(Courtesy Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewing Company)

Few American beers have as surprising a history as Pabst Blue Ribbon. Known simply as PBR to millions of fans, the brand has gone from award-winning lager to blue-collar favorite, from near obscurity to cultural icon.

Pabst’s roots stretch back to the mid-1840s, making it older than countless iconic American businesses and brands. Through wars, economic downturns, Prohibition, industry consolidation, and changing drinking habits, the beer has managed to survive and remain relevant for more than 180 years.

And here are 10 things you might not know about Pabst Blue Ribbon.

It Wasn’t Originally Called Pabst Blue Ribbon

The beer existed before it carried the famous PBR name. In the late 1800s, the company sold a lager known as Best Select. The beer eventually became associated with the blue ribbons tied around its bottles, and the nickname stuck. By the end of the 19th century, Pabst Blue Ribbon had become the official brand name.

The Brewery Was Founded By An Immigrant

The origins of Pabst trace back to 1844 when German immigrant Jacob Best established a brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The business was later taken over by his sons before Frederick Pabst, a former steamboat captain who married into the family, became a driving force behind the company’s growth.

The Blue Ribbon Was A Real Ribbon

The famous blue ribbon was not just a marketing slogan. During the 1880s, actual silk ribbons were tied around the necks of bottles to distinguish the beer from competitors. The practice became expensive as sales grew, but the branding proved so successful that the name remained long after the ribbons disappeared.

It Once Claimed To Be America’s Largest Brewery

By the late 19th century, Pabst had become one of the biggest brewing companies in the world. At its peak, the brewery was producing more than a million barrels annually, an astonishing figure for the era. For a time, it was widely regarded as America’s largest brewer.

Prohibition Forced The Company To Get Creative

Like every American brewery, Pabst faced enormous challenges during Prohibition. Instead of producing beer, the company shifted to products such as cheese, malt extract, and non-alcoholic beverages. Those efforts helped keep the business alive until beer became legal again in 1933.

The Beer Won A Cult Following A Century Later

By the 1990s, PBR was often viewed as an old-fashioned bargain beer. Then something unexpected happened. Young adults, artists, musicians, and urban trendsetters began embracing the brand and became known as the ultimate “slacker” beer. Pabst Blue Ribbon’s unpretentious image and affordable price helped transform it into a cultural phenomenon in the 2000s.

It Became Popular Without Traditional Advertising

One of the most remarkable aspects of PBR’s resurgence was that it happened largely without major advertising campaigns. Instead, the brand grew through word of mouth, grassroots support, and visibility in music venues, bars, and creative communities across the country.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Doesn’t Have Its Own Brewery

Pabst Blue Ribbon beer is currently brewed by Anheuser-Busch InBev and City Brewing Company. While the beer is owned by the Pabst Brewing Company (which is owned by an investment firm called Blue Ribbon Partners), Pabst does not actually run its own breweries. Instead, they pay other major beer companies to make the beer for them

Pabst Once Sponsored The Extreme Sports Phenomenon

During the early 2000s, Pabst Blue Ribbon became closely associated with alternative sports culture through its sponsorship of bike messengers, skateboarding events, fixed-gear cycling competitions, and underground sporting events. This unconventional approach  further cemented its popularity among younger drinkers.

It Has Inspired More Merchandise Than Most Beers

PBR’s logo has appeared on everything from T-shirts and hats to bicycles, arcade games, and quirky promotional products. Few beer brands have generated as much merchandise appeal outside the beverage aisle.

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