Here's an interesting article about Pabst Blue Ribbon from Marginal Utility, a blog that concerns itself more with marketing than beer. The basic idea is that latter-day PBR drinkers consume their beer of choice less because they like it or feel any particular brand loyalty to it and more because they want to poke a stick in the eye of mega brewers/marketers like Anheuser-Busch, Miller, Guinness or any of the other beer makers whose market positions seem to be more important than brewing good beer.
It's an intriguing idea. But could being an ironic choice really be a way to build a strong brand? I can't believe that the folks at Pabst have that goal in mind. One point that this argument conveniently ignores is that Pabst has been turning in gold and silver winning brews at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver over the last few years.
Comments
I have a friend who drinks Rolling Rock for essentially the same reason … I’ll never understand it. If you’re gonna be different, why not be different by drinking a “better” beer. PBR, especially among the “hipsters” who think its somehow cool to avoid the A-Bs and Miller-Coors beers of the world, is just another American macro lager at the end of the day. By drinking it, you’re hardly showing how hip you are … you’re really only showing you don’t know know much about beer, or don’t care.
I’ve definitely noticed the trend of PBR’s cult cachet in the circles in which I run at college, especially the cycling community. As you suggest, it’s more for the irony and cheapness than anything else. Most people I know who are most outspoken about PBR love microbrews, and fully realize the absurdity of championing PBR. As for myself, I drink Old Style (brewed by Pabst, no less) simply because it’s called Old Style. It tastes no better than any other macro lager; I just like the name more. My friends know I’m a beer geek and usually drink stouts, so it’s humourous when I go on about Old Style.
so if i live outside of stl and the “king of beers” n absolutly think a-b tastes awful n therefore drink either only coors original or pbr….does that make me one of the people ur talking about??
Defensive much, Nate? If you’ll re-read the original post you’ll see that I point out PBR has actually been winning medals. I’m questioning the idea that the success of the resurrected PBR is based entirely on marketing and product placement. It wouldn’t win medals if it weren’t a quality brew.
Shawn is an idiot. PBR is a symbol of a time gone by, not of taste but pride. Go and live in Wisconsin for about 40 years and then maybe you’ll understand. Until then your opinion doesn’t matter.
Agreed, PBR is drunk by plenty of hippies and whatnot in the south western states, but their kind will never contribute to society anyways, so what they do is irrelevant. In Wisconsin, however, it means much more than sticking it to the man.
Shawn,
Can’t it be said that PBR…TASTES GOOD? It’s my favorite beer because I can eat it with meals and it’s full of flavor. I’ve had plenty of beers, Shawn, but no beer works so well with peanuts, pretzels, or hamburgers. None.
I’m from Long Beach, CA, but pretty much my whole extended family is in WI. I wonder if it’s in our blood?
Also, PBR was the mainstay of the oldest bar in Long Beach for years: Joe Josts. Go to Joejosts.com and then try telling me that place is always filled with “hipsters.”
Look, I’m a homebrewer and have been since 2006. I’ve learned what separates the good beers from the bad. When you understand the basics of how beer is made and how different ingredients make or break a beer you can appreciate beer on a whole new level. I choose PBR over any other American Mega-swill beers because of its simplicity in character, it’s very clean taste, and price. I’m not trying to be hip and I’m not trying to denounce what America can do as far as brewing a good lager it’s just that PBR has a very nice lager taste that I can only compare to other similar styles coming from Germany and the Czech Republic.
There is a local pub/restaurant call the Bier Garden in Portsmouth, Virginia that has over 400 beers from around the world. I’m talking from the heartiest stouts, to the most robust ales, to pilsners, lagers, porters, etc. And you know the only American lager that they sell? Now, keep in mind that some of their beers range as high as $25 a bottle. They feature PBR…in the can, no less! How ironic is that!? For $2.00 a piece it really is a nice break from drinking some beers that have an alcoholic content of 9% to 12% and also saving a few bucks during your evening. It also shows that people who love beer, whether it’s making it or savoring can appreciate the simplicity and ‘comfort’ that a good, well rounded, American lager can provide. Oh yeah, don’t ever ask for Miller Lite or Budweiser at this place, The Bier Garden. The bartenders will give you look of death.