Pabst Blue Ribbon 6Pk 16OZ Cans

Pabst Blue Ribbon 6Pk 16OZ Cans is a classic American-style lager at 4.7% ABV, packaged in six 16-ounce tallboy cans. Winner of the Gold Medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival in the American-Style Lager category, PBR remains one of the most iconic domestic beers in the United States, carrying a recipe and brand legacy stretching back to 1844.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.7%  |  Origin: San Antonio, Texas (originally Milwaukee, Wisconsin)  |  Style: American-Style Lager  |  Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Pabst Brewing Company was founded in 1844 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is now headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. PBR is brewed with a combination of 2-row and 6-row malted barley, select cereal grains including corn syrup (not high-fructose corn syrup), and a distinctive hop blend of Pacific domestic varieties and an imported Yugoslavian hop. The beer is fermented with a proprietary pure-culture lager yeast and aged at high gravity, a process that contributes to its characteristically clean and smooth profile. The 6-row barley provides a more robust enzyme content for converting the adjunct grains, while the imported hops add a subtle Old World dimension rarely found in mainstream American lagers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Light cereal grain sweetness leads, followed by faint malt and a whisper of floral hops. The nose is clean and restrained, with no off-putting adjunct harshness.

Taste: The entry is crisp and light-bodied, with neutral malt sweetness and a gentle corn-derived cereal character. Mid-palate brings a subtle saltine-like quality and mild malt sweetness, while bitterness remains low and well-balanced. The hops contribute only a slight balancing dryness rather than any assertive flavor.

Finish: The finish is clean, short, and refreshingly dry with a touch of residual grain sweetness. A faint mineral or metallic note may appear, but overall the beer wraps up smoothly without lingering bitterness.

How to Drink PBR

Pabst Blue Ribbon drinks best ice-cold, straight from the can or poured into a chilled pint glass. Its light body and clean profile also make it a versatile beer for mixing.

• Boilermaker: Drop a shot of bourbon into a pint of PBR — the beer's mild sweetness complements whiskey's caramel notes without competing.
• Michelada: PBR's crisp, neutral base takes well to lime, hot sauce, and Clamato, letting the spice and citrus do the talking.
• Shandy: Mix half PBR with fresh lemonade for a low-ABV warm-weather drink where the beer's light grain character adds depth without heaviness.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and casual outdoor gatherings
• Watching game day with a crowd that wants easy-drinking beer
• Pairing alongside spicy bar food like wings or nachos
• Stocking a cooler for a camping trip or tailgate

Frequently Asked Questions

What does PBR taste like? Pabst Blue Ribbon is a light-bodied American lager with mild malt sweetness, a subtle cereal grain character, and very low bitterness, finishing clean and crisp.

How does PBR compare to Miller High Life? Both are American adjunct lagers, but Miller High Life tends to be slightly more carbonated with a touch more hop bitterness, while PBR leans into a softer, grain-forward sweetness with a drier finish.

Is PBR good for cocktails? Yes — its neutral, clean flavor profile makes it an excellent base for beer cocktails like Boilermakers, Micheladas, and Shandies, where it supports other ingredients without overpowering them.

Where is PBR made? Pabst Brewing Company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, though it was originally founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1844. PBR is contract-brewed at various facilities across the United States.

What foods pair well with PBR? Grilled burgers and hot dogs match its smoky simplicity. Fried chicken benefits from the beer's carbonation cutting through the grease. Spicy tacos or Buffalo wings are balanced by PBR's mild sweetness. Pizza, especially classic pepperoni, pairs naturally with the beer's clean, grain-forward character.

What sizes does PBR come in? Pabst Blue Ribbon is widely available in 12oz cans and bottles, 16oz tallboy cans (as in this 6-pack), 24oz cans, and various multi-pack configurations including 12-packs, 18-packs, and 30-packs.

Is PBR worth the price? PBR positions firmly as a value-tier American lager and consistently delivers quality that punches above its price point, as evidenced by its Gold Medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival.

Why PBR?

Pabst Blue Ribbon earned Gold at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival and Silver in 2017, proving that expert judges rank it among the best American-style lagers in competitive blind tasting. Its recipe — featuring both 2-row and 6-row malted barley, domestic Pacific hops, and an imported Yugoslavian hop variety — is more thoughtfully constructed than most beers in its price range. The proprietary lager yeast and high-gravity aging process produce a remarkably clean beer that has sustained a loyal following for nearly 180 years. In a crowded field of domestic lagers, PBR stands apart through a combination of brewing heritage, award-winning consistency, and genuine drinkability.