# Pabst beer & grunge **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707 "2003-05-27T04:21:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/1 "2003-05-27T04:21:53Z")
Just went to the Pabst mansion in Milwaukee. Was told that Pabst’s biggest customers are grunge folks. The reason was the cheap price & the red, white & blue cans. This guy knew what he was talking about- anybody else heard this? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/2 "2003-05-27T04:28:35Z")
All I’ve ever heard is that it’s the **Manos** of beer. poor college students and young and un-picky are the most common punchlines, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Major\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/3 "2003-05-27T04:30:22Z")
It is a fairly popular beer in the alt-country scene. As in, I drink this shit, I must be cool. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/4 "2003-05-27T06:06:52Z")
Yeah, the guy told me when Pabst lowered their price w/ the ad campaign, “A premium beer at a regular price.” Or something like that, Pabst began its downward spiral. So that’s the answer: cheap. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/5 "2003-05-27T06:18:53Z")
This has been mentioned in trend articles for the last couple of months. I assume that the Pabst and Bush and - what is the northeastern beer in the white and gold? - PR people have been busy. I’ve always noticed that places with 400 imported beers always have a couple of beer-belly brands for the cool factor. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/6 "2003-05-27T07:25:45Z")
It’s also sort of an ‘in-thing’ with the indie rawk kids, from what I’ve seen. I have been known to enjoy a PBR tall boy now and again. Of course, if there’s a good list, I don’t want it, but I much prefer PBR to bud/miller/etc. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/7 "2003-05-27T13:52:51Z")
I’ve got a live MP3 of the Get Up Kids singing a little ditty called _Pabst Blue Ribbon_. I always thought it was about icecream, but I think that’s because there’s an icecream brand here called Blue Ribbon. And Pabst sounds kinda Norwegian. So, it seems that it’s the emo beer of choice. Must taste good with tears. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/8 "2003-05-27T17:40:54Z")
Wonder if its cachet stems at all from its featured placement in _Blue Velvet_? ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/9 "2003-05-27T19:28:33Z")
Of course true northwest Grunge nerds drank RAINIER GREEN DEATH Or Hood River vodka. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/10 "2003-05-27T20:24:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lissener \* > \*\*Wonder if its cachet stems at all from its featured placement in _Blue Velvet_? \*\* I was going to say the same thing. Especially with that wonderful spokesperson, **Frank Booth** : > [@](#): > > “Heineken?? Fuck that shit! PABST BLUE RIBBON!” > > “One thing I can’t fucking stand is warm beer! It makes me fucking puke!” > > “Let’s drink to fucking. Let’s say ‘here’s to your fuck, Frank!’” PBR must have really appreciated that kind of publicity. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aberge30](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/65b543/32.png) [@aberge30](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aberge30)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/11 "2003-05-27T22:59:45Z")
Pabst doesn’t even exist anymore as a brewing company. They only exist on paper and contract Miller Beer to produce their product. It was cool beer when they were independant, now they’re owned by a company that owns a dozen or more smaller labels and contracts other beer companys to make it. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/12 "2003-05-28T03:34:29Z")
I usually only drink Guinness, or nice ales and dark beers. But there’s something I’ve always liked about Pabst Blue Ribbon, and now it is impossible to find in Florida. Occasionally a bar will have it (and highly overpriced), but supermarkets don’t carry it anymore. I do like it more than the Miller and Bud families. It definitely seems to be trnedy among hipsters, musicians, people I call “scene kids” here in Gainesville. When I’d see rockabilly and psychobilly bands perform, PBR was always their beverage of choice too. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/13 "2003-05-28T03:44:18Z")
There’s also the classic country tune with the line, “With my red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer…” by Johnny Russell. FTR, it hit #4 in 1973. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/14 "2003-05-28T06:01:37Z")
Pabst beer _ **is** _ grunge! ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/15 "2003-05-28T07:10:47Z")
It’s probably right that another co. now makes Pabst. The founder, was a German fellow named, of all things, Pabst, about 120 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/16 "2003-05-28T07:23:06Z")
Q. Why is American beer like having sex in a canoe? A. Because they’re both fucking close to water. ---
**Author:** ![Kang\_and\_Kodos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@Kang\_and\_Kodos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kang_and_Kodos)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/17 "2003-05-28T07:35:04Z")
Orson Welles used to pitch PBR beer on some radio shows. “Blended, spledid.” Supposedly, PBR was a blend of dozens of America’s finest brews. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/18 "2003-05-28T07:45:24Z")
Years ago,supposedly. I think their promo was, “The one beer to have when you’re having more than one.” None of that"drink responsibly "disclaimer crap. Rumor has it that Orson fathered the late Tim McIntyre,actor, while on a set. (The resemblance was amazing). I guess Orson was loaded on PBR. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/19 "2003-05-28T12:06:53Z")
PBR me ASAP! ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707/20 "2003-05-28T13:17:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doctordoowop \* > \*\*Years ago,supposedly. I think their promo was, “The one beer to have when you’re having more than one.” None of that"drink responsibly "disclaimer crap. > > \*\* Actually, I believe that was the slogan for Schaeffer, not Pabst. But the sentiment is certainly there with Pabst’s slogan, “I’ve got Pabst Blue Ribbon on my mind.” I’m a little upset that it’s becoming trendy now to drink PBR, because I don’t want to drink a trendy beer. But, I will continue to drink it. I started because it was cheap, but kept buying it because it tastes pretty damn good, for a lawnmower beer. Beats the heck out of Budweiser, for example. Guinness, etc., are a different animal altogether, of course. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pabst-beer-grunge/177707.md?page=2)