Primo Brewing Company is a Honolulu-based beer brewing company. The company claims the title "Hawai’i’s original beer". The brand is currently owned and operated by Pabst Brewing Company.

History

Around 1897 or 1898, the Honolulu Brewing & Malting Company was formed by Honolulu industrialist Alfred Hocking, launching the Primo lager brand in 1901. From 1920 to 1933, Prohibition caused Primo to halt operations. Other important milestones include:

1933: After Prohibition, Primo reopened under ownership of Hawaii Brewing Corporation. 1963: Schlitz Brewing Company acquired Primo. 1966: Schlitz built a new brewery for Primo and other brands in Aiea on Oahu. 1979: Schlitz closed the Aiea brewery and moved production to Los Angeles, California. 1982: Stroh Brewery Company acquired Primo when it bought Schlitz Brewing. 1985: Stroh changed Primo from brown bottles to green ones. 1990: The company returned to brown bottles. 1997: Stroh discontinued Primo beer. 1999: Pabst Brewing Company acquired the Primo brand when it purchased assets held by Stroh. 2007: Pabst brought back the Primo Beer brand.

Primo and its parent company revitalized its distribution and marketing since 2007, reviving the iconic island brand. Primo is a key sponsor at many watersport events such as surf contests, and appears in many bars and stores throughout the state of Hawaii.Primo Beer sponsors 26th Ann. Longboard Classic Although the front office is located in Honolulu, the main Pabst headquarters is in Los Angeles.

In May 2007, Keoki Brewing Company was bought by Hawaii Nui Brewing Company. Portions of the island-based proceeds go to the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation and toward preserving Hawaiian culture, land, and heritage.

In popular culture Hawaiian comedian Frank De Lima mentions Primo beer twice in the "Solid Mold" segment of his 1982 comedy record Please Buy This Album!De Lima, Frank. "Solid Mold." Please Buy This Album! Performances by Frank De Lima and Na Kolohe (Dean Lum and Dean Shimabukuro), Pocholinga Productions, 1982.

See also List of breweries in Hawaii

References

External links

Examples of pre-Prohibition era embossed beer bottles from the Honolulu Brewing & Malting Company (brucemobley.com)