Pabst Blue Ribbon launches Blue Ribbon 1844 in China
This could just be the marketing coup of the century:
According to Gawker, Pabst Blue Ribbon has reinvented itself as Blue Ribbon 1844, a high-end beer that is being sold in China for as much as $44 a bottle.
Why 1844? It's the year the original brewery was founded. Is it a new recipe? Or is Pabst Blue Ribbon just re-bottling it's same old crappy self, in the hopes the Chinese are suckers for a decent advertising campaign? The latter, I hope.
I'll bet it's the same rotgut swill that blue collar factory workers in Pittsburgh (and, for some reason, mustachioed hipsters) toss back by the case on a Friday night.
Perhaps "rotgut swill" is a little mean-spirited (liquor pun!). But it sure ain't Clipper City, I'll tell ya that. Or even Natty Boh, for that matter.
Pabst Blue Ribbon has inspired many great pop culture moments, like this one (NSFW). I really hope it's a hit in China. I mean, who wouldn't pay $44 for it? It's got "Blue Ribbon" in the name. It has to be good, right? Right?
(Image courtesy of this site)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
PB44 me, asap?!?!
Posted by: Dave | July 21, 2010 1:17 PM
I actually would like to try this beer, I wonder if I can buy it in the states.
Posted by: Kevin | July 21, 2010 1:44 PM
The pabst brewery owns, makes, and distributes natty boh.
So pbr and natty boh and pretty much the same...
Posted by: Kevin | July 21, 2010 1:48 PM
@Kevin -- Blasphemy! Any real Baltimorean can tell the difference between a Pabst and a Boh, even in a blind taste-off.
Let's settle this like men: I challenge you to a Das Boot chug-a-lug of Blue Ribbon 1884. Now if I can only get The Sun to pay for it ...
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 21, 2010 1:57 PM
1844
Posted by: Anonymous | July 21, 2010 2:29 PM
It comes with a champagne flute, presumably to drink out of! talk about putting on airs...
Does Baltimore get PBR in bottles? I transplanted and the Yalie hipsters in New Haven love their bottles but i only ever remember slugging cans in MD.
Posted by: ben link | July 21, 2010 7:42 PM
The author is obviously an uppity punk who doesn't know beer from a hole in the ground. PBR is cheap and delicious, and I'll drink one before ANYTHING with a "Bud" label on it, and I'm from St. Louis. I know what good beer tastes like, regardless of the name or vessel it's served in. Get a grip (and a 12-pack of PBR) when your friends aren't around, Sam, and give it a REAL try. Maybe pour it in a glass so it "feels" expensive?
Posted by: Nick | July 23, 2010 3:33 PM
"uppity punk"?
Posted by: Randall Von Heyderbaarg | July 23, 2010 4:20 PM
"blue collar factory workers in Pittsburgh"
your ignorance makes me laugh.
Posted by: the dude | August 30, 2010 10:03 AM
obviously he has not had the pleasure of drinking some cold pbr! otherwise he would not talk such crap. pbr is and has always been the best beer ever brewed , and now they are the largest AMERICAN brewer.
Posted by: bill oconnor | August 31, 2010 7:21 PM
pbr taste like shit
and i bet if everyone liked it
hipsters would move to natty
or maybe even natty ice
Posted by: The dude is a hispter | January 20, 2011 3:04 AM