Booze Reviews: Pabst Blue Ribbon

A lot of college students tend to drink really crappy booze. Therefore, I have decided to start doing booze reviews so that you can hopefully drink better alcohol, or at least get your money’s worth. In Utah, that last bit is more difficult than you might think–state run liquor stores control the pricing of all beverages with an alcohol content of higher than 4.0% ABV (3.2% ABW), and often charge an exorbitant amount of money for decent beer. Anyway, first on the list today is the king of cheap beers: Pabst Blue Ribbon
PBR is, as you’d expect, a very light American beer. As with most cheap beers, the flavor isn’t what you’d call overwhelming; it basically tastes like beer-flavored water. No hops to speak of. That said, however, the beer flavor that is there isn’t terrible, just extremely watered down. The final product actually tastes a bit like Corona, but smoother thanks to the large quantity of water. Overall, it doesn’t taste great, but it’s not terrible either.

The real upside of PBR is its price. A twelve-pack generally costs about $6-7 in grocery stores, and a tall boy (24 oz) is about $1.50. This puts it in the same price range as other, much shittier cheap American beers like Bud Light, Natural Light, and Milwaukee’s Best. While Pabst is not a very good beer, it’s vastly superior to pretty much anything else you’d get for the same price. It’s a very good beer to drink while it’s hot; serves much the same purpose as a Corona (note: I have not tried a lime in PBR, but on suspicion alone I wouldn’t recommend it)–a good beer to have at a tailgate party or barbecue. It’s also excellent for beer pong.

Overall, there are many, many better beers than Pabst in the world. However, nearly all of them cost quite a bit more, at least in the US. If you’re not going to pay more than sixty cents a can for beer, or if you need something cheap for drinking games, Pabst Blue Ribbon is the way to go.

24 Thoughts on “Booze Reviews: Pabst Blue Ribbon”

  1. Good idea Nick. I have been keeping track of the beer I drink and how much I like it in notepad files for a bit of time now. I’ve been thinking of doing something like this, but you beat me to it. I have never heard of Pabst Blue Ribbon but now it will be the next beer I buy at Publix or CVS (depending on the time).

  2. Hey Chris, do you keep track while your drinking them?.. cause if you’re getting drunk, you might think the beer tastes better then it really does :)

  3. ..ohh and good article nick :)

  4. Lol cottage, I think you have a very valid point, but usually I will only drink one type of beer a night, and if possible I write down what I think about it while still fully aware of my actions.

  5. PBR is the shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. Best beer period. Beats higher and lower priced beers.

  7. it’s the best crappy beer i will give that, on sale in cleveland OH a 30 pack after tax costs $15.05

  8. you know.. it tastes nothing like corona, its a pretty shitty beer itself. water? nothing to do with the beer. if you knew ne thing you’d know the taste has more to do with the production ingredients… there’s no more water in PBR than there is in sam adams… and by the way its WAY cheaper than bud light. in all parts of the country. gee wizz you suck. do your research you dumb asshole. you prophisize fasle factoids and it makes me want to slap your slut mother in the face. bitch. suck mine.

  9. Pabst is one of the few Macro Brews that taste how beer should. You can taste the hops too, and that is rare with american macrobrews.

  10. @dudeman:I’m with the guy above pabst sucks dick quality over quantity pry open your tight wallet you Jew and fork over the extra bucks for grolsh or leinenkugels enjoy your beer and grow up stop playin beer pong and spreading your herpes to your campus you Ginger

  11. Wow. Why all the hate? I’m not a beer expert, but I’ve settled on Pabst blue ribbon as a cheap beer for the above mentioned reasons. I actually tried it the first time because of the reference that is made to it in the David Lynch film Blue Velvet. Thanks for giving me a comeback when people talk shit about my choice of beer. My favorite beer, by the way, is Guiness extra stout.

  12. You need to learn how to drink beer. there is not more water in PBR just different adjuncts. By judging your post I don’t imagine that you have any idea what I am talking about. I brew my own beer and I really enjy PBR especially when it’s hot and I want some cheap beer. Stupid idiots like you really contaminate the real world of beer reviews.

  13. ok idiots. stop fighting about beer and your own opinions. i love beer no matter what it is. drinking to get drunk is one thing and one beer and drinking a beer at the dinner table with your parents is another thing and another beer. DONE

  14. Pabst is the best. I have tried nearly all beer, US and foreign.

    Just take a frosted mug from the freezer pour and enjoy.

  15. great beer overall, been drinking it now for a couple years and it always very consistent. It has a distinct flavor unlike any other beer I have tried but very good none the less. Best ice cold.

  16. PBR is the official Beer of Boone NC go App….

  17. PBR is great. You really know your stuff. Forgot to mention you support America when you drink it!

  18. PBR is my go-to beer when funds are low and I want a beer. Sam Adams Octoberfest and Guinness Stout are my fav’s when I have steady cash flow. Drink up peeps!

  19. Thos beer is good I don’t know why so much hate… I love this beer right afther fosters

  20. Put a lime in your PBR. We called it “College Corona” and I can pick up a 12 pack of 24 oz tall boys for $12.60 in PA. My wife has switched from Heineken to PBR with lime and now requests it when I pick up beer. Have a blind taste test and you will not be disappointed. After all, it was a Gold Medal winner at the 2006 and 2012 Great American Beer Festival in the American-Style Lager, Light Lager or Premium Lager category.

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