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There are some beers whose reputation is so bad that even Joe Six Pack types who only drink “The Big Three” will mock them – the most famous being Pabst Blue Ribbon.
So I decided to sit down and give it a fair shake to see what all the hubbub is about. I was pleasantly surprised at just how offensive this beer was not, but truth be told it’s far from a good beer.
History of Pabst Blue Ribbon
Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) is a beer that was first brewed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1844 by a German immigrant named Jacob Best. In the late 1800s, PBR became one of the most popular beers in America, winning numerous awards at international beer competitions.
During Prohibition, PBR was one of the few breweries that was able to stay in business by producing non-alcoholic beverages. After Prohibition ended, PBR struggled to regain its popularity and was eventually sold to a group of investors in 1985.
In the early 2000s, PBR experienced a resurgence in popularity among young adults, particularly in the hipster subculture. This was due in part to its low price point and association with working-class culture.
Today, PBR is owned by a Russian-American company called Oasis Beverages and is still a popular beer in the United States.
Fun fact: Pabst Blue Ribbon is the drink of choice of Mike Ehrmantraut in Better Call Saul. It has also been the subject of parody in the animated comedy South Park.
Pabst Blue Ribbon: Appearance and Aroma
I poured a 12oz can into a pint glass. Not surprisingly, this beer pours to a crystal-clear shade of straw gold with some bubbles at first although it quickly dies down. It does generate a somewhat fluffy, bright-white, soapy head, but it dissipates down to a tiny layer of suds rather fast. There isn’t much aroma to speak of. Adjunct macro lagers, and especially “economy” versions like this are often off-putting or straight-up foul in the nose, but PBR is rather neutral. It’s that generic “beer smell” but milder. I detect a touch of metal and corn, but these notes are light enough to tolerate.
Pabst Blue Ribbon: Taste
Beer snobs like to mock adjunct macro lagers and especially the “lights” for tasting putrid, but I find them more often than not to be bland as is the case with Pabst Blue Ribbon. In a blind taste test I’m not sure I could distinguish between this beer and Coors, Miller or Bud lights. Upfront it’s very watery, thin, and bland – which makes it surprisingly refreshing. As it finishes there is an odd flavor combination of cereal grain sweetness and a touch of tin or aluminum. I’ve had this beer on tap and in the bottle and noticed these flavors as well, so it’s clearly not the can. Don’t get me wrong, these are definitely not appealing flavors. In fact, if this beer is consumed warm it becomes off-putting, but drank cold it’s tolerable at best.
Pabst Blue Ribbon: Drinkability
With its flat, bland body and noticeable wateriness, PBR is actually a highly drinkable beer. The palate here really doesn’t satisfy, but it does work well as a thirst-quencher on a hot day or when accompanying some ball park-style foods or during similar situations. I was surprised how well it paired with beer brats and could envision beer drinkers of virtually all calibers slugging it down at a BBQ or picnic. At 4.74% ABV, this truly is a sessionable beer. The only problem is I think the lack of taste will begin to wear on the average drinker’s palate after two or three servings.
Every time I see a bottle or can of Pabst Blue Ribbon I have to chuckle at the fact the brewery boasts that it was selected as “America’s Best in 1893.” Is this a joke or are they really trying to brag about this? Either way, when you drink PBR it’s kind of like time-traveling to the days of the Grover Cleveland administration (the first one), since the recipe probably hasn’t changed since then.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Calories and ABV
Pabst Blue Ribbon has 144 calories per 12oz can – similar to Budweiser (145) or Modelo Especial (143). Carbs wise, it has 12.8g of carbohydrates in each can or bottle.
At 4.8% ABV, Pabst Blue Ribbon is in the higher end of the alcohol content range for an American lager style beer.
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FAQs
Again, it's not bad. In fact, it's still stronger than quite a few other cheap beers. But when compared to Ice beers that contain 5.9% alcohol on average, craft beers that reach unholy levels of strength, or even Bud Light Platinum that is an impressive 6.0%, Pabst just can't compete on the same playing field.
What was the jingle for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer? ›
Not only was “What'll You Have” a slogan used by the Pabst Brewing Company, but it was jingle as well. Famously used in commercials during the 1950's that answer to the question was always “Pabst Blue Ribbon” of course.
What did the Pabst Blue Ribbon tweet say? ›
"Not drinking this January? Try eating ass!" the company tweeted. Needless to say, Twitter had thoughts on the new marketing campaign. When one Twitter user asked "PBR or ass?
Why does Pabst taste so good? ›
PBR has a lager taste without a heavy aftertaste. I don't like a beer that coats my mouth with a film, and PBR does the trick. The grains are more prevalent in the taste than in the nose, and the carbonation of those fun little bubbles is refreshing and makes it pop upon the first refreshing sips.
Is Pabst Blue Ribbon a cheap beer? ›
PBR got its start in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1844, and it's still one the cheapest beers you can buy.
Why is Pabst so popular? ›
After observing the beer's unexpected popularity in Portland, Oregon back in 2001, the company concluded that people were buying the beer because it wasn't aggressively being pitched to them. “Hipsters fetishize the lowbrow culture of the '70s and '80s,” Salon observed in 2008.
Does Anheuser Busch own Pabst Blue Ribbon? ›
Pabst Brewing Company announced November 13, 2014 that it had completed its sale to Blue Ribbon Intermediate Holdings, LLC. Blue Ribbon is a partnership between American beer entrepreneur Eugene Kashper and TSG Consumer Partners, a San Francisco–based private equity firm.
Why is Pabst Blue Ribbon so popular? ›
Pabst Blue Ribbon built a following as a working man's beer and proudly claims to be “union made,” but the brand was revitalized when urban hipsters made the label fashionable in the early 2000s. Always on top of marketing trends, the brand appeals to a variety of tastes with its efforts to drive demand.
Did the Russians buy Pabst Blue Ribbon? ›
Established in Milwaukee in 1844, acquired by Russians in 2014. This article is from the archive of our partner . Yesterday evening, Pabst Brewing Company, maker of the all-American favorite beer Pabst Blue Ribbon, announced that they were purchased by Oasis Beverages —the "leading independent brewer in Russia."
Why is Pabst called Blue Ribbon? ›
In 1882, the company began tying small blue ribbons around its “Best's Select” bottled beer, changing the label's name to Pabst Blue Ribbon after its victory at the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition. The company also promoted its name and bolstered sales through major real estate developments.
The history of the Pabst Brewing Company can be traced to 1842 when Jacob Best, Jr. and his brother, Charles Best, immigrated to America from Mettenheim, Germany. Once they arrived in Milwaukee, they began a small vinegar works and seeing the possibilities in the fledgling frontier town. In 1844, Jacob Best, Sr.
When was Pabst Blue Ribbon popular? ›
Pabst Blue Ribbon known as “The Premium Beer at a Popular Price.” Sales grow from 3.9 million barrels in 1958 to 18 million barrels in 1977.
Who drinks Pabst Blue Ribbon? ›
This statistic illustrates the share of Americans who drank Pabst Blue Ribbon in the past 3 months in 2018, by age. In that year, 12.97 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 years stated that they drank Pabst Blue Ribbon in the past 3 months.
Why do hipsters drink Pabst? ›
So what happened? America's hipster beer of choice has benefited from the coolness of autonomy in two ways: First, beer drinkers felt they were were choosing PBR without the pressure of a major marketing campaign. Second, PBR actively promoted itself via decidedly anti-mainstream marketing tactics.
Did Pabst buy Old Style? ›
Adam Powers, brand manager for Old Style, said the beer is one of several brands that Pabst is transitioning from a contract with MillerCoors in Milwaukee to City Brewery over the next three years. Old Style has been brewed in Milwaukee for the last two decades since being acquired by Pabst.
Why do hipsters drink PBR? ›
So what happened? America's hipster beer of choice has benefited from the coolness of autonomy in two ways: First, beer drinkers felt they were were choosing PBR without the pressure of a major marketing campaign. Second, PBR actively promoted itself via decidedly anti-mainstream marketing tactics.
How would you describe Pabst Blue Ribbon? ›
Low-calorie, crisp and refreshing. A light lager with a 3.8% ABV.
