The Marketing of No Marketing (Pabst Blue Ribbon)

The New York Times Magazine ^ | 06/22/03 | ROB WALKER

[Arkie2]

So the real question is when will Schlitz make a comeback and why would anybody drink either one of them.

[RetiredArmy]

Geeze, the first beer I ever snuck out and drank, a PBR tall-boy.

[egarvue]

Every day, my ironworker grandfather would come home, take off his muddy workboots, sit down and have one can of Pabst. Even though he's long gone, I still think of him every time I see a Pabst can. I'm glad they're making a comeback.

[CJ Wolf]

it isn't the marketing. It's the cheapness of the beer. In these hard economic times, (just like in the 70s) you buy cheap beer, or as my dad says WOS beer. End of investigation.

[Steve_Seattle]

In the movie "Blue Velvet" there's a scene where the evil Dennis Hopper character asks the cowering college boy Kyle McLachlin what his favorite beer is. "Heineken," stammers McLachlin. "Heineken?" screams Hopper, "F*ck that sh*t! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!"

[Steve_Seattle]

I hadn't seen Pabst Blue Ribbon for about twenty years, and was surprised a couple of years ago when I found some in a small town where my cousin lives. The local commissars have probably banned PBR in Seattle, which is why I never see it here. Everybody in Seattle drinks these pretentious red, sickly-sweet micro-brews.

[mallardx]

We drink PBR as our official "river" beer; nothing beats it on a long float down a lazy river on a hot summer day...

[Cuttnhorse]

Great article.
Many years ago I was hooked on Pabst, mainly because it had a very distinctive taste. Not saying it was great, but at least it didn't have the bland, no-taste of Coors, Bud and Miller. I think I'll have a few next time I'm home.

[TonyInOhio]

So the real question is when will Schlitz make a comeback and why would anybody drink either one of them.

Insightful. I'd extend the question to include Blatz and Old Dutch.

In contrast, Goebel Beer still soldiers on in these parts, slaking the thirst of us beer-chain bottom-feeders.

Tony

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

I would classify bike messengers and serious bicyclists as two different groups of people.

[timydnuc]

In college, when I was dirt poor, a bunch of us would go out and get a case of PBR (for all) and a big bag of White Castles apiece. The next morning, with only a flame and the gas on board, we could have heated a 1200 sq ft rance house for 2 days.

Shall we say it's a rather 'gassey' brew with aromatic qualities much different from Miller's or Bud. Float a PBR airbisquet in a public place and you will injure people.

[rattrap]

Uh-Oh the trend is exposed!!!!

Now all those poor trendsters with their ashton kucher haircuts and women's jeans will have to find something else to swoon over.

HAHA thhbbbbbbbbt :-P

[ctlpdad]

PBR = guaranteed hangover.
I loved this crap at $4/case in high school!

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

Barney: Hey Moe, what'll you give me for an A. A. Chip?

Moe: Uh, Barney, this is a five minute chip. Ehh, it's worth a Pabst.

[patton]

For a marketer, this has to be the hardest job in the world.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[FOMTY]

2002, sales of the beer, which had been sinking steadily since the 1970's, actually rose 5.3 percent

I wonder if the Blue Velvet DVD release helped.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The story also suggests Miller is better at just running breweries than marketing. They purchased Leinenkugel's and started brewing it in Milwaukee, alienating the old Leiney's distribution system.

[republicofdavis]

"Heineken?" screams Hopper, "F*ck that sh*t! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!"

I still blurt that out every time I get the chance (then take the Heineken!)

[BraveMan]

I doubt your ironworker grandfather would continue to support Pabst after what their executives did to their own workers . . .

Pensions and medical benefits for retiries were eliminated so that the seven figure salaries for the Pabst executives could continue. Many hardworking men like your grandfather were screwed out of their pensions and healthcare while in their seventies.

The Pabst executives are not very well liked here in Brewtown . . .