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[Xeke]

In America it's called PBR and is the blue-collar/hipster beverage of choice. In China it's called Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844 and will run you $44 a bottle. Pretty steep for a beer whose biggest draw in the U.S. is the fact that it's, uh, really cheap.

In China, where the lager has been branded as a “world-famous spirit” and bottled in a much more alluring way, Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844 actually looks quite enticing. The advertising campaign for the beer even likens it to “Scotch whisky, French brandy, Bordeaux wine,” as they are all matured in wooden casks.

Another marked difference notable from the ad? There is a champagne flute-like glass accompanying the ostentatious bottle, which presumably is what you are to consume your beer from. Classy! In the U.S., PBR is typically consumed straight from the can. Which may or may not be still cloaked in the paper bag from the store.

But no matter how nicely it's dressed up, it's still the same old stuff. And as a rule, $44 a bottle is about $42 more than any sane person should be paying for PBR.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/07/21/pabst-blue-ribbon-is-classy-and-expensive-in-china/

 

[charsace]

That's a lot of money for mediocre beer.

 

[ChiTownBuffalo]

 

[ConfusingJazz]

To be fair, Pabst Blue Ribbon did something really weird here in the states as well. People were drinking it so ironically, its now not cheap. Its a bit ridiculous that that happened.

 

[afternoon delight]

Still six dollars for a twelve pack here. :lol

Spoiler

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[Jackson50]

I shudder at how expensive a beer from Sierra Nevada or Rogue would cost.

 

[worldrunover]

Unless the ad is misleading, Pabst is not that color. So maybe it's a different recipe? I can't believe regular PBR would sell for that. it's the same macro adjunct lager crap that is made all around the world and I'm sure is much, much cheaper in China. There's gotta be more to it.

 

[Jamesfrom818]

So how much could we make if we exported American PBR to China and sell it for half the price of the Chinese version?

 

[tokkun]

To be fair, Pabst Blue Ribbon did something really weird here in the states as well. People were drinking it so ironically, its now not cheap. Its a bit ridiculous that that happened.

Is that why it's considered a hipster beer? As someone who grew up in Wisconsin, I can never accept it as being hipster. Although, I also can't accept the concept of someone choosing their beer based on irony.

 

[Xeke]

Unless the ad is misleading, Pabst is not that color. So maybe it's a different recipe? I can't believe regular PBR would sell for that. it's the same macro adjunct lager crap that is made all around the world and I'm sure is much, much cheaper in China. There's gotta be more to it.

Modified lighting?

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Unless the ad is misleading, Pabst is not that color. So maybe it's a different recipe? I can't believe regular PBR would sell for that. it's the same macro adjunct lager crap that is made all around the world and I'm sure is much, much cheaper in China. There's gotta be more to it.

I thought this too, looks way different.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Still six dollars for a twelve pack here. :lol

Spoiler

hiiiiiigh liiiiiife wiiiiins

This is why I love Texas, don't have to settle for high life. Lone Star FTW!

 

[ShinAmano]

I want one.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Is that why it's considered a hipster beer? As someone who grew up in Wisconsin, I can never accept it as being hipster. Although, I also can't accept the concept of someone choosing their beer based on irony.

Yeah I didn't understand how it could possibly be considered a hipster beer. It is a beer for poor ass plebs. Or it least it was before this alleged price increase :lol .

 

[worldrunover]

Modified lighting?

I have to believe it's different somehow. I'm sure they sell Budweiser in China; I think people would notice that it tastes pretty much the same, and the price difference is ridiculous.

If Chimay tasted like Coors Light they would not be able to sell it in the US for $15 a bottle.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

I thought this too, looks way different.

Article says it's the same thing. I suppose they could be mistaken, however.

America - 1
China - Alot

 

[fatigues_gasolini]

Is that why it's considered a hipster beer? As someone who grew up in Wisconsin, I can never accept it as being hipster. Although, I also can't accept the concept of someone choosing their beer based on irony.

I also am a Wisconsonite and never heard of it being a hipster beer until I saw a topic on this board. Its the tastiest of cheap beers.

 

[exarkun]

PBR is no longer the "hip" beer to drink. Its Miller High Life. Get with the program...

Also, I drink PBR wherever I go for at least two drinks. First off its a two dollar beer even at bars where they sell bud light for 6 dollars. So I would like to thank the collective hipster nation for forcing the douchiest of bars/clubs to sell a beer that I can afford when my richer friends go out.

Finally, PBR tastes like America. It has a slight cigarette taste to it that I really appreciate and it helps distinguish itself from the piss called bud light.

 

[KtSlime]

I also am a Wisconsonite and never heard of it being a hipster beer until I saw a topic on this board. Its the tastiest of cheap beers.

Apparently you have never been to Portland or Seattle...:lol

 

[tokkun]

If Chimay tasted like Coors Light they would not be able to sell it in the US for $15 a bottle.

Somehow they still sell Chimay Red for $20 for a 4-pack when it tastes just like New Belgium's Abbey, which sells for $8 for a 6-pack and has wide national distribution.

 

[jon bones]

America just trolled China :lol

 

[worldrunover]

Somehow they still sell Chimay Red for $20 for a 4-pack when it tastes just like New Belgium's Abbey, which sells for $8 for a 6-pack and has wide national distribution.

But at least we're arguing about high-end Belgian abbey ales here; China is getting swindeled by PBR for chrissakes.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

Pabst isn't dogfish head but it ain't too bad. I'll have a few with a pizza every now and again, but the thought that some poor sucker is paying 42 more dollars for a bottle than I am blows my mind.

 

[YuriLowell]

PBR and bud light taste like ass.

 

[SteveMeister]

They probably laugh at us for drinking Tsingtao, too, just like Australians laugh at us for drinking Foster's.

 

[Jackson50]

I wonder how much a bag of magic beans costs in China.

PBR is turrible.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

They probably laugh at us for drinking Tsingtao, too, just like Australians laugh at us for drinking Foster's.

But...it's Australian for beer!

 

[ConfusingJazz]

They probably laugh at us for drinking Tsingtao, too, just like Australians laugh at us for drinking Foster's.

Because of those commercials, my go to insult for Australians is that they drink Foster's. It's more original then calling them criminals, and they are really defensive about it.

 

[charsace]

America just trolled China :lol

Hard too. Would rather drink a bud than the PBR shit. Ale FTW though.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Is that why it's considered a hipster beer? As someone who grew up in Wisconsin, I can never accept it as being hipster. Although, I also can't accept the concept of someone choosing their beer based on irony.

It was also a matter of economics. When PBR first started making it's comeback, it was a 2 dollar bill sitting next to other beers that were 3 dollars on up.

I remember being in a trendy club in Cleveland back in 2003 and to buy a Bud Light was 4.25, to buy a PBR was 2.25. It's no surprise that many poor college kids glommed onto it. This was also during that stupid truck driver lid craze, so it kind of tied into that style too.

 

[speculawyer]

Heineken?

FUCK THAT SHIT! PABST BLUE RIBBON!

 

[worldrunover]

Ok, so it is a different beer:

"We just produced China’s first real specialty beer, an all-malt, reddish brown strong (15.7 plato) ale, dry hopped with Cascade (38 IBU) and aged in new uncharred American whiskey barrels … It’s being bottled in a nice looking 720-ml brown bottle with an enamel label and it is called Blue Ribbon 1844, a reference to Pabst‘s founding date. It will only be sold in China…”

Full interview here.

That actually sounds pretty good. But still not $44 good.

 

[charsace]

Heineken?

FUCK THAT SHIT! PABST BLUE RIBBON!

FUCK YOU! Heine for life bitches!

 

[notworksafe]

Is that why it's considered a hipster beer? As someone who grew up in Wisconsin, I can never accept it as being hipster. Although, I also can't accept the concept of someone choosing their beer based on irony.

Don't hipsters make choices on everything based on irony?

 

[ILikeFeet]

well considering the well off shop at Walmart in China, that's not surprising :lol

 

[TheLastCandle]

Out of all the beers I've ever had, I'd easily rank PBR in the bottom 5 or so. Horrible beer. And I'm no beer snob by any means, I'll happily drink a budweiser or high life when handed one, but PBR just has this odd flavor that I can't enjoy. Also, neckbeards and scarves.

 

[BertramCooper]

Interesting.

I wonder what Natty Light goes for.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

You know it's funny, Clint Eastwood's beer of choice in Gran Torino is PBR.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Interesting.

I wonder what Natty Light goes for.

I don't think a hipster on earth is that ironic.


Maybe Super Hipster.

 

[Talon]

I could go for a Chimay Red right now...

PBR is not worse than High Life. High Life is the worst shit.

 

[VASPER]

Any miller lovers in here?

 

[TheLastCandle]

I could go for a Chimay Red right now...

PBR is not worse than High Life. High Life is the worst shit.

I find High Life's corntastic flavor to be enjoyable every once and a while. If I'm not in the mood for it though, it's a rough ride.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

Incidentally, the average per-capita monthly income in Beijing is like $225. This is like the equivalent of a car payment over here.

 

[Mr. B Natural]

Everyone should be doing this trickery about everything in China from beer to chess boards. Just like we got the "Egyptian Cotton" china should have "American Leather" and "British plastic" Why not?

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Incidentally, the average per-capita monthly income in Beijing is like $225. This is like the equivalent of a car payment over here.

I wish that was my car payment.

 

[FLEABttn]

Its the tastiest of cheap beers.

I see someone hasn't had Yuengling.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

I could go for a Chimay Red right now...

PBR is not worse than High Life. High Life is the worst shit.

High Life is a pretty strange way of spelling Tilt energy malt beverage.

 

[TheLastCandle]

I see someone hasn't had Yuengling.

Indeed. That beer is basically religion here in central/eastern PA. Great for the price for sure. Just wish they would ditch the green bottles, I hate getting skunked lagers at bars.

 

[BertramCooper]

I see someone hasn't had Yuengling.

Yuengling is godly.

I can't find it in Ohio, so the sister always has to bring me a case home from Maryland.

 

[Snuggles]

Any miller lovers in here?

Miller Light is my go-to budget beer. It's not great but it's not bad, just standard beer flavored beer and that's all I need.

This is funny, though, PBR is a classy beer in China? And that bottle, lols.
If I were a China man I would be drinking Tsingtao and Tiger, now that is some good shit.