12-packs of Garage Beer (original and lime) illustrated by Jacobus that depict Garage Beer co-owner Jason Kelce alongside a bloodied, masked companion. The campaign will leak out like a sawed off limb, fast and exciting at first (not for the bleeder) and then more meticulously. The fastest-growing light beer company continues to thrill fans, this time with an epic transformation of its instantly recognizable 12-packs. "It was a blast to take the classic, oozing, slimed cover formula and conjure up a nightmare where Jason Kelce is fighting for the last beer while defending the haunted garage!" says Jacobus. "Totally ridiculous concept… but, I can honestly say, I've been in worse places to get a beer!" An exclusive adult comic book – Garage Fear: The Cursed Can, will be available for purchase and online in mid to late August. Only 100 copies will be available with consumers able to purchase through Garage Beer's merch site. The adult comic tells the story of an eerie encounter in Jason's garage where the last beer is up for grabs, monsters are invading and all out chaos ensues. In addition to the LTO packaging and adult comic, Garage Beer will release a full adult animated short featuring both Kelce brothers sometime in September. And for the diehard freaks out there, they can keep chasing the thrill by purchasing 11x17 posters with Jacobus' original art. And it doesn't stop there, guests can go full freak mode by visiting the Garage Fear pop-up haunted house in St. Louis, MO at Field of Screams. If you're worried about having to ingest pumpkin beer this fall, don't worry, Garage Fear is just as horrifying, but actually tastes good... a taste that can only be described as beer. (Nothing's changed about the beer itself). Still 95 calories. Still 4%. So good, it's literally striking fear into the seltzer industry. Want to learn more about the collaboration or connect with the Garage Beer team? Just give us a shout @drinkgaragebeer or email jmasello@drinkgaragebeer.com. If we don't hear you, please give us a scream. If we still don't hear you, you're probably dead. Happy Halloween. About: Garage Beer is America's fastest-growing light beer, now available in all 50 states. Crisp, crushable, and brewed for good times, Garage Beer is a no-nonsense 4% ABV lager with just 95 calories and 3g of carbs. It comes in two crowd-favorite varieties: Classic and Lime. Beer finder locater here and follow the ride at www.drinkgaragebeer.com, Instagram, and X.