Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) - Pabst Brewing Company

DrunkIrishman

3.18/5  rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I can't really explain why I chose Pabst Blue Ribbon for my first review. Maybe it's because I never bothered to try it before this weekend, so I don't really have any preconceived notions about it. Or maybe it just seems fitting to review this particular brew given the "retro" mood I've been in lately. Doesn't matter really. Here we go:

Serving size: 12 oz can poured into a Pint glass

A: Light golden color topped with a 2.5 finger head (after an aggressive pour). Sixty seconds later, the head recedes to a light lacing. No visible carbonation bubbles after two minutes +/-.

S: Citrus-y and yeasty. Like an interesting combination of lemon grass and sour dough bread. Hmmm... Is that cornmeal I smell?

T: Wow. For an AAL, I was surprised how good this tasted. Sweet malt at the tip of the tongue gives way to an adjunct corn flavor at the center (not over-bearing) and a mild hop finish on the back end.

M: Here's my biggest criticism... A slick (almost oily) finish that lingers on the back of the tongue and mouth.

O: I'd chose PBR over Budweiser any day. A session-able beer at an economical price ($10 per 18-pack). A great choice for BBQs, bon-fires, hot summer days, or when mass consumption is not only necessary... but essential!!!

Follow up: 02/02/2013 Much to my surprise, Pabst Blue Ribbon has become my go-to beer of choice. All things considered I have come to love this brew! I continue to wonder why it took me over 20 years to finally give PBR a try. Give it an honest chance and perhaps you will, too.

Serving type: can

10-20-2012 21:00:14 | More by DrunkIrishman

kevanb

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz can

PBR pours that typical golden color one would expect from an AAL, light white head, gone almost instantly leaving behind no head. Lots of fizzy bubbles rising to the top of the glass, slight chill haze. The aroma is of sweet corn, skunky malt and cereal grains, extremely simple, boring and kind of gross. The flavors are better, sweet malts, cereal grain, corn, pretty watery but surprisingly robust. There is less skunkiness on the tongue making this very easy to drink. The body is good, super light, very carbonated, a bit prickly on the tongue, nothing special.

Verdict: It's PBR, can't say I give it a great endorsement, but when compared to every other AAL, it's fantastic. Definitely my go to hipster beer and a great bargain beer.

Serving type: can

10-15-2012 21:53:32 | More by kevanb

ThePaleRider

California

2.8/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Clear and yellow just like you would expect. Bright white head quickly disappears and leaves you looking at more yellow on top.

S - Smells like malts, socks, and salt water. Reminds me of when I was a kid and everyone was drinking Bud.

T - For me, the colder the better. Not a whole lot of flavor going on. Malts, grass, and not a bad little bitter bite. As much as I hate to admit it, but the hipsters may be right. This is a very drinkable beer.

M - Cheap beer always packs an awesome amount of carbonation. Pretty much like drinking a soda.

O - Perfect beer for a BBQ or watching the game. The price is right and this beer is an old favorite that can pretty much please anyone.

Serving type: can

10-09-2012 21:21:34 | More by ThePaleRider

Bertman

Florida

3.7/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

nice head holds up well in glass

nice color rich amber, crystal clear

big nose, smells like a much more expensive beer

big American flavor, very easy drinking, balanced with a little bitter finish

thick and rich in the mouth.

this is my favorive saturday law mowing, game watching, chicken eating beer. nothing, made in America, is better on a hot day!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 20:58:13 | More by Bertman

chrisinsf

California

3.85/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my favorite adjunct lager. The cloyingly sweet grainy, corny taste of the most adjuncts is imperceptible in this one and I even taste the tiniest bit of hops on the finish.

Never mind that it is a "hipster beer", I'm too old to care about such things.

I did want to say that PBR seems to have some quality control issues. Every once in a while I get one that tastes of green apple. This is not normal. Most of the time I don't taste that at all.
I see some other reviewers mention that as well. If you taste green apple you got a bad batch.

Serving type: can

09-15-2012 19:12:04 | More by chrisinsf

Schneidermeister

3.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

What'll ya have? Pabst Blue Ribbon! Pabst has a long and rich history in America, and it is one of the oldest beers commercially brewed in the U.S. Look at the can for God's sake. Red, white and blue through and through. Truly an American icon, and a classic taste among blue collar men everywhere. This is your grandpa's beer. Before the hipster craze set in, drinking this beer meant you were a working man, and you liked a simple beer. Simple beer for simple folks. But I don't find it so simple. I taste a very light, yet flavorful brew. A slight hops note from the get go, super bubbly mouthfeel that masks most of the flavor initially, but it follows through with that cold, crisp and refreshing yeastiness that we all know from American Adjunct Lagers toward the finish. Love it though I do, I will make one thing very clear. Don't ever drink this beer any warmer than ice cold, or it tastes like canned hay juice. I can tell you those of you who have not tried it how to best enjoy it. Bust your ass on a hot summer day doing some yard work, car work, or helping a friend move. Nothing beats an ice-cold Pabst at the end of a hard day's work. Pabst is an American classic, good for a budget beer, and perfect for any fourth of July barbecue. Great summer beer, and it never changes. It's not the best, not the worst. But hey, it's cheap, pretty tasty, and it's something everyone can enjoy. Great for parties, poker night, Cookouts...any occasion with friends and family fits the bill.

Serving type: can

09-14-2012 11:34:29 | More by Schneidermeister

StonedTrippin

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

for a cheapo, i dont hate a pbr. its become the beer of choice for the indie/hipster crowd, which i guess is a turnoff, but the beer isnt awful. it pours clear and yellow and soda-like, watery for sure, but not ugly like a coors light. it smells like a can of crap beer honestly, some aluminum, some stale malt, and that patented adjunct malt stink. the flavor isnt bad, because it doesnt taste like anything. really, scarecely a trace of anything that would make this a beer, hops? no. yeast? nope. i could be drinking a carbonated water beverage here. however, its lightness lends to its drinkablility, and probably its incredibly low price. i know bars where these cost just a buck, and most of a time its no more than two bucks. its certainly a decent budget beer, but it takes about a 12er to catch a buzz. oh well, thought id chuck in my two cents on this one while im having one.

Serving type: can

09-12-2012 02:02:37 | More by StonedTrippin

mckenziac

3.23/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. can into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass.

Appearance: Pours a translucent, pale yellow color with a large, fizzy head that dissipates quickly down to a small, tight, fizzy cap. Pretty standard macro lager territory here.

Smell: Light, grainy smell with perhaps a slight bit of aromatic hops. Again, nothing surprising here.

Taste: Slightly bitter up front. Finishes a little more bitter with a significant graininess. A slight, grainy sweetness is also present at the end.

Mouthfeel: Strongly carbonated with a thin body. In other words, a basic adjunct lager.

Overall: PBR is your basic, no frills adjunct lager. I personally find it preferable to Bud, Miller, or Coors, but I'm definitely not looking for a life-changing experience when I drink it. It's light, refreshing, and exceedingly drinkable. In other words, a successful adjunct lager.

Serving type: can

09-09-2012 18:25:08 | More by mckenziac

paulcdejean

3.48/5  rDev +16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Great to have as your second, third, fourth, fifth, etc beer.

However not in NYC though. This beer is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE in Manhattan for what it is.

Very smooth and light, doesn't fill you up. Very inoffensive and not too fizzy, yet at the same time not too bland. Perfect for parties.

Serving type: can

09-09-2012 03:41:23 | More by paulcdejean

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +34.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Mostly drank in a can.

Appearance- Golden yellow with white foamy head

Smell- Lots of grain, some wheat and a slight bitter hops smell

Taste- Grainy with a nice mellow hop balance

Mouthfeel- Very light with great carbonation that makes this the best tasting and drinkable Macro beer.

Overall- As stated about the grain flavor and and lightness mixed with perfect carbonation makes for a solid Macro beer.

Serving type: can

09-05-2012 17:38:13 | More by BrownAleMale

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.05/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

For what it's worth, this is the best adjunct lager (perhaps sharing the title with Olympia). Everyone's had it, everyone knows what it's for. It's a great beer to bring to a big party and to order when money is tight. It's not a beer to drink for the enjoyment of beer, but for the enjoyment of the company that comes with it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2012 17:18:50 | More by TheRealBigC

mjurney

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, pale gold color. Lots of bubble rising. Bright white head that dissipates.

Aroma is most grainy and corn with some grassy hops.

Light bodied, moderate carbonation and very smooth. Some grainy, some corn, just a kiss of grassy hops. Semi-dry finish.

One of the better Adjunct Lager; beats Bud, Miller and Coors.

Serving type: can

09-01-2012 22:38:36 | More by mjurney

mschind

California

3.63/5  rDev +21%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I don't drink this style much anymore but this was the one I grew up with in WI. Most folks in my family had a case of shorties around.

A- Clear bright straw color with a two finger foamy white head that leaves a little coating before quickly disappearing.

S- Grainy corn and mild grassy hops. Not much depth.

T-Clean mild malt. Bland and undemanding.

M- Fizzy, watery and light boidied.

O- This is exactly what it is supposed to be. I don't think I care to do enough comparisons to determine if this is the best of the style. As a homebrewer I know how difficult it is to consistently produce a clean light lager. Taste is good and it goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 23:22:49 | More by mschind

ryantaussig

New York

3.08/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

If you need a nicely priced beer for just everyday drinking, this is the one to choose. It's got a nice clear color, a decent lace after the head dissipates, a slight smell of hops, smooth feel, and a pretty good flavor to boot. It isn't going to win any contests—well not since 1893—but that's not what it's about. It's a simple beer for when simple is good. In cans or in bottles it'll always be refreshing. Makes an excellent session beer and pairs well with burgers, dogs, and BBQ. At less than $10 for a 12-pack it won't make you cringe at the register either. PBR puts the big names to shame.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 23:12:59 | More by ryantaussig

snakeak47

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +39.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Born and Raised in Green bay wisconsin. Where ever you go this is the beer you get. PBR is the man. I barel ever drink beer, but when i do, i drink PBR. Hard liquor is the best, but if all you got is beer, PBR better be what you got.

A - anyway, When you get the beer is a goldish color. I always drink it out of a can. only a few times have i drank it out of a bottle. i prefer the can.

S - Little skunky, not gonna lye. the smell can throw you off

T - I love the taste. Tastes like a classic beer. again, the hard liquor is what i love, but for some reason, this beer PBR, is delicous.

M - In the mouth, on the buds, its not that bad, goes down smooth, but after words, you can tell that you have taken a drink. It stays with you.

O - I can drink this all night long. I godda have some shtos inbetween. :P

Serving type: can

08-23-2012 06:31:41 | More by snakeak47

buschbeer

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz can
Served in a pilsner glass

A - I would say it has a clear, golden body. Three inches of fluffy white head leaves some lacing as it settles to an eighth inch of skim.

S - I get some fragrant soap and some steeped grain.

T - I get some of that wonderful adjunct grain. It has a crisp, clean finish.

M - Thin with plenty of biting carbonation.

O - This adjunct is sweeter than most. Tastes about like all the rest. I am not sure why the hipsters and college kids like it other than the cheap price.

Serving type: can

08-17-2012 19:17:06 | More by buschbeer

MrJolly

Arizona

3.11/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Yellow; almost clear. It reminds me of rock candy. The super-carbonation keeps bubbling--tiny and speedy bubbles contributing to a head that poured two fingers but quickly shrunk to a half finger, where it remains after many minutes.

Smell: There's not much to the smell accept a lingering crisp sweetness.

Taste: The flavor is very light. There's creamy sweetness, here, and also a very subtle bitter and sour in the finish. The aftertaste sits up on the back of the tongue as a corn sweetness.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation makes this feel bright in the mouth, and this compensates for a very thin beer. The first sips produce a lot of foam, but this naturally becomes less pronounced as time passes.

Overall: When I want a summertime beer, easy to drink, maybe for a picnic or a game, this is my first choice, even over Corona.

Serving type: can

08-13-2012 00:50:28 | More by MrJolly

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Translucent golden straw. Very thin white head. Didn't expect that to stick around.

Aroma: Not much in the nose. A little bit corn or adjunct. Really not much happening in the aroma department.

Taste: Much better than the aroma, though still watery. There is corn in there but also some sweet malt in the middle of the palate. Definitely not blowing me away, tastes like most macro-lagers.

Mouthfeel: Possibly it's best attribute. Good level of carbonation and highly drinkable. Smooth finish.

Final Thoughts: Meh. Basically a slightly above average macro-lager that has some sort of cult following.

Serving type: can

08-12-2012 03:46:20 | More by JamesMN

BabyBastard

New York

3.18/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Can poured to standard pint glass. Pours the expected light yellow, with a small, fizzy head that dissipates rather quickly. Looks like any other standard macro lager, nothing special.

Smell has a grainy, slightly metallic twinge to it. Corn and not really much else in the nose. Taste is about the same as the nose, has a metallic note to it, which I assume may be attributed to the packaging. Other than that, this brew has the standard macro flavor, which isn't much of anything. Corn and rice I suppose.

Mouthfeel is light and airy, carbonation is good. Very bubbly. Seems to be another standard macro, though this might be slightly above average compared to other BMC swill.

Serving type: can

08-09-2012 14:56:45 | More by BabyBastard

HammerHHI

4.55/5  rDev +51.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I decided to reacquaint myself with this beer after discovering this wonderful website. The American Adjunct Lager category is the most popular in the US and this beer, after tasting side by side to the most popular- Bud, Miller and the always stale Coors, stands the tallest. It is thirst quenching. I am sure that the high water content has something to do with it but who cares, I mean how many beers even pass this important threshold? Notes:

A: pale, golden, clear, bright white froth

S: wet bread, alcohol, slightly sweet

T: refreshing, immediate surprise of non-bitterness or staleness,it tastes fresh!, beer properties of muti grains including corn and quick hop finish

M: carbonated, crisp, non offensive

Overall: This beer stands above any AAL in terms of value to quality. Many other beers may tout finer quality ingredients and may follow intricate recipes, but thier results do not add up to the taste of this beer. Each beer type has a style that has a standard bearer. For American Adjunct Lager, Pabst Blue Ribbon is that standard bearer.

Serving type: can

08-07-2012 20:18:54 | More by HammerHHI

TheBigLebrewski

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +39.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance (from prior experience) is as expected for the style; drinking this one out of the bottle, also per the style.

Smell is not this beer's strong point. Smells like wind coming in off the Great Lakes on one of their less beautiful days. Again, as expected.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Here's why I decided to write a review. In rating this beer according to it's style ('Shitty' American Ultralight), it is unrivaled. When served cold, the beer fills the mouth with a crisp and expanding frothiness and tickles the sides of the tongue in a way that says two things : 1) This is Beer. 2) This is refreshing. It is, indeed, impressively lacking in flavor. Every swallow is satisfying in the aforementioned criteria, and these criteria alone.

My fridge is always full of beer. The homebrews, the favorite sixpacks, the fancy bombers rimming the back.... and last but not least the drawers and door - overflowing with beer intended drink mindlessly and without concern. Such responsibility lies with PBR.

PBR lacks the corny taste of three hops brewed miller lite, the drop in the ocean taste of the buds, and rarely tastes poorly or stale in the way that coors often does. PBR compares more to Blatz (which is more sweet), and less so to Shlitz (less consistent/often stale tasting), in the coupling of hyperconscious simplicity and standard beerishness. It's position as a sort of cult classic in certain cities/subcultures seems to maintain it's consistent, albeit low, standards. It is not produced and sourced to the degree that many similar beers are, but it is certainly widely known and accessible. In sum, it's the go to beer when I feel dehydrated.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 05:12:51 | More by TheBigLebrewski

Cavanaghty

Maine

4/5  rDev +33.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I find of all the "American Shit Beers" this one is the best and most enjoyable. I poured from a can into a pint glass.

Appearance: Clear Yellow in color with a overwhelming and over flowing white head. Spotty lacing left on the glass.

Smell: Sweet smelling, and some smell of alcohol. But I could smell some grains like rice and wheat maybe?

Mouthfeel/Taste: Very smooth and light bodied. Taste sweet with hits of rice and other cereal grains. Hint of bitterness on the after taste and leaves a sweetness, but a sugary sweetness.

Overall: It is an enjoyable beer on a summer day while doing some yard work or something. I would certainly drink this over others like Bud, Miller or Coors.

Serving type: can

08-03-2012 16:25:55 | More by Cavanaghty

AgentK

1/5  rDev -66.7%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I've tried this beer in the bottle and in the can. I've tried this beer so many times I could make a Dr. Seuss style book out of it (Not suitable for children).

I cannot figure out why my friends drink this. My best guess is that it's a joke. It's kind of like "icing." If you lose the game, you have to drink a PBR as punishment. Beer should never do that. Beer should enrich your life, not punish it.

The taste was mediocre, at best. It's just not worth it. It has a weak head, boring taste, and a sad little color. It's drinkable, if you're looking for a quick fix, but if you're looking for something to enjoy after a hard day's work, to relax, or to have a nice chat with your buds, this is not the beer for you.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 23:41:09 | More by AgentK

TheCondor

Missouri

3.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Drank straight from the can for part of the time, then poured from the pint can into a glass e other half.

Appearance - straw colored, crappy two finger head that dissipates rapidly and leaves no lacing. Über carbonation action in the glass.

Smell - metallic grains, straw, Slightly malty, breads.

Taste - just like the nose. Plenty of grainy, metallic tastiness. Much better than the average macro,

Mouthfeel - finishes a little bitter, smooth and tasty.

Overall - what an awesome brew. I love this beer, I don't give a damn if it is a macro, not a craft beer, whatever. I think it's a good beer.

Serving type: can

07-31-2012 03:16:30 | More by TheCondor

Polecat41

Illinois

1.5/5  rDev -50%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I see that the reviewers gave PBR a 72 rating & the Bros an 80 rating. And the reviewers gave Beck's a 67 rating & the Bros a 62 rating. Are you all nuts?!! Beck's now may be owned by InBev & brewed in St. Louis, MO. But I recently called Beck's brewmaster & he assured me that they were still brewing to the German Purity Law, which means they're only using water, barley malt, hops & yeast. I'm sure Pabst isn't doing the same. I know why all of you are rating Pabst higher than Beck's. It has nothing to do with PBR's quality. Rather, it's the "pseudo-hipster's" rating, i.e. "PBR is 'cooler' than Beck's because it doesn't advertise & has the patriotic U.S. colors of red, white & blue." C'mon everyone - get real. No way is PBR better tasting than Beck's. And no, I don't work for Beck's & I'm not German. However, I've brewed my own beers & know a bit of what I'm talking about.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 19:36:29 | More by Polecat41