Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) - Pabst Brewing Company

Goat2Hunter

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev +27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

I had this in both a bottle and a can, and I must say, I was very impressed, its appearance is very fine looking, like you would expect a beer to be, smells like beer, good amount of hops present, taste is very good, especially for the price you would imagine this to taste like water, but it really doesn't, Pabst uses alot of hops, and very exotic ones at that, not like its an exotic beer, its taste like beer, but it is rather quirky tasting, damn good though. and mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, overall I think this is a good beer, and a beer's beer at that, they use alot of good ingredients in making it and I think it runs circles around its more expensive rivals like Budweiser, or Corona. I also believe if you dont like this you probably dont like beer, Everyone needs to try this beer, at least once in there life's

Serving type: can

04-25-2013 13:32:08 | More by Goat2Hunter

drmystery

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

all rating s are based on the style, in this case american adjunct lager, keep that in mind.

after needing a break from paying $8 per six pack of local craft beer (foothills hoppyum ipa..mmm) i went to the bmc section of the beer aisle and saw the typical bud, bud light, michelob ultra (which is hardly beer), natty, etc. then i saw pabst blue ribbon in a 6 pack-all the bmc's were in multipacks-for 5 dollars, thats ~84 cents a bottle and i thought thats a good deal for an adjunct lager thats not bmc.

i spent my 5 bucks and had me some pbr.

the appearance is typical of an adjunct lager-straw pissy yellow with snow white head, about average for this style of beer.

the smell is pretty average, malts and beer. zero hops.

taste is just malts and sweet corn syrup (pbrs adjunct), which is kind of good...i get that sweetness and kind of tang of corn syrup on the back of my throat which invites me to have more. however the lack of hops is to be expected, but its disappointing, this beer actually tastes good for an adjunct lager, and i was half hoping for some hops. i guess im just naiive.

mouthfeel-fizzy water, nothing too impressive, except for the goopy corns syrup on the back of the back of the throat, which i liked.

overall, this adjunct american lager is not bad. it has an interesting corn syrupy characteristic which i personally find enjoyable. obviously this beer isnt a craft beer and its not going to be loaded with hops-its a flavorful and enjoyable macro adjunct lager that i will drink again when the IPAs and pale ales get old. PBR is a refreshing and cheap way to enjoy a macro beer that has a little bit more going than the bmc's when you need a break from kickass craft beers. above average ratings in nearly all categories for this style of beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 18:50:04 | More by drmystery

lancecenter

Texas

3/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 24 oz can in to a Sam Adams pint glass.

A - pale yellow with about two fingers of head that dissipates pretty quick. Decent amount of lacing.

S - Not much going on here. A little bit of grass like most adjuncts.

T - Grassiness with a little bit of citrus.

M - Crisp, light mouthfeel.

O - Eh, I not bad for an adjunct.

Serving type: can

04-14-2013 05:41:54 | More by lancecenter

sajaffe1

Alabama

3.24/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured from the 12oz can into a pint glass

A- Brassy color, clear, bubbly with a good but short-lived head

S- Grains, namely corn and some barley, touch of grassy hops

T- A bit bland yet refreshing. Hints of hops and corn

M- Thin, but well carbonated

O- It is a decent budget beer and beats out many of the other major adjunct lagers.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 19:12:13 | More by sajaffe1

fx20736

New York

3.71/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

bought a single 24 oz can from Wegmans Calkins Rd on 4/9/13 for $ 1.29.

Poured into a mug, served at fridge temp.

appearance: pale brass with a 2 finger white head. Some lacing.

aroma: hops and some baker's yeast?

mouthfeel: a little thin but not flat, decent carbonation.

taste: pale malt with a touch of hops.

notes: for an adjunct lager this is pretty good beer. Hell, it's just good beer. No wonder hipsters like it.

Serving type: can

04-09-2013 23:49:35 | More by fx20736

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

2.69/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Poured into a shaker pint glass.

Look: Clear light golden straw color. A white head recedes to a film. Minimal lacing.

Aroma: Metallic, yeasty, bready.

Taste: Slightly sweet, metallic, faint malted barley, yeast.

Mouthfeel: Light and carbonated.

Overall: Hipsters like it, but to me it's not any better than any other adjunct lager. I guess I'm not cool enough :(

Serving type: can

04-06-2013 22:12:52 | More by JuicesFlowing

MichaelNickerson

Michigan

2.93/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 1.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Appearance: Extremely light yellow with small head.

Smell: Bread malt aromas with light hops and light yeast.

Taste: Light, thin body with a bitter ending.

Mouthfeel: Short retention that allows for a rather quick second drink.

Overall: Although it's a below average beer, it's the best "cheap" beers out there. Definitely better than bud light, natty light, keystone, and other comparable beers. Easy to drink for volume purposes, but other than that, useless.

Serving type: can

04-01-2013 23:12:14 | More by MichaelNickerson

bbluemzbeer

California

3.76/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.75

I certainly think this is better than Bud, Miller and Coors.

Apperance: yellow. It looks like beer

Smell : smell like grain, like beer should smell like.

Taste: I was surprised how good this beer tasted. It tasted like malt and corn and some mild at the end

Mouthfeel: Strongly carbonated with a thin body. It just like ameircan lager beer

This beer was real nasty as kid but it taste pretty good now. Maybe I drank it warm or they changed the formula. I would drank some more in the future. Good beer!

Serving type: can

03-31-2013 18:42:35 | More by bbluemzbeer

daddydawg80

Georgia

3.09/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

OK, everyone has had this so no need to state the obvious. This beer is what it is and has survived for over 150 years, so it is no fad.

I call this my lawnmower beer, which means it's my go to beer after yard work when I'm thirsty.

I love it for what it is and keep a few in the fridge surrounded by a variety of craft brews. This is an American classic, god bless America.

Serving type: can

03-31-2013 16:03:52 | More by daddydawg80

atigerlife

Hawaii

2.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Was out for chicken wings with the family and decided to have a couple PBR's. Been a while...

Pours pale golden with a small white head that dissipates rather quickly. Pretty much what you would expect from this style.

Aroma is grainy, slightly sweet. Not a lot going on here.

Taste is of grain, light hops, light malts. Rather crisp. Again, pretty much how I remember and what I was expecting.

Mouthfeel is light bodied and cleansing.

Overall, definitely sessionable. Decent for what it is. Worked well enough with the chicken wings.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2013 03:29:20 | More by atigerlife

AniGamor

Texas

3.54/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I don't really post on Beer Advocate. I generally use it to look up what style a beer is when it's not obvious before I buy it. That said, I regard the ratings as an indicator of how strongly flavored (for better or worse) a beer is. I would say that generally on a BA review, the higher the rating, the more I'm not going to like a beer unless I've already prepped myself with some previous drinking.

Don't get me wrong, I'm generally not some macrobrew swelling bro, who marches into a bar and immediately orders a bud light. I generally stroll into my local brew garden, and look at what's new and ask the opinion of the bartender on stuff I haven't tried. I try all kinds of things and it really just depends on the mood I'm in.

I would like to think that a lot of people had evolved from similar experiences with beer early on like I did. The first time you may have tried beer, was from your dad's can, and it was vile. I believe my first beer sip might have been Coors. You also might have gotten the feelings that beer was a low class drink that drunks partook of. During your High School or even early drinking age years, you may have come to the conclusion that "you hate beer".

Eventually, you might have discovered a wine cooler, or a lambic, or cider. Flavored beers or fermented beer-like beverages from colorful bottles or pulls that tasted good and were beer related. You may have discovered Guinness, a beer that initially may feel you with thoughts of manliness or the Irish hills. A stout that moved you to better Oatmeal based concoctions and other opaque, dark brews. You may have thought that "maybe I only hate piss colored beers".

At some point you run into IPAs and other Ales in general. You look at their color with disgust, and reluctantly try one, and you hate it. However, overtime you keep trying them and you might evolve to appreciate the hoppy flavor, and you discover some fruitiness, that reminds you of those lambics, but less extreme.

I think at this point you've learned that it was the Pissy American Macrobrewed rubbish all along. Though, secretly you might realize that you're being a snob now.

I think this is how the hatred of beers like PBR comes about. Pabst Blue Ribbon, in my opinion, is the epitome of beer. Strong words, but listen. It's not that it's 'good' but it is the essence of the thing of which it is.

PBR is an American Lager. It's Grain, Hops, Yeast, and Water. It's simple, yellow, and drinkable. It has successfully accomplished all that it has set out to do. It's about 60 cents for a 12 ounce can (in a 30 pack). I've bought it for $4 a growler before. It's more expensive than Malt Liquor, which I have found for 50 cents for a 40 ounce bottle. Still, Budweiser drinkers and the like will look down upon PBR for being cheap.

It's not such a bad thing! PBR's biggest strength I feel is it's smell. It reminds me of a passable Champagne with maybe some extra flower scents. It smells good and smell is probably the most important part of consuming something.

Taste, it tastes like a decent beer flavored carbonated water. It's a bit like Perrier, but cheaper and less citrus to it. The beer component is malty, it is my opinion that any hops are converted directly to scent upon opening or pouring though, because that it really the only place I detect them.

Pour? It's a yellow beer, mediocre head, unimpressive. It's not a 6 dollar pull of nitrogenated stout. There's no showmanship. It's plain yellow beer. It looks fine in a can in a paper bag, or in a giant mug, or poured out of a growler into a glass.

Suggestions:

Keep it cold. These Adjuct Lagers don't like heat. PBR is less bad than other when warm, but it's unpleasant.

Drink it as a session beer. I find that it's low alcohol content and high drinkability make it excellent for drinking over a long period of time. If there is something on TV that requires a beer, this is a good beer. If you're hanging out at a family event, this is a good beer. If you need a cold adult beverage on a hot summer's day? It's fine!

Buy in bulk. This beer is cheap, but it's still actually a beer. You're not going to find it for 80 ounces for a dollar like King Cobra. You will, however, find it on sale in 30-packs. I think that if you have thirsty friends, it's excellent to offer them one of these instead of Coke now and then. Coke is still cheaper in bulk, ~9$ for a 36-pack around here, but you have to add rum to it if you want an adult beverage, and that adds up.

Bottom line. At a normal bar journey I'm generally going to order two pints and some food and then leave. This will not be one of those pints. It's great for everything but drinking at a bar or cooking with (unless you're drinking it while cooking).

Serving type: growler

03-29-2013 18:12:51 | More by AniGamor

Brotato

California

2.23/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.25

This is a cheap beer, there's no arguing that, and if someone is limited by their budget for the nectar that we know as beer then Pabst Blue Ribbon is a somewhat legitimate option among other cheap beers. If one could see beyond all the hype about this brew then I'd reckon that they'll come to the same conclusion.

Serving type- Can poured into a tumbler glass

Appearance- Straw yellow with a quickly dissipating head and very little lacing to follow. By no means gross looking as others claim but it is rather plain looking.

Smell- Mildly sweet wheat scent with a very faint citrus note, it really smells better than it tastes in my opinion.

Taste- In all honesty, it tastes like carbonated tap water that serves initially a light corn syrupy sweet taste tailed with a very, very mild wheat flavor along with some faint citrus-like notes in there... I cannot detect any malt or hops. Thankfully it does have alcohol in there.

Mouthfeel- Ever had carbonated water? Imagine that with beer flavoring added...

Overall- Disappointing considering all the hype about this beer. I really can't justify this beer when they're so many better options out there. Yes, a better beer is typically more expensive but infinitely more enjoyable. To be honest though, I have been "corrupted" by the finer brews from the likes of Belgium (Abbey beers rock!) and Europe in general, although there's plenty of garbage brews that come from there too, but if anyone is simply drinking this beer only to be "hip" then the joke is on them because there are beers out there that are so much better.

Serving type: can

03-12-2013 03:52:03 | More by Brotato

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

1.85/5  rDev -38.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.75

Appearance: Sickly yellow , boasting low, thin carbonation that poured with a finger of head that did not lace or retain very well.

Smell: It certainly has an acidic funk to it with an odd hard water smell backing it. Warming didn't really help or hurt it, but I wouldn't say it's appetizing in the least.

Taste: It starts with a sweet, swampy corn taste that builds and builds and ends with a brief earthy hop twang. That's really it, nothing too out of the box on this one.

Mouthfeel: It's got an acidic texture to it that is undesirable but other then that it's alright, the carbonation is ok and doesn't fall flat for a good long while. It does cloy a bit after a while.

Drinkability: That acidic tone really hurts my desire to get this stuff down, and doesn't quite settle right. It's also very uninteresting so it's really not something I want to continue drinking for any purpose other then getting smashed.

Final Thoughts: I finally found out why South Park lampooned this beer, but remain oblivious at how this has suddenly become a "hipster" beer. It's pretty much such a slapped together cheap lager, which I wouldn't really wish upon anyone.

Serving type: can

03-10-2013 08:38:28 | More by TheHammer

orcsinspace

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

In a complicated world where a beer can only be considered "good" if it has chocolate or gingerbread, or some other things that do not belong in my beer, PBR is a breath of fresh air. As far as American Adjuncts go, this is neck in neck with the gold standard, Budweiser (sorry beer snobs), but PBR has a little more flavor.

It smells like beer. Everything you would expect: a little yeasty, a little malty, and not really over the top with hops. It has a balanced smell that does not smell stale like some other adjuncts can, and it is fairly subtle.

The taste is classic, and reminds me of a simpler time when beer was affordable for everyone and was not becoming increasingly gentrified: not too bold, not too watery, but just in the middle. The reason I like adjuncts is because they are very neutral beers on the whole; there is not an over the top taste that can burn one out quick, and there is not a taste that really has to be acquired. PBR nails the archetype of the adjunct, and I have bought 12 of them for less than a tall draft of beer that tastes like burnt coffee at the local craft beer bar down the street.

One thing I have noticed is that the beer market has trends, just like everything else. A lot of the microbrews that were big a decade ago went the way of Zima, and I imagine that the majority of the ones popular at the store now will as well. One thing is certain though: if I want a real tasting beer without gimmicks and pretense, I can always count on PBR.

Serving type: can

03-07-2013 16:37:00 | More by orcsinspace

Mrsunshine63755

Missouri

3.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Its like Liquid crack ! Great in 16 oz cans .Cant go wrong with PBR .Look @ inbev"The class action lawsuits filed thus far are based not on any scientific tests of the products, but rather on information from former Anheuser- Busch InBev employees who claim that the beer giant is watering down its products. These reports are coming not only from brewers and others who help make the beer, but also from employees outside of the brewing part of the business who report that weakening the brew is actually a part of Anheuser- Busch InBev’s corporate policy. This prompted California beer drinkers to seek legal action against the brewery and convinced lead attorney Josh Boxer to file the suit on behalf of consumers."

Serving type: can

03-07-2013 07:08:52 | More by Mrsunshine63755

BoFoSho

Washington

1.26/5  rDev -58%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.5

My friend returned from the kitchen with a cup full of what I thought was piss. He swore to me it wasn't, but I couldn't be sure. I smelled the "brew", and thought it was for sure urine. But I was thirsty, so I took a big gulp. My brain was telling me to spit it out and look for some real beer, but I was too polite and not drunk enough for such rash actions. Smells and tastes like water that has sat in a plastic bottle for two months. If there is anything that PBR is good for, it would be Keg Stands. One can drink this like water all day, and receive a blue ribbon for being the most low-class drinker around.

Serving type: can

03-05-2013 06:02:13 | More by BoFoSho

Quivalen

Arizona

3.88/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Pbr one of the all time grand daddies of American pilsners or lagers . While I am not a fan of them , from time to time I have one . If you take into consideration what it is , its really not bad at all and honestly , you really can't beat the price . This is actually one of the American domestics that is not over carbonated , borderline flat , bland , and doesn't have an off or chemical taste to it .
It has a nice golden straw color , and a crisp clean pilsner type smell . Nothing pops out but honestly nothing is meant to .
It actually has really good head retention and will lace nicely in a glass , surprising considering this is something some more prestigious breweries have yet to figure out . It has decent mouth feel though very little malt or hops shines through .

If you are looking for a decent tasting enjoyable domestic it might fit your bill and its not bad stuff despite whatever anyone else might think , at least in my book !

Overall I really don't mind a pbr at all , especially and ice cold one on a hot Arizona summer afternoon .

Serving type: can

03-05-2013 02:31:48 | More by Quivalen

Khad

4.68/5  rDev +56%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Look you have to put everything in perspective. Obviously this is not the high quality handcrafted beer you would expect from this rating, however when compared to all in it's class this is far superior.

I find the best way to enjoy this beer is can poured into a glass. The appearance is a little nicer than most American style Lagers. Smell is a little grassy but it's not bad at all it's really kind of pleasant and refreshing scent not as skunky as most in it's class. The taste is very surprising with it being very crisp. You can pick up some grain but not overpowering. Very drinkable and no horrible after taste...the mouth feel is better than typical without the carbonation ruining your taste buds for the duration of the session. I think it's the best in it's class, definitely very drinkable, I liked it!

Serving type: can

03-04-2013 21:44:17 | More by Khad

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

The PBR pours like a kellerweizen, piss yellow with a nice fluffy eggshell white head, though that skims down to a quarter of a fingers width quite quickly. The beer’s body is water clear with a torrent of bubbles working to the top of the glass. In truth, the beer looks a little like ginger ale in the glass. The beer’s head leaves a lacing of medium sized and tightly packed bubbles on the sides of the glass in sparse scraggly lines. On the nose, the beer smells weakly of sweet grassy malts with a touch of caramel. That stale grain smell that is found in most cheap lagers is also present here. It actually smells better than some of the other cheap lagers I’ve reviewed. It’s not amazing, but it doesn’t turn my stomach either, and it doesn’t have a completely bland character. On the tongue, the beer tastes sweetly bready with a touch of acid and the faintest touch of salt. The beer’s flavors begin with water, slowly opening into stale bread and grassy hops that turn hay-like. The finish is clean and quick, giving that slightly vegetal chemical sweet taste that all cheap lagers have. On the mouth, the beer feels thin, with a medium light carbonation that does fluff the tongue. The mouth is left wet after the beer passes. This beer is supremely drinkable, which is why it still exists today. It also leaves the mouth in flavor soon after it travels down your throat. Overall, this is PBR. It is cheap beer, but it is not offensive. It’s just pretty flavorless. To PBR’s credit, I find more flavor in it than in other comparable cheap lagers that I’ve reviewed (i.e. Red Stripe…). Buy a thirty if you want to cheaply drink yourself stupid. It is not the worst thing you could drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 21:08:30 | More by Maxwell

Jsteez

New Mexico

2.89/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Poured from a 16 oz. can into a dimpled beer mug.

My 3rd beer in my hunt for an American great Adjunct Lager.

A-Pure white 1 finger head that dissipated into a thin white surface. Left minimal lacing on the glass. Pure yellow with a lot of carbonation.

S-grain, malt, cereal, corn. Pretty simple for an American reject.

T-This defines average. Corn, grain, malt, period. Aftertaste consists of sweet grain and malt. Maybe some sludge. Soda water taste.

M-dry, high carbonation, sweet malt crispness.

Overall-tastes good with spicy and salty food, and it needs to be very cold to taste okay. Very average, I only buy it when I feel like being cheap. A true American crud beer, drinkable, yes.

Serving type: can

02-24-2013 20:36:32 | More by Jsteez

IXCII

California

3.98/5  rDev +32.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pabst is my stand-by cheap beer. It's truly the water of beers. Light, crisp, and refreshing and doesn't carry any of the "piss" aroma of the competition.

It's better than Natty, it's better than Stella, it's better than Bud Light, it's even better than Bud Light Lime!

A tall can of PBR is the true champagne of beers!

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 07:50:24 | More by IXCII

RyanLaCount03

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Overall I thought Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) was an OK beer. The taste wasn't as good as I expected, but it was still not a terrible beer. The appearance of the beer was nice, but the smell was not that good. If I was offered this beer sometime in the future again I would have one, but I would not buy it.

Serving type: can

02-20-2013 19:01:21 | More by RyanLaCount03

Kaytru

5/5  rDev +66.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The best American Lager out there! Leaps and bounds better than its competitors. Not as watery, more of a bite and a refreshing malty finish. PBR ME ASAP!...if you like Classic Beer you need not look further PBR will do the trick. Cool brand aesthetics also!!!!

Serving type: can

02-15-2013 06:57:58 | More by Kaytru

MikeAAL

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +41.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Pabst Blue Ribbon is one of my favorite beers. It's a classic.

Pale yellow, straw color. Quite a bit of carbonation. A little bit of a head, dissipates quickly.

It smells a bit metallic, grainy and hops.

It tastes light, carbonated and has a very nice hoppy flavor. A nice amount of bitters.

Light, fizzy and flavorful.

Overall, one of my favorite beers. It's definatley up there.

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 18:59:12 | More by MikeAAL

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.26/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A-poured from a 16oz can. Pours with a pretty good size white fizzy head that quickly dissapears leaving some lively bubbles floating to the top. Crystal clear pale yellow in color.

S- light, sweet grainy malt with just a touch of grassy hop, clean

T- thin malt flavor, but way more than most adjuncts, it provides more of a grainy gritty taste, the only trace of hops is just a bit of grassiness, the finish is thin and dry, but leaves just a bit more grain

M- light bodied with lively medium carbonation, finishes pretty smooth

O- this is an adjunct lager, but compared to the others in its class, I think it's the best. More flavor and drinkability. Sometimes a light lager is needed, if that's the case, I'd choose PBR over the big three any day.

Serving type: can

02-06-2013 01:00:02 | More by Treyliff