Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) - Pabst Brewing Company

Evansbeer

3.28/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The classic look of the can is an appeal. The red, white and blue represent an age old american traditional beer. Tastes a little more skunky than an average American beverage. A good party beer because its the best cheap beer available (beats Natural Ice 10-1). A good beer to drink your fill from.

Recommended by a college student, and a patriot

Serving type: can

02-05-2013 16:48:28 | More by Evansbeer

fps_dean

Massachusetts

2.4/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Fairly generic North American beer. More grainy and tastes less like saltwater than most of your generic North American mass-brewed beers (Bud, Coors, Miller, etc), but still a very North American lager.

Not something I would ever crave, but I give this one a 3 overall because unlike other mass-brewed North American beers, PBR is actually cheap, making it a much better buy.

I don't really drink so much that I'm going to shop based on price, but if I am having a large get together and need a large amount of beer, then PBR will save me a few dollars and satisfy your average beer drinker without breaking the bank.

Tastes better on a hot day.

Serving type: can

02-03-2013 22:26:04 | More by fps_dean

CascadianDarkAle1

2.78/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3

Shotgunned from a 16 ounce Tallboy. Appearance is lacking due to method of consumption. A light, egg shell, off white head builds in my mouth, runs down my shirt and all over my face, lingering on my beard. Very pleasing. Aroma contains hints of aluminum, tap water, and sugar. Also vomit and pizza, but that may be due to the setting. Mouthfeel is highly carbonated and frigid all around. Very hard to swallow due to sheer volume and flowing pressure. The taste is surprisingly non existent. Hints of light caramel malt are muted by the loud chanting of "Chug" in a vicious circle around me. The palate is frozen. The belly is full. Overall a solid lager, I will enjoy another in a few seconds.

Serving type: can

01-30-2013 22:49:23 | More by CascadianDarkAle1

GorrestFump

3.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Unlike the tasters before me; I wake up and I want a PBR. Full-bodied, gross and cheap; however, PBR delivers. It is a true lager, just as much as a Samuel Adams, darker, fizzy and just All-American. I'm glad its a hipster beer, I'm glad its its on the same level as bud-light but quite not. I drank a Hamm's, as cheap as a Hamm's is, it's great. It 's just like PBR, survived most of contemporary American history. Its supremely average and weirdly watery. It's not a stout, it's not a pilsner, it's not a porter...It's an American-styled lager, whatever that may be. PBR Reminds me of the 4th of July, it reminds me of Senior year, it reminds me of an alternative crowd, its reminds me of every beer game I ever played. I'll stay loyal PBR as a case and nothing else.

Serving type: can

01-29-2013 06:31:00 | More by GorrestFump

devilben02

North Carolina

3.16/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

This is a beer that I gladly drink and enjoy on occasion, but I don't think I'll ever crave it. Poured from the can, it has a light, sunny yellow color and a thick but light, whipped-cream-like white head. The aroma has a light, dry sweetness underneath, but it is predominated by a dull mustiness that is expected but doesn't veer towards unpleasant like many in the style. The mild cereal sweetness is more pronounced in the flavor and melds with a wheat-like, almost lemony tanginess. Unfortunately, the fine, prickly carbonation in this beer is often my least favorite part of American lagers of this style. Overall, though, it has more and better flavor than the mass-produced light lagers, making it a fine option to have for nights when you just want a light-tasting beer.

Serving type: can

01-19-2013 05:14:46 | More by devilben02

barczar

Kentucky

3.05/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a brilliant golden with a shiny, eggy one inch head that slowly dissipates, leaving spotty lacing.

Grain, corn, bready malt, and floral hop notes form the aroma. There's a bit of cardboard evident.

Flavor is slightly sweet initially, with a grainy, slightly stale malt backbone carrying into a fairly dry finish. A metallic, slightly tangy element surfaces in the aftertaste, along with alcohol.

Body is moderate, with carbonation a touch on the high side. There's an astringent bite.

More malt flavor than some examples of the style, but the tang is offputting.

Serving type: can

12-27-2012 23:55:54 | More by barczar

Jamesp96

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

One of the shittiest beers out there, i cant stand the after taste , that after taste you get just ruins it for me , all you get is corn and metallic taste , never buying this corn cooler again. I would much perefer a budweiser or busch to this at least your not geting that terrable after taste

Serving type: can

12-20-2012 22:53:55 | More by Jamesp96

ilovemacros

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

this is a great beer. Classic American brew. People would laugh when I would buy this, but when when they tasted it they quit laughing lol. Ive only had this in cans. For some reason her in my lil corner of Texas they do not sell it in bottles. Hell, sometimes I'm lucky if I can find it at all. For a while I had to go to San Antonio to find it. Even there it was only in cans...ugh. Such a great beer should be on every shelf just as Bud and Bud Light.

Serving type: can

12-20-2012 03:56:58 | More by ilovemacros

Scrylol

Alberta (Canada)

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

Pours a one finger white bubbly head. Golden colored body.

Very faint hop aromas. Overpowered by grainy adjunct like aromas and a slight metallic tinge to it.

Low hop bitterness. Slight malt presence, but all is soon overpowered by a grainy taste. Leaves a dry, semi-sweet aftertaste.

Bit more body to it than other AAL's. Decent carbonation.

Not very impressed, but I suppose compared to other American Adjunct Lagers, PBR is probably one of the better ones.

Serving type: can

12-15-2012 05:30:24 | More by Scrylol

BucannonXC5

California

3.73/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: Pilsner glass
From: A 7/11 in Allied Gardens (San Diego, Calif.)
Price: $11.99 for the 18-pack
Misc.: Expiration date of Feb. 18, 2013

Yellow golden clear with three fingers of frothy white head that surprisingly had some last to it. Light sporadic lacing and decent retention for the style. Lots of bubbles.

Smelled grain, corn, cereal (Captain Crunch), hay, bread and a bit of some kind of rotten fruit. That being said, it wasn’t too bad overall.

Tasted cereal once again, some kind of hybrid of Shredded Wheat, Captain Crunch and Kix. Also got hay, grain and honey grass.

Light-to-moderate body. Thin texture. Lively (above average)-to-average carbonation. Abrupt finish.

Considering the style, this may be the best. In fact, I was quite surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did. It’s been awhile since I had one. While I’m still partial to the tall boy in a bag, the 12-oz. can has some staying power as well.

Serving type: can

12-14-2012 08:53:05 | More by BucannonXC5

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that died down but consistently left a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of adjunct malts in the nose-corn seems to stand out in particular.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of corn adjuncts and a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light-bodied (but not watery) on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink and has no offensive flavors. It's noting special, but pretty good when compared to other beers in the style.

Serving type: can

12-14-2012 02:45:16 | More by metter98

Cooldill

Illinois

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

Served out of a can into a .5L mug.

A: Pale yellow color is more similar to a good Pils instead of your average adjunct lager hue. It's not bad. Carbonation is moderate to high, two fingers of white soapy head dissipate slower than expected. Not at all a bad looking brew for the style.

S: Grain and corn first and foremost, light hops and grass, slight lemon. Again much better than most adjunct lagers, this actually HAS a scent!

T: Corn and grain sweetness. Some light malts. Surprising light bitterness (as in it actually has some bitterness) with light but noticeable lemony hop aftertaste. Impressed.

M: Nice balanced carbonation. Not as watery and thin of others in it's class.

O: The best American adjunct lager I have ever had. Refreshing and tasty. I have had this straight from the can, but would urge you pour this in a proper glass. It will open up a lot.

Serving type: can

12-03-2012 13:53:07 | More by Cooldill

HopHead84

California

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

24oz can at the Wintersun concert at House of Blues LA on 11/29/2012. I paid $10 for this. Drinking it out of the can so who knows what color it is. Smells like rice, corn, and pils malt. A little metal. Taste is inoffensive. Sweet and corny adjunct lager with grainy notes. Tame bitterness. Not terrible but I wouldn't recommend paying $10 for 24oz. This is difficult for me to rate. To style it's spot on, but it's a wretched style.

Serving type: can

12-02-2012 13:02:36 | More by HopHead84

dougbassett

Pennsylvania

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

One of the "1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die" -- #9 of the ones I've reviewed here.

I agree with what I take to be the general consensus on this one, that it's a bog-standard American mass produced lager but within it's own mileau it's pretty okay. I certainly think this is better than Miller, Coors or Yuengling, to name a few similar brands off the top of my head.

Pours a very pale yellow, very effervescent both in appearance and mouthfeel. A white head that holds more than you'd might think, although it will fade soon enough. Not much by way of a nose, I'd call in a thin, sour-grain mash kind of thing -- it smells remarkably like generic "beer", tell you the truth. The body is thin and the sour edge sort of rides all the way down the throat, with something like a crisp finish at the end, surprisingly enough.

Most known in America today as the "hipster's brand", this is not, by any means, a great beer but it is surprisingly reasonably potable, at least at colder temperatures.

Serving type: can

12-01-2012 22:50:32 | More by dougbassett

Alextricity

Michigan

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

Alright. Last night I had an eventful night in downtown Detroit. Already tipsy, my group found its way to Pizzapapalis where we had some MORE beers. At $2.75 for a 16oz can, I couldn't resist, and tried my first PBR.

The easiest way I can describe this beer is that it's like a Bud Light/Budweiser ... but with more flavor profile. It's just MUCH more enjoyable than either of those. Not just that, but it has a nice sweetness to it. This was my first PBR, but it won't be my last. It's cheap and tastes surprisingly decent.

*UPDATE*

I just bought a sixer for $6.48 because I was craving another PBR. The date on the bottles is 11-12-12, which is apparently the expiration date. I have to say, it tastes fine. Better than fine. Better than average. I like this beer. Plain and simple. It isn't bitter, and the malts are actually DECENT! Imagine THAT for an adjunct. I can see why this is a hipster beer, I think. I really like this beer ... especially because of its price point. Awesome stuff. Underrated, underappreciated.

Serving type: can

11-25-2012 17:03:38 | More by Alextricity

OMills

3.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A- Straw color in apperance. Very white head with some retention with minimal lacing.

S- Not too much, subtle sweetness and hints of corn. Nothing too crazy.

T- At first corn and some sweetness. It finishes off with more adjunct taste and some hops.

M- Medium/heavy carbonation and pretty watery. On par with most macro lagers.

O- In the end i'd say this is a great cheap beer. Much better than most other macro lagers, with noticeably more flavor and hop taste. It's my cheap go-to beer. It's nothing to get hyped over but, it's a good beer. Not much complaint here.

Serving type: can

11-08-2012 09:39:10 | More by OMills

mdfb79

New York

2.55/5  rDev -15%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

From 10/21/12 notes. Have had this many, many times, and had a few 16 oz. cans at Brother Jimmy's watching the Giants game. Poured into a pint glass to review it. Review #2300!

a - Pours a clear bright yellow color with one finger of fluffy white head and high carbonation evident.

s - Smells of grains, corn, a little sweet, cereal, biscuit malts, and bready malts. Not offensive but not much going on.

t - Tastes of grains, corn, water, wheat, bready malts, and lightly sweet. Matches the nose pretty closely; again, just not much going on.

m - Light body and moderate to high carbonation. Easy to drink for sure, though a tiny bit overcarbonated.

o - Overall not a good beer by any means; was actually surprised the overall rating was so high. I find it better than all other Miller products and better than Coors, and about on par with Bud Light, though slightly less watered down. Given the choice between this and a Bud Light I'd probably take a Bud Light, but I wouldn't really care either way. Not really sure why this is super popular with hipsters with so many better, also affordable options out there, but whatever.

Serving type: can

10-22-2012 19:25:25 | More by mdfb79

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

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