Pbr-why?

[chazwicke]

I am at a loss to decribe why PBR has made such a comeback among the "hip " crowd. I understand that PBR sales actually rose 5.3 % during 2002 despite virtually no advertising. I would not even consider drinking it. It has been years. We did used to drink the bock back in the 70s when it came out in the Spring. But I can't imagine drinking PBR now. I don't even know who owns the brand anymore. Have they actually changed the formula or something to make it different? What is the attraction? Is it just a fad or merely a passing trend on campus? Don't these people have tastebuds?

[hops99]

I don't believe the beer is any different now than it was years ago; it's still awful. I don't know, it might just be the "in" macro these days, because a bunch of unsuspecting alternatives in their early 20's are trying to drink something other than Bud/Miller/Coors to be cool. Weird...

[threecb]

It's gotta be a "trendy-hip" thing...and I'd have to assume the beers no better than it ever was.
I was in an Office Restaurant (chain in NJ) and their beer list had a separate heading for "Retro Beers" -- PBR, Schlitz, etc...what a joke.

Oh, and I guess the college crowd likes it because it's usually under $2 -- even cheaper than BMC.

The concept is right up there with Corona as a premium choice in my book, which I feel is the biggest perpetuator of unfounded hipness.

[chazwicke]

Looks like I posted this too soon. I just picked up the latest issue of Ale Street News and there is an article on this very subject. It made me look at things a little differently.

[Jeff]

There are several bars and restaurants in my college town that have crappy beer or your dad's beer night. They feature Hams, Schlitz, Olympia, PBR, Old Mil. I honestly have never touched any of these beers except the Old Mil (I was in college and playing quarters). Several other college bars have put PBR on tap?! I haven't figured it out yet either.

[Brownbeard]

I would choose PBR over bud or miller. It at least has flavor. I have had some "premium" beers that I would toss for a PBR any day. I would rather have PBR or Coors than a Heineken or Grolsch. I think I am the only person on this board that is not offended by macro swill. I don't choose it, but I don't pass it up either.

[newportstorm]

I won't be stocking my fridge with it, but in certain situations I wouldn't pass up a cold PBR or Stroh's (even Heine keg cans). They have some semblance of sweet malt and detectable hops. It's cold, wet, has flavor and works in a pinch.

I've seen responses on the forum like "I've never had it and never will" or "I'll never try that macro swill". Sorry, but that's pretty ignorant folks. How can you honestly expect anyone to try your favorite Belgian Triple in the fancy pants bottle, if you have a similar attitude about macro. Seriously, don't knock it before you try it.

As for PBR, I believe Miller owns the brand now. And I can't really explain the comeback either. But if it gets beer drinkers to start thinking outside the box, it can't be all that bad (most macro drinkers probably don't know Miller owns it).

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

I am going to try PBR soon. It has been so long since I last tasted one. Over 20 years that maybe I should at least try one before I condemn it. I cut my beer drinking teeth on those beers (PBR, Schlitz) way back when. So I am going to give a couple of the macro beers a try again. Something I have not done and even resisted for a very long time. I promise to keep an open mind, Brownbeard. And I apologize if I sounded too eletist on that other thread. I really feel that I need to give these beers at least a taste before I roundly trash them. Who knows, I may be suprised.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
I would choose PBR over bud or miller. It at least has flavor. I have had some "premium" beers that I would toss for a PBR any day. I would rather have PBR or Coors than a Heineken or Grolsch. I think I am the only person on this board that is not offended by macro swill. I don't choose it, but I don't pass it up either.

I drink macro swill occasionally if it's on someone else's dime. From a subjective perspective it's neither bad nor good - it's just the kind of beer that i used to drink - actually it hardly has enough taste to be offensive, anyway. From an objective perspective it has nothing in common with good beer.

I know at least one Kid Rock songs mentions PBR - maybe that's where some of the drive is from.

[steveh]

Pabst is now owned by the G. Heileman Brewing Company (Old Style, Blatz, Lone Star, Ranier, Old Milwaukee, Colt-45), which is not the same Heileman it used to be when it was based out of LaCross, WI.

AFA - Not trying it, never will - I, like Chaz, cut my teeth on "My Dad's Beer" (theat *was* funny) like Falstaff, Drury's, Old Style, Old Milwaukee, Schlitz...yeee. I even had a cup of "fresh from the keg" Miller Lite over the past Summer - still don't like it anymore.

Chaz, what did Ale Street News have to say about the PBR Phenom? There's a lot to be said about trendy - when Guinness started becoming more popular with the "in" crowd, I almost stopped drinking it. A bunch of friends and I were sitting in a bar, having some pints, and someone next to us at the bar scoffed and pronounced, "Well, I've been drinking 'this' since I was 18, and I'm not gonna stop now." Holding his Miller Lite proudly in the air. I told him I'd been drinking "this" since I was 18 too, and wasn't going to stop either (turns out, he was actually younger than me too!).

S.

[Brownbeard]

Chazwicke, don't get me wrong. I am not going out and stocking my fridge with these beers. But when I go "back home", there is very little else to choose from. I think there are definite differences in these macro brews. Some simply have more flavor and character than others (PBR, Old Milwaukee, Leinenkugel's, and LaBatte's come to mind). As I have said in another post, I always have a case of Leinenkugels in the house. And I will drink it too. I always prefer a better brew, but I have found that sometimes I simply dig deep and get a hold of my river rat youth and drink some swill. I do not find the flavor offensive though. It is kind of like a McDonald's cheeseburger. I don't particularly care for it, and I prefer not to get it, but I can eat a couple when I stop there to get the kid a happy meal. When I am at the back home tavern, I get PBR or Old Milwaukee. It works OK.

[Brownbeard]

Strangely enough, my wife still gets a taste for malt liquor on occasion. She will grab a six pack of Mickey's.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
Strangely enough, my wife still gets a taste for malt liquor on occasion. She will grab a six pack of Mickey's.

It's been like 18 years since I had malt liquor. I should give a Master Cylinder of the Bull a try.

[hopjack13]

i don't rightly know that i've ever tried pabst....i know they were bigger then bud before prohibition, or at least i read that somewheres. anyway i don't believe i'll be trying any. im not one for lagers in the first place , although there are some good ones out there, i just prefer ale. also im sure they use more then the basic four...ie adjuncts, i'd be asking for a headache.
i was at the dollhut in anaheim and they had pbr on tap , and i noticed people were drinking it like it was the thing to do???? uh...no thanks , i 'll have the guinness.

[Brownbeard]

I prefer ales as well.

[chazwicke]

I am partial to ales too. But I really am going to try a PBR and maybe a Schlitz. Just to see what the hubbub is all about. I can't even remember how those two beers tasted. So I guess I should really try them. The Ale Street article included a blind tasting of Schaefer, Ballantine Ale, Schlitz, and PBR. The article also points out that all four of those beers are brewed by Pabst Brewing Company and Pabst 's beers are indeed contract brewed by Miller. Each brand is supposedly brewed from an original recipe according to the article.

Brownbeard, I think Leinies is an acceptable beer even though it is controlled by Miller. I've been on their tour a couple of times in the past. Once pre-Miller. My mothers family was from Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. I also drank Walters Eau Claire from a tap in the wall before it's demise. Leinies is of the same calibre as Petes or Sam Adams if my memory serves me well.

[hopjack13]

i was tempted to drink a corona the other day....ouch! did i say that?
i was at a mexican meat market (carnesaria i think they're called)
and they had a section where you could drink beer and eat. it was hot out and i just came from outside. i saw people sitting around drinking ice cold coronas, modleo ect , and i thought ...that looks refreshing, then i thought what it would've tasted like and that killed it.

[bigmf]

Originally posted by hopjack13
....then i thought what it would've tasted like and that killed it.

I agree, the last time that I had Corona I thought it tasted like someone already drank it! :eek:

Seriously though, I do agree with Brownbeard that macros should be avoided but not at the cost of missing out on social or family events. I prefer a nice ale with some flavour, but I'll have the club soda like drinks if that is whats offered.

M.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
I prefer ales as well.

Actually I'll take a really, really good pils over most ales. But it has to be near perfect - like PU must be in Czechoslovakia or like Live Oak Pilz is here in Austin.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
But I really am going to try a PBR and maybe a Schlitz. Just to see what the hubbub is all about. I can't even remember how those two beers tasted. So I guess I should really try them. The Ale Street article included a blind tasting of Schaefer, Ballantine Ale, Schlitz, and PBR. The article also points out that all four of those beers are brewed by Pabst Brewing Company and Pabst 's beers are indeed contract brewed by Miller. Each brand is supposedly brewed from an original recipe according to the article.

They have the other beers included because they're all Pabst/Heileman products:
http://www.pabst.com/flashsite/ourbeer.htm

And I'll bet that the PBR tastes like the Schlitz, that tastes like the Schaefer, that tastes like the Ranier...

They may be contract brewed at Miller for parts of the country, but they're based in San Antone, Texas:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/review/447/

Chaz, did you ever try Hibernia from Eau Claire? It was a micro-brew around the early to mid 80s and really good stuff. Trouble is, I think it was too good for the times - the flavor scared too many people off.

S.

[Wilson]

I've spent many a night with Pabst, Old Mil, etc. I will have to agree with Brownbeard. I can still drink them, and do when nothing else is available. Like a casino, casino's love to get you drunk, but not on good beer. Oddly enough, they dont have PBR or Old Mil, which I would choose over Bud, et al. I tried to drink a Schlitz Malt Liquor "Bull" about a year ago thinking I could still do it, but had to toss it. I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.

[Brownbeard]

Old Milwaukee and Rainer were gold and silver at GABF for American Lagers. Somebody with taste likes them.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
Old Milwaukee and Rainer were gold and silver at GABF for American Lagers. Somebody with taste likes them.

Yeah, and Pete's Wicked Ale took gold and silver in 2 different categories as reported somewhere else on these boards. As I asked then, I wonder just what the heck is going on at the GABF?

S.

[hops99]

I remember about 7-8 years ago, when I really started to get into craft beer, I went through that phase where I was drinking 80% craft, but still had some macro stuff on occasion. I actually conducted my own taste test (with a group of friends) for a whole slew of "crap" beers, and we bunkered ourselves in one weekend and drank about 30 different cheap beers - and voted which was the best, and which was the worst. We had collected them from around the country over the course of a year.

As I recollect, we tried: Stroh's, Old Mil, Schlitz, PBR, Red White and Blue, Golden Anniversary, Point Special, Old Style, EX, Stag, Falstaff, Rainier, Lucky Lager, Pearl, Schaefer, Black Label, Piel's, Totally Dirt Cheap (yes, that was the name of the beer - it's available in convenience stores of the same name in St. Louis), Burger, Hudepohl, Iron City, Schmidt's, and more.

As I also recollect, the general consensus was that Stroh's tasted the best (not as sickly sweet as some of the other cheapies), and Burger was the worst (it used to be a big Cincinnati beer back in the day). I think PBR was in the middle of the pack.

But, getting back to PBR's popularity, I recall somewhere around '91 or '92 in college a beer called J. Ruppert's (originally brewed in NYC) that sold for about $7 a CASE. It quickly became THE beer to have at all the parties around town for about a year or so - the price and unusual name dictated the trend...

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
7/[/url]

Chaz, did you ever try Hibernia from Eau Claire? It was a micro-brew around the early to mid 80s and really good stuff. Trouble is, I think it was too good for the times - the flavor scared too many people off.

S.

Yep I did have it and I think your assumption is correct. May have been a little ahead of its time. Hibernia grew out of the ashes of the old Walters brewery. The guy who started Hibernia even opened a beer garden behind the plant. He packaged some of his line and I may even have a sixpack holder from the Eau Clair All Malt floating around in my stuff some where. I know I saved at least one.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by hops99
I remember about 7-8 years ago, when I really started to get into craft beer, I
But, getting back to PBR's popularity, I recall somewhere around '91 or '92 in college a beer called J. Ruppert's (originally brewed in NYC) that sold for about $7 a CASE. It quickly became THE beer to have at all the parties around town for about a year or so - the price and unusual name dictated the trend...

I remember going for quantity too. Brown Derby or Blatz were sometimes 99 cents. which was great when you could only scrape up $11.00 or $12.00 between yourself and your roomate and friends. Was it Jacob Ruppert? That was a large NY brewery going way back. They even had a branch in Norfolk, VA.

[chazwicke]

99 cents a six pack that is.

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by steveh
I wonder just what the heck is going on at the GABF?

kick backs........


when i was in high school 40oz were the thing to drink, mickeys, st. ives ,old english , mgd ,bud ect. i go to partys and people would buy them by the case, there'd be a fridge full of 40ozs. ooh them days i don't care to reflect on....

[hops99]

Chaz, it was indeed Jacob Ruppert's. Likely a proud brewery decades ago, then reduced to an ultra-cheap college beer. Sad...

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by hops99
Chaz, it was indeed Jacob Ruppert's. Likely a proud brewery decades ago, then reduced to an ultra-cheap college beer. Sad...

well i've never tried it but the name does sound kinda cool

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
I think I am the only person on this board that is not offended by macro swill. I don't choose it, but I don't pass it up either.

well i have to hand it to you brownbeard, you seem like you can make the best out of any situation ,and enjoy yourself no matter what the beer. i respect that, versatility, it's a good trait in a person. your horizons are a little broader then mine i guess, sence i am so limited to what i drink...sort of, there's a big beer world out there. but im thinking your probably a pretty fun guy to hang with.
cheers

[steveh]

Well, I left work with all good intentions to "take one for the team" last night - I stopped to look for some PBR to sample and write an honest review at Tasting Notes. All I could find was warm 12 packs, cans at that, well, I wasn't taking *that* much for the team - sorry.

Seems like the whole PBR retro-phenom may not have hit the Chicago area -- then again, we have Old Stale as our on-going standard bearer of thin, tasteless, corn boil around here.

I went home and had a Primator Czech Blonde Bock and a Lake Front Okto instead.

S.

[hops99]

Hey, it's the thought that counts...
:p

[Brownbeard]

Yeah, I went home and had a Sierra Nevada Stout. It's the first time I picked them, up. They were pretty good, but it made me wish I was drinking my Sam Smith Oatmeal stout I am holding for the weekend.

I do like to have a good time hopjack. Surprisingly, I learned to drink good beer on the Grateful Dead tour. We used to follow them around and there was always good beer being sold in the lots. That is where I had my first Sam Smith. I pretty much go with the flow though. Wherever the party takes me.

[threecb]

Originally posted by chazwicke
99 cents a six pack that is.

In college in the mid-80's in upstate NY, Red, White and Blue longneck returnables were $3.99 a case, plus deposit...if my mother only knew where her money was going...:D

Honestly, I try to avoid the macros, but hold to the line of "to each, his own"...

I do remember buying a 6 of Ballentine a couple of years ago, in a tribute to my dad. I don't think I ever finished it...

And I lean towards the ales, but have been trying more lagers lately...trying to broaden the horizons.

[hopjack13]

im gunna go back to the beginning on this one...
pbr.....why?

[chazwicke]

Maybe we should move this to "In the interest of Science" thread and have everyone sample a PBR. I really will drink (or attempt to) one PBR. Seriously, I will try to have an open mind and make an objective review. I can't do this until the weekend as I am still on the induction phase of Atkins until then. Anyone else up for the challenge?

[steveh]

I just checked another liquor source while I was out at lunch - no PBR there either. I'm hoping to find a quart bottle so that I don't have to buy a whole six pack, but all I've seen are warm 12 can packs.

If I have to buy from my local store, they'll think aliens have invaded my body! I suppose I could tell 'em I'm boilin' brats, but I wouldn't even do that to innocent brats.

Seriously, yeah - I'll try one and review it just as I have other beers in Tasting Notes. I used to drink PBR at a local spot with my dad about 14 years ago, I can almost remember how it tasted then...very bland.

S.

[hopjack13]

okay,
count me in too! i don't think i've ever tried it before so i can't rightly bash it with out trying it ....right?
i'll try to write a review from an unbias stand point.....?
i think i can i think i can i think i can
sence you guy are going to try it from the bottle or can, i'll try the draft...what daya think?

[hopjack13]

hey...the way the air is around here it'll be like trying a smoked lager!

[hops99]

I can only find PBR in 12-pack cans where I live. Not sure what I'd do with the other 11...

[hopjack13]

well i chickend out, i thought i could come down off my high horse and try it, "it might be good to humble myself" i thouhgt.
but then i said f@#& it , i'd rather be an arrogant bastard! :p

[steveh]

Well, I've narrowed it down to 6 packs of cans, but that's about all I can find - and I really don't want to buy a whole sixer. Like Hops, dunno what I'd do with the leftovers...unless of course >gasp< it really IS good! LOL!! I almost said that with a straight face! Honestly though, I *will* give it an unbiased assessment, if I ever find quart bottles.

Hopjack, weather changing for the better out there yet?

S.

[hopjack13]

there was a little bit of drizzle this morning but not really where it was most needed, maybe some rain later in the week....we're all preying for it and for the fire fighters as well, one lost his life the other day, so far the fires have claimed about 20 lives.
thnx for asking nobody seems to care about us down here, although some other states are sending choppers and more firetrucks, but only cuz they gove called them and begged them for help.

[hopjack13]

does the phrase "up sh@#s creek with out a paddle" mean anything to you..... i heard in san diego the fire jumped over the mexican border.....ooops

[steveh]

Originally posted by hopjack13
i heard in san diego the fire jumped over the mexican border.....ooops

Um, sorry! The U.N. ought to be called in at any moment.

S.

[hopjack13]

yeah thier gunna need help,im not sure they have fire trucks? maybe one. that place is so poverty stricken.

evertime there's a natural disaster in the world the U.S. always helps, but when it happens to us were on our own!

[chazwicke]

We have been watching it on TV. We know it is really bad out there and have been in touch with friends and relatives in San Diego. We feel for all or you and for the firefighters especially.

[hopjack13]

a little off topic now but,
WOOO WHOOO! it's starting to rain!!!

[steveh]

Originally posted by hopjack13
yeah thier gunna need help,im not sure they have fire trucks? maybe one. that place is so poverty stricken.

evertime there's a natural disaster in the world the U.S. always helps, but when it happens to us were on our own!

I actually figured the U.N. would be called in to see why we couldn't stop our fire at the border...and now it's threatening a foreign land...

S.

[hopjack13]

your probably right.......

[elwynbriggs]

Had PBR in VN in 60's, wasnt bad but then I grew to love the taste of preservatives. Maybe Ill try it again, might be better cold than lukewarm.

[chazwicke]

I'd imagine the PBR now is not the same beer you drank then. Can't say whether it is better now or worse. I have vowed to try one .....soon.

Welcome to the board!

[chazwicke]

Here is the Pabst site:

http://pabst.com/flashsite/ourbeer.htm#


Click on the Ballantine Ale brand. The description says its a lager but it is Ballantine ALE! weird!lager ALE

[Saint Patrick]

... step away from the Pabst ... trust me on this one ...

[hopjack13]

and no bodys gunna get hurt?

[Saint Patrick]

hopjack13, yes ... its a painful experience ... its like fallin' of the swingset as a youngster ... lots o' trauma! ;)

[BluesHarp]

...that's what I said. :confused:

[Bryant]

It has to be nothing more than a trend. I have tried it (again) maybe six months ago. Though it has a little more flavor than Bud/Coors/Miller, it's still quite dull. In fact, I tried Schlitz (owned by PBR) around the same time and found it to be better (though slightly lacking enough carbonation) than the PBR but still extremely dull as well.

Bryant

[Brewdepest]

I think bashing on PBR is unfair. The very first post stated that it was making a comeback with virtually no advertising. Does that not count for anything?
Part of the appeal is the "humility" associated with it. It's a no frills beverage that doesn't have some ad campaign attaching some level of coolness to it, it's extremely inexpensive, and a few people dig on it because it's supposed to be a "cheap" beer. People drinking assume they do not look the least bit pretentious.
Something so many on here fail to grasp is that in America, the general public will not whole-heartedly grasp good, yet expensive beer. Most of us have grown up with parents who were taught to buy in bulk and buy cheap as a sort of fiscal responsibility. That rubs off on a lot of people, and it can be difficult to shake. I admit, I felt really guilty when I just went and blew a hundred bucks on underwear at Victoria's Secret, when I could have gone to Target and gotten my skivvies out of a plastic Hane's pack. Yeah, I know, these bras will actually survive for more than three months and I won't have to worry about emergency personel seeing the elastic falling out of my bikini's waistband should I be in some sort of accident, but damn, I still felt horrendously irresponsible for opting for quality over quantity.
Many people feel that way. Now, would you prefer these people, who are not going to drink good beer anyway, to drink Budweiser next to a cardboard cutout of a fake blonde in a bikini, or something that at least has grown out of word of mouth?

[hopjack13]

i'll take quality over quantity, i'd rather have 2 good beers then 12 tastless beers.
my wife has a bunch of friends that love pbr, doesn't mean i have to. if it works for you then great, nothing wrong with that.
what works for some doesn't always work for everyone.

[hops99]

Well, I orchestrated my own "cheapie" taste test last week, and started a thread that reflected my reactions. Brewdepest, I concur with you in that I think PBR's resurgence is cool, at some level (that's the idealist in me). The fact that the sales surge and resurrection of the brand has been mostly grass roots is a great thing, and would be (IMO) for any commodity. There are at least 10 times a day that I could literally vomit as I react to the constant barrage of advertising and marketing crap that we all have to contend with. The morning news. The newspaper. The radio on the way to work. The spam e-mails. The pop-ups. The telemarketers at night. On and on and on...you also get beat over the head with the truly insulting advertising that assumes we're all mindless sheep. Arrrgghh! For a product to succeed WITHOUT sipping from the advertising cup means that the word-of-mouth is very strong, and it also means 99% of the time that the product is excellent.

So, here's where the realist in me takes over. PBR is absolute garbage. This is a terrible beer, and is not something that I'd recommend to anybody. Just because it's become trendy in the "alternative-hipster" crowd, it doesn't mean that we should regale it with praise. Quite the opposite.

I understand, and agree, that the majority of us can't always afford what we want, and we've usually been trained by our elders to be as budget-conscious as possible (as reflected in your underwear conundrum). Here's the difference (in my mind). Underwear, or shoes, or any article of clothing is a necessity - beer isn't. We have to make tough decisions sometimes regarding necessity items (quality vs. quantity); I, for example, normally buy Polo dress shirts at $50 per as opposed to a lesser brand at $20 per. Why? Well, I'm not a preppy/yuppie/poser, rather I know through experience that those shirts will last 3-4 times longer than the cheapies. It's just a better investment. I'd take quality over quantity for necessity items almost any day.

But, back to beer. It's not a necessity (although many of us think it is ;) It's a luxury item. And, if I'm going to indulge in a luxury item (whether it be beer, cheesecake, or a movie), I'm going to make sure that it's also worth my investment. Think about it, what if movies were divided into two categories upon release:

1) Great movies
2) Poorly reviewed movies

Now, the great movies cost $10 to see, but the crap movies cost just $5. Um, if I can't afford to see the great movie, I think I'll skip the bad movie and stay home - principally because it'll just be a waste of my money. Think about it - how many of us have seen a terrible movie, and felt like we were robbed afterwards? Well, I believe PBR (or any other macro crap) is just like a bad movie. Save and spend your hard-earned money on a great movie next time, and you won't be disappointed!

[hops99]

Man, I'm a real windbag. It took Hopjack 3 sentences to say what it took me half a page...

[steveh]

I can "distill" it down even more: Life's too short to drink bad beer!

S.

[hops99]

Amen, brother!

[Brewdepest]

Originally posted by hops99
Save and spend your hard-earned money on a great movie next time, and you won't be disappointed!

Um, did you miss the part about how I actually like Pabst? Trust me, I'm not going to drink Busch Lite just because it's cheap and doesn't have quite the advertising campaign that big brother Bud does. I began drinking PBR before I knew there was a trend, and by and far, most of my friends still think I'm weird for it. I usually spring for twelve pack of bottles, then, when I go somewhere, I grab a few of those, then run by and pick up something better also. Nothing sucks more than havin to make a second beer run because you've finished off that four pack of Samuel Smith, especially when you've just blown most of your wad on it. Most friends aren't too proud to beg for a Pabst after the rest of their own sixers are empty.

[hops99]

Oh.

Well, if you like PBR, more power to you!

[hopjack13]

i don't have a problem with drinking just four beers, good beers.
sometime i may just enjoy one and save the other three.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Brewdepest
Most friends aren't too proud to beg for a Pabst after the rest of their own sixers are empty.

The only time I ever "begged" for a beer was on the next to last day of a hiking trip across Isle Royale in Lake Superior. My two buddies and I didn't pack in any beer to save weight - just 2 pint bottles of whiskey and vodka.

I'd gone about 3 days without a beer and was DYING for one - saw a small boat at a pier with a 12 in it, begged off a can from the 2 red-necks that owned the boat (didn't hurt that they actually knew my uncle and cousin from the small town in the U.P. where they live).

The beer? Leinenkugel. If it had been anything lesser, probably not. And it was all my friends could do to keep me from murdering a boat full of Canadians under the cover of night. They had 2 cases of Molson and wouldn't give up ONE bottle!! ;)

S.

[chazwicke]

I understand that is a neat place to hike and camp. I guess you fly in or boat in? I have to do that someday. I have family in the UP too. Escanaba / Rapid River area.

[steveh]

It's a gorgeous park, lots of wildlife. We flew in from Houghton/Hancock via sea-plane. Pretty cool.

Heyyy, I have relatives in Escanaba... Uh oh! ;)

S.

[hops99]

The beer? Leinenkugel. If it had been anything lesser, probably not. And it was all my friends could do to keep me from murdering a boat full of Canadians under the cover of night. They had 2 cases of Molson and wouldn't give up ONE bottle!!

The wilderness makes you crave weird things...

;)

[Saint Patrick]

Brewdepest, did you say Victoria's Secret and mention beer in the same post? I think if you refer to the rules and regulations of this here website establishment, you will find that it is illegal. Two things I don't mind my wife spending our money on ... (1) Beer (2) Victoria Secret Lingerie ;) ... I raise my glass to you!

[hopjack13]

ditto!;)

[Brewdepest]

Originally posted by hopjack13
i don't have a problem with drinking just four beers, good beers.
sometime i may just enjoy one and save the other three.

heh, most of my friends and I are still at the immature age where we sometimes like to drink to get drunk:D
My guy just keeps PBR bottles in the fridge all throughout the week, but when we go out, he always opts for no less than Guiness. If I'm only going to drink one beer on any particular night, I make a trip and snag a premium offering. Pabst usually happens for me when I'm either drinking at home with him, or if I'm heading to someone else's home and want to supplement my suppy with something that's not going to interfere with the taste of my good beer.
Then there are those long trips in the wilderness, and I like to budget...

[davesarman]

I read somewhere that there are bars now that are having "Your Dad's Beer Night" where they serve cheap, old school beers like PBR, Schlitz, Hamm's, Olympia, etc. Back in the day, when I was in college, I guess every night was "my dad's beer night"! :p Thank god, I've learned how great beer can really be! Although I must say, I'm a sucker for beer memorabilia and advertising from those old school brands!

[chazwicke]

Ah yes, another breweriana collector. I am an avid collector too. Although in an attempt to manage my collection I am trying to limit my collection to breweriana from Virginia, Washington DC, Maine and Greene King and Sons from Bury St. Edmunds. That is not to say I don't collect all breweriana it is just what I concentrate on.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by hops99
Oh.

Well, if you like PBR, more power to you!

In the immortal words of Dennis Hopper in the film "Blue Velvet":

"F### Heineken...PABST..BLUE.. RIBBON!!"

[chazwicke]

David Lynch is great! I loved Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks TV show and Wild at Heart.

[BluesHarp]

"this is my neighbor...from the neighborhood"

BV was, and still is, one messed-up movie...but one of my all-time favorites; Dennis Hopper was at his all-time best in that film...what a freak!
There was such a collection of weird characters in that movie; it could be used as a syllibus for an abnormal psychology class!

[b3s]

dennis hopper was talking about that movie on inside the actors studio once. he said that david lynch would come up to him with the script and point to a line and say "when you say that word, try to snarl a bit"...dennis would say "what word, dave?"..."this word"..."dave, the word is f***. you wrote it, say it!"

twisted movie, but i love it!

back on topic...pbr, blech. i do recall a bar off campus at UW-Madison with 25 cent tapper thursdays....we used to say it was the dregs of 2 month old hamms kegs...after the first buck-and-a-half it stopped tasting like glue :rolleyes:

[jsmurphy]

I had the opportunity, (maybe opportunity isn't the right word), to try PBR again at Thanksgiving. My wife's uncle brought a case of it and I decided to taste test it after reading this thread. I took one out of the fridge and let it warm up a bit, decanted it from its aluminum packaging and poured it into a pint glass.

One sip and I concluded it's the same fizzy yellow awful tasting swill that it always was...

[freddiefreelanc]

Karl Strauss was the PBR Master Brewer for over 50 years. He brewed the beer exactly to their standards year after year. Karl was also the president of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas from 1961-'63 & has won their Distinguished Life Service Award. After he retired his cousin called him asking if they could use his name & image for a brew pub in San Diego, and if he had any recipes that they could use. He gave them several, including the beer he'd dreamt of making all those years: Karl Strauss Amber Lager. The Karl Strauss Breweries now serve over a million gallons of beer a year, mostly of the Amber Lager.

Just 'cause the beer is slightly alcoholic yellow fizzy water doesn't mean the brewers don't know any better, it probably means that the managers don't know any better.

Personally I think PBR's making a resurgence 'cause of red, white & blue cans.

[Bryant]

Just 'cause the beer is slightly alcoholic yellow fizzy water doesn't mean the brewers don't know any better, it probably means that the managers don't know any better.

Personally I think PBR's making a resurgence 'cause of red, white & blue cans. [/B]

You are absolutely right about that. The brewmasters of the big three are extremely talented. To brew as much of that stuff as they do and the consistantancy remains extremely tight is an art. While it is consistantly dull and hum-drum in my eyes.... or mouth, it is always the same dull and hum-drum.

Bryant

[OldHooky]

Does PBR or any other of the old brands come in pop top bottles anymore. That way, at least, I can use the bottles when I'm done pouring it out. But seriously, I don't mind drinking those old brands. I used to keep 30 packs of Strohs or Miller in the fridge to give to guests. I find them sort of refreshing after working in the sun all day.

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
It's been like 18 years since I had malt liquor. I should give a Master Cylinder of the Bull a try.

Actually, the term "malt liquor", is more of a legal term than it is a style of beer. For a long time, many states prohibited the sale of beer above a certain ABW. (Here in Ohio it was 7%). To get around this, brewers renamed their products "malt liquor." Many of them were around 5.5 - 8% ABW.
Thank God, our state (and many others) have rid themselves of this antiquated law & began selling all types of "beers" with any amount of alcohol.
My favorite "malt liquor" was Molson's Brador. A clean tasting lager with about 6.9% ABV. Hard to beleive this malt liquor came in a fancy bottle with gold foiled caps.
So in a sense, that Belgian Abbey Ale you just drank could have been called "malt liquor."

[chazwicke]

And back in that time period, Virginia did not allow the word "liquor" on beer labels so it was called Malt "Lager" here. The major brewers had to have special labels just for our state. I too am glad those days are long gone.

[hopjack13]

and back to the original topic of this thread.....PBR SUCKS!

[chazwicke]

WOW Hopjack! 700! congrats!

[hopjack13]

thnx chaz! :D

[fretlessman71]

Well done hopjack! We're hot on your tail, though... ;)

[wortchillergoal]

It may be late but feel that I have to get in on this thread as everyone else seems to have joined. I have not read all the reads in great detail, but could it be people think that PBR is a mirco or close to it? It seems to me that PBR fell off the radar screen for a while. I would think some of the people drinking it do not know it has been around for a long time.

As for me, I think PBR is a great way to sanitize the inside of a keg.

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
It may be late but feel that I have to get in on this thread as everyone else seems to have joined. I have not read all the reads in great detail, but could it be people think that PBR is a mirco or close to it? It seems to me that PBR fell off the radar screen for a while. I would think some of the people drinking it do not know it has been around for a long time.

As for me, I think PBR is a great way to sanitize the inside of a keg.

I thought the same thing about Rolling Rock when I was out in Calif. in 1996. Every bar & restaurant had thought they just had discovered how to slice bread. Sold at premium prices, too.
They can have it.

[O2 Mash]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
In the immortal words of Dennis Hopper in the film "Blue Velvet":

"F### Heineken...PABST..BLUE.. RIBBON!!"

Blues Harp, you are close, but actually it is "Heineken, F&$# that S%$#, PABST.....BLUE.......RIBBON!!

I've been reading this thread and CRACKING UP!! You guys are too much. I especially love Steveh's comment that if he bought a six pack of PBR at his local store they would think his body was taken over by aliens.

[chazwicke]

Blue Velvet is one of Lynch's best.

[hops99]

Blue Velvet nipped all of my 80's Isabella Rossellini fantasies in the bud....

[Brewdepest]

Seriously, who would choose Heineken over the Blue Ribbon?

[O2 Mash]

Originally posted by Brewdepest
Seriously, who would choose Heineken over the Blue Ribbon?

Not Dennis Hopper

[tyesai]

Let us not be beer snobs, I LOVE Rolling Rock on a hot day, I have found PBR on tap in a few steak restraunts and I often find myself getting a mug or 4. Nothing wrong with it. I love homebrew and I never try to make a Macro type brew, as a matter of fact I brew to get those different beers without paying an arm and leg. I don't think their is a thing wrong with the Macro brews. If you think about what they produce it is amazing from a brewing standpoint.

[Krougar]

Well there has to be a reason these guys can sell beer. If a lot of people had their way here, noone that mass-produced beer would be in business anymore. I agree that a seemingly "sh*t beer" can serve as a nice refreshing beverage on occasion. I've been a victim of a low income since I grew to the age of drinking in the US. If it comes down to what you like and what you can't stand...then fine. How many people that drink nothing but homebrews or micro beer still eat mac'n'cheese out of a box occasionally? I think it's the same with beer.

And for a beer that used to be considered quality in the US, PBR has done a pretty good job of sticking around and still making money somehow.

[steveh]

Originally posted by tyesai
Let us not be beer snobs,

Too late for me to change now - life's too short to drink bad beer. ;)

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Krougar
Well there has to be a reason these guys can sell beer.

Pure and simple: ignorance. Lack of knowledge by the consumer of just what they're drinking and what they could be drinking.

S.

[Magnew]

A german friend of mine visiting the states in the early 80's put it well. Some one asked him what he thought of American beer. His reply:

"It's good. It's not beer, but it's good."

[steveh]

Originally posted by Magnew
"It's good. It's not beer, but it's good."

He was being polite. The 2 German brothers we had interning with us last Summer put it differently, "Hmm. You have no Hefeweizen?" ;)

S.

[threecb]

Originally posted by steveh
Pure and simple: ignorance. Lack of knowledge by the consumer of just what they're drinking and what they could be drinking.

S.

Not to mention marketing.

[IPAfanatic]

Kinda funny that I stumbled across this thread when I did. I'm only 22 and found my love for microbrews when I turned 21. Anyway, this weekend I bought a case of PBR (only p-ss beer I drink) and about 4 beers in I decided that would be the last case of p-ss beer that I ever buy. I used to love it because it was cheap and got me drunk more than one night. Also, everyone that likes the macros thinks that PBR is inferior (even though it's probably the exact same thing as the others) which gives it a little more appeal in a funny sort of way.

However, now I'd much rather spend my last 8 bucks on a six-pack of Victory's Hop Devil than another 12er of PBR. I think that
Steve said it best, "lifes too short to drink bad beer".

[lubricated]

Originally posted by IPAfanatic
However, now I'd much rather spend my last 8 bucks on a six-pack of Victory's Hop Devil than another 12er of PBR. I think that
Steve said it best, "lifes too short to drink bad beer".

way to go. I'd rather drink half as much then drink piss.

[dennis3951]

You should never have to pay $8 for a 12 of PBR .$5.99 is as much as you should pay.

[IPAfanatic]

Obviously it's not worth $8...but unfortunately I'm not in control of the market prices around here. Besides, thats with 10 percent tax so its really only a dollar more than you would pay.

[skahtboi]

I can't believe that this thread, started lo these many months ago, refuses to die!!! :rolleyes:

[dennis3951]

PBR refuses to die, this thread must feel the same way. PBR was my beer a long time ago. I started with Reingold in the late 60's. when they went oob around 1976 i tried all the various brands around than and settled on PRB as the best.

[chazwicke]

Did you drink the Chug-A-Mugs? Do you remember the Miss Rheingold contests?

[SAustinTX]

I'm pretty much on the same page as the folks who say they'll drink most anything if it's on someone else's dime. Not to sound like a cheapskate or anything, but if someone else has paid for a 12-pack and had the decency to bring it over who am I to complain about their selection? Hell, when I'm in the opposite situation and I'm having to provide beer for 3-4 other people on my dollar, I'm not likely to go splurge on that $15 six-pack of Ayinger Celebrator that tempts me every time I walk into the liquor store.

There are even times when I'm buying beer solely for myself and don't have a bunch of cash to spend (usually a day or two before the paycheck rolls in). In those cases I'm less likely to go for quantity over quality, but if I expect any kind of prolonged buzz a compromise must usually be made. For instance, instead of a $6 12-pack of Schlitz I may splurge on a $10 12-pack of Tecate or even (horror!) a $9 12-pack of Bud. If I'm going dirt cheap I typically stick with Lone Star. Speaking of which, does anyone know when they stopped making Pearl?

[chazwicke]

The website still mentions Pearl. I think they are still making it along with a truckload of other former brands. http://www.pabst.com/

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Do you remember the Miss Rheingold contests?

She's back!

http://www.rheingoldbeer.com/beer/miss_rheingold_vote_2004_dani.php

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by SAustinTX
...but if I expect any kind of prolonged buzz a compromise must usually be made...

I would much rather drink the quality than ever worry about the buzz factor.

[dennis3951]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Did you drink the Chug-A-Mugs? Do you remember the Miss Rheingold contests?
I remember the Miss Rheingold jingle but thats about all .Chug-a-Mugs are burnt into my brain or whats left of it. For those less lucky, a Chug-a- Mug was a wide mouth 12 oz. bottle with a pull top. Pull the top and chug the mug.
Looking back Rheingold was just what we now call swill, i guess but it was the best selling beer in metro NYC for years. A few years ago a group of investors bought the name, recipe and yeast strain from who ever owned them and started to contract brew it at F.X. Matt and company in Utica NY. I tried it , it may taste the same but my tastes have changed. Time moves on ,maybe Sierra Nevada will start useing Chug-a-Mugs best of both worlds lol

[davesarman]

Originally posted by dennis3951
a Chug-a- Mug was a wide mouth 12 oz. bottle with a pull top. Pull the top and chug the mug.


In the Midwest, Schmidt used to sell those kinds of bottles. We called them grenades....pull the pin, slam the beer, throw the bottle....ah, yes, how refined we were back in the day.... :rolleyes:

[wild]

Originally posted by SAustinTX
I'm pretty much on the same page as the folks who say they'll drink most anything if it's on someone else's dime.

I grew up believing there're 2 kinds of beer, Good and Free.

W

[IPAfanatic]

Originally posted by wild
I grew up believing there're 2 kinds of beer, Good and Free.

W

How could it be said any better? :D

[SAustinTX]

Beer definitely has a better taste to it when it's free. I've often chewed over the metaphysics of that one.