Ever since my pal portland came up with the phrase beer-tasting water, I have been a little too obsessed with Pabst Blue Ribbon. But then I realized I had a unique opportunity to perform my sort of science experiment: a side-by-side comparison of a PBR from the US against one brewed under license in Canada by Sleeman of Guelph. Even though any possible outcome of this project will not advance the human condition one bit, I took on the challenge.
First, I noticed the price. A six of Canadian PBR is $7.50 at the LCBO. The US version was $4.60 at a gas station on 12E, east of Watertown, NY. I knew I was getting ripped off, too, as I had seen $3.29 for the six at another place that was sold out. Then I noticed the cans. There is clearly more blue ribbon on the PBR stateside. Does this matter? I suppose not. Both also have the River Plate red sash which is quite natty.
To be honest, the beers taste pretty much the same – sort of bland, the pablum of beers yet without off flavours and somehow comforting. Like pablum, no self respecting adult would look forward to the taste but, once presented with it (like a new father feeding pablum to his little baby for the first time and scraping it off his hands knees and forehead), one is less turned off than one might expect. Yet the Canadian version, right in all pictures, is clearly a notch lighter and by the end of the glass as it warms and the bubbles die away it maybe even more watery.
What have we learned? Not much. Except I have ten more in the fridge.
Thomas – July 24, 2006 7:17 PM
http://geistbear.blogware.com
I have heard it makes a great sterile liquid to rinse out carboys and the like to remove any leftover sanitizing solution when you homebrew.
Greg Clow – July 24, 2006 9:50 PM
http://beerbeatsbites.blogspot.com/
Your next experiment should be to mix a can of each version together. It might open up some sort of weird beer wormhole or something.
And you could send me a can so I can rate it at RateBeer without plunking down the cash for a sixer. š
Oh yeah, I have a beer blog now. Link above.
Alan – July 24, 2006 10:49 PM
So what are 5+5=10 PBR worth on the open market? Is it like one 1975 Chuck Lefley?
gr – July 26, 2006 7:00 AM
I put Heneiken up against Fosters last fall (full disclosure: I am not a lager guy, I am an ale fan) and was very surprised. Fosters, to my taste, was a million times better. I think Sam Adams may be one of the best lagers. HOWEVER, none of these are cheap, none in the PBR range of cold, wet, fizzy, affordable, so why not simply buy a good ale instead?
OK-this is what you do with your ten PBR. At the start of the evening, or dinner or whatever, have a PBR. Then have a nut brown ale or something, it will taste a hundred times better than usual.
Alan – July 26, 2006 7:50 AM
What to do with ten spare PBR? I am really stuck. I even feel bad about putting them in a bucket of ice for the unsuspecting at a party.
gr – July 26, 2006 8:29 AM
How ’bout slapping a couple stamps on them and shipping them to portland? Maybe he will send some clams by return post. A good deal.
Pico – July 26, 2006 5:11 PM
Mixing CDN and US PBR?? I would expect you would end up with Vermont.
Thomas – July 26, 2006 8:01 PM
http://geistbear.blogware.com
gr, regarding the Fosters vs Heneiken test, were they both in the can? I would expect Fosters in a can while Hene in a bottle would be an unfair comparison.
As for uses for the cans pistol practice, anyone? Oh wait you are in Canada not the States. š Maybe some beer can chicken.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_19397,00.html
gr – July 27, 2006 6:37 AM
Why yes, Thomas, it was canned Fosters and bottled Heine, but exactly what difference does that make in a glass? I would still prefer ale anyway. You’re right about those PBR cans, remember the mentos and coke bottle explosions? You have 10 little opportunities to amuse the kiddies.
Thomas – July 27, 2006 1:30 PM
http://geistbear.blogware.com
Simple gr, the skunking factor. It doesn’t exist in the Fosters because it can’t get light struck and the Heine in a bottle probably was. A retry with both in cans would be a more realistic comparison.
I generally prefer the ale as well, but there is a time and place for everything.
Pico – July 27, 2006 4:36 PM
“What to do with ten spare PBR?”
How about seeing if you can duplicate the mentos/diet coke phenomenon with PBR? Start with Mentos and add other assorted bits of things and see what happens.
I had no luck getting anything noteworthy to erupt out of my Coors Light without having to resort to elemental phosphorous (not recommended BTW).
gr – July 27, 2006 7:27 PM
You make a really good point, Thomas. The ‘are you human’ thing had gag and a couple other letters. I understand your point, but if that Heine had been skunky I would have gagged. The day I did the test I was VERY surprised, as Heine has a reputation, but all taste tests are personal, just like I may prefer more pepper and less salt than you. I am often tempted to try St Pauli Girl for the first time in years, because, well….you know, but I just don’t favor lagers. Speaking of skunky, my kindly and otherwise perfect friends next door invite us over all the time. Labatt Blue is their favorite. I will agree that it is wet, and when refrigerated, cold. It is also affordable and has some alcohol in it. Somehow, no matter how fast it comes from the factory to the store, it epitomizes skunky. I am gently introducing these fine people to some of my favorites…
Rappster – July 29, 2006 10:47 PM
Send te PBR to me cause I’ll drink them up. PBR is the greatest tasting beer on the planet. Don’t get me wrong, there are good ones out there but if you want the best, PBR all day long.
Alan – July 29, 2006 11:39 PM
I am experimenting with the P’brona. Tiny squeeze of lemon. A cousin to the Milrona and the Molrona.
Bradford Ramage – June 3, 2008 6:35 AM
Here in british columbia we get different pabst than that ontario can you hold there, ours is a percent stronger than that making it 5.9% and the best thing in the liquor store dollar for beer. just thought id let ya know