Molson Coors Brewing Co. said Thursday its fourth-quarter net income dropped 65 percent, hurt by a higher tax rate and tough comparisons to an exceptionally strong year-ago period.

For the quarter ended Dec. 29, Molson Coors earned $60 million, or 33 cents per share, down from $173.2 million, or 95 cents per share, in the same quarter the year before. Excluding one-time items, the company said it posted an adjusted profit of 69 cents per share.