EveryJoe » pabst

The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous Is Back

Kelly Phillips Erb — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:14:10 +0000

Schlitz Beer, It Made a City Famous\n\nIt was \”the beer that made Milwaukee famous.\”\n\nAnd it\’s back.\n\nPabst Brewing Co. began rolling out its original formula Schlitz beer on draft in several Midwest cities in mid-June. It will hit bars in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Milwaukee and Chicago in the next few weeks.\n\nSchlitz beer was, at one time, one of the most popular beers in America. The Schlitz brewery was founded by Joseph Schlitz, a German immigrant to Milwaukee, in 1850. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Schlitz donated thousands of barrels of beer to Chicago, which had lost most of its breweries. The brewery then expanded to Chicago and substantially increased distribution.\n\nBy the 1970s, the brewery was the second largest brewery in America (you can hear their claims as to demand in the commercial below) – but it didn\’t last long. A decade later, the company was on life support and was finally acquired by Stroh Brewery Company. In just a few years, under the Pabst Brewing Company umbrella, Schlitz had all but disappeared, distributed in cars and bottles in limited areas.\n\nUntil now.\n\nThe original formula Schlitz is making a comeback – on draft!\n\nYou can check out the brewery\’s take on the reintroduction here.\n\nBefore you rush off to grab yourself a Gusto, you have to watch this old commercial featuring Lionel Richie, his hair and the Commodores:\n\n\n\nAhh, nostalgia (not to mention that, in that ad, Lionel\’s hair is as large as daughter Nicole\’s entire body).\n\nPsst, if Schlitz isn\’t your favorite beer, let us know what is… Leave your comments on this prior post to win some great beer merch.\n\n(Image: AllPosters.com)

Post from: EveryJoe

The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous Is Back

R.I.P.B.R. (Rest in Pabst Blue Ribbon)

Kelly Phillips Erb — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:32:07 +0000

When I first heard the story of Bill Bramanti’s designer beer coffin, I figured it had to be a one in a million thing.

You see, Mr. Branmanti’s favorite beer is Pabst Blue Ribbon. He is such a fan that he recently commissioned a coffin to look like a can of PBR. Bramanti ordered the silver casket decked out in red, white and blue from Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home in Chicago; Scott Sign Co. of Chicago designed the beer can.

The 67 year old Bramanti has already tried out the coffin for size. He said, “I actually fit, because I got in here.” To celebrate his future digs, he threw a “housewarming party” of sorts, featuring his coffin filled with ice and, what else, Pabst Blue Ribbon.

(Shudder) Does this gross anyone else out?

But apparently, this isn’t quite as novel as it sounds. Last year, a coffin-maker’s workshop near Accra, Ghana, Africa produced this “Star Beer” coffin, pictured here, noting that production levels were at an all time high. To each his (or her!) own I guess.

So, of course, this begs the question: if you could be buried in a beer can or beer bottle coffin, which beer would you choose?

Post from: EveryJoe

R.I.P.B.R. (Rest in Pabst Blue Ribbon)

Anti-marketing beer

Chris — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:08:01 +0000

So, if you were interested in the recent post I did on Pabst blue ribbon, you may well be interested in this as well, although it’s rather long. It’s an interesting look into the dynamics of Pabst’s products and marketing today, which doesn’t necessarily paint the most rosy of pictures for the venerable brewer. In fact, according to the article, “brewer” isn’t even the right word any more, since PBR contracts out all of its brewing. If that’s the case, PBR is more a holding company for some aged brands, some valuable, some not, combined with a marketing (or anti-marketing) arm to sell the stuff. Interesting turnaround for what was once one of the world’s largest breweries.

image from www.sudswineandspirits.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Anti-marketing beer

Beer for the ages (I mean aged)

Chris — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:29:01 +0000

For those who didn’t notice, the Pabst Blue Ribbon brand, long a mainstay of the lunchbox-toting working class, has made a comeback in the last few years, becoming the beer of choice for the anti-establishment wannabes in many urban settings. Trading on a sense of nostalgia and simplicity, they’ve managed to make a mediocre beer quite trendy. Here’s an interesting take on that success, which may well be waning at this point.

Interesting to me is that Pabst is clearly trying to build on it with the other brands it has picked up over the years, including the venerable Schlitz, Blatz, and Philly’s own Schmidt’s. Check this out.

Post from: EveryJoe

Beer for the ages (I mean aged)