Four Fun Facts About Pabst

What’s not to love about PBR? Award winning, affordable, and available in a Tall Boy. Pabst has it all, including a rich American history. Whether you’re interested in the rise and fall of PBR, or just want to know why Hipsters love it so much, check out these four lesser known facts about Pabst. If nothing else, they’ll make excellent conversation starters the next time you find yourself at a Bon Iver show.

If flavor and affordability aren’t enough reason to love PBR, they recently started selling their beer in a 99 pack. That’s right, you heard me. I’ve got 99 problems, but a Pabst ain’t one. Unfortunately, you can’t just cruise down to the local liquor store and pick up a 99 pack. Unless of course, you live in Quebec. That seems to be the only region where the 99 pack is offered. Us Americans will have to stick ordering 6-packs online for now.

They’re marketing geniuses when it comes to the Hipster crowd. Seriously. As a company who saw their sales peak in the 1970s and bottom out in the early 2000s, they needed a niche to stay viable. They found that niche with the hipster crowd. They nurtured it by sponsoring hipster-filled events like indie music festivals. They also sponsor post-collegiate sports teams (for those who don’t go pro) and facial hair clubs. Hipsters love a good beard, even more with an affordable brew. Pabst also advertises in dive bars and on NPR’s All Things Considered. They even post fan-art on their social media. With their marketing genius, they’ve been able to float a sunken ship. Of course, Hipsters love an underdog.

After receiving multiple awards in the late 1800s, Pabst began tying a blue ribbon to every bottle of their Pabst Select brew. They discontinued the tradition in 1916 due to a silk shortage during World War I. After Prohibition ended, Pabst continued their tradition of trying a blue ribbon to every bottle until 1950. The ribbon became a part of their name, marketing, and advertising, forever branded as Pabst Blue Ribbon, or simply PBR.