Lena Savoie
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was an alcoholic coffee beverage with a unique selling point: it combined alcohol and caffeine. With a taste likened to Yoo-hoo or a Starbucks Frappuccino, it was available in cans and offered a cheaper alternative to coffee liqueurs and spirits. However, it seems consumers were not convinced by the product, with sales dropping by 40% in 2022, and it is no longer available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol Content | 14% ABV |
| Caffeine Content | 35 milligrams per can |
| Taste | Sweet, chocolatey, espresso, drip coffee, stale |
| Colour | Dark coffee brown |
| Texture | Opaque, no head or light crema |
| Smell | Espresso, drip coffee, chocolate |
| Occasions | Boozy brunches, cocktails |
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What You'll Learn
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee is no longer available
Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) Hard Coffee is no longer available. The drink, which contained alcohol and caffeine, was launched in 2019 in just five states. It had a slow rollout, and many people had trouble tracking it down. However, by mid-2020, it had become widely available in the United States, with a representative confirming its presence on shelves in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
PBR Hard Coffee was a unique drink that combined alcohol and caffeine. It had a 5% ABV when it was first released, but some consumers apparently wanted a higher ABV of around 14%.
Despite the positive reviews and buzz surrounding the drink, it appears to have been short-lived. Sources indicate that PBR Hard Coffee is "gone too soon" and is no longer being made. Once it disappeared from the shelves, it was "gone for good".
So, for those who enjoyed the drink, it's unfortunate news that it is no longer available. The discontinuation of PBR Hard Coffee leaves those who liked it with the option of creating their own caffeinated alcoholic beverages or exploring alternative options in the market.
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It was a canned alcoholic coffee drink
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was a canned alcoholic coffee drink. It was a unique crossover beverage that simplified the boozy coffee. It was well-priced and only slightly sweet, with a quality that stood up to its competitors. The drink poured an opaque dark coffee brown with zero head or light crema top. It had aromas of espresso and drip coffee mixed with hints of melted baking chocolate, though there was also a touch of newspaper-y staleness that packaged coffee drinks tend to have. On the finish, coffee aromatics sang through while a chocolate sweetness lingered on the tongue.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was originally released in the late 19th century and got its name from its packaging, which included an actual blue ribbon tied around the bottle to represent a major award it had won. The drink was a market leader at US retail, with a 55% dollar share of the hard coffee segment within the 'beer, flavored malt beverages, and cider' category. Despite this, sales of PBR's Hard Coffee dropped by 40% in 2022, and it was discontinued, with the whole hard coffee category taking a dip.
The beverage itself offered deep coffee flavours and rich notes of chocolate, as advertised on the can. It was dairy-free and had 35 milligrams of caffeine per can, about as strong as a third of a cup of coffee. However, like other packaged coffee drinks, it fell victim to a slightly stale coffee taste, which became more noticeable as the drink warmed up. While it was a relatively unique product, it was challenging to think of situations where it would be a "go-to" beverage option outside of boozy brunches.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was likely to appeal to those looking for an alternative to traditional brunch drinks like Mimosas or Bellinis, as well as those seeking a mixer for cocktails or something different. Overall, it offered a unique crossover drink that stood out on the shelf as one of the few alcoholic coffee beverages available.
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It was a unique crossover beverage
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Cold Brew is a unique crossover beverage that combines coffee and alcohol. It offers a novel way to consume caffeine and alcohol in one drink, making it stand out on the shelves among other alcoholic beverages.
The product is a canned coffee with a kick, providing a convenient and portable way to enjoy a boozy coffee. It is well-priced and offers good value for money compared to buying coffee liqueurs or spirits to mix with freshly brewed coffee.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Cold Brew has a unique flavour profile that combines deep coffee flavours with rich notes of chocolate, resulting in a slightly sweet taste. It pours a dark coffee brown colour and has a strong aroma of espresso and drip coffee, with hints of melted baking chocolate. The finish is smooth, with coffee aromatics singing through and a lingering chocolate sweetness that sets it apart from other cold brews.
While the product offers a unique drinking experience, it may have limited occasions where it would be a good fit. It is perfect for boozy brunches or as a mixer for cocktails, but some may find it overly sweet or cloying for their taste. The canned coffee format also results in a slightly stale coffee taste that can be noticeable as the drink warms up.
Overall, Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Cold Brew is a one-of-a-kind crossover beverage that offers a convenient and affordable way to enjoy a boozy coffee. While it may not be an everyday drink for some, it provides a unique flavour profile and a novel drinking experience that sets it apart from other alcoholic beverages.
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It had a relatively cheap price point
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was a canned alcoholic coffee drink. It was described as tasting like Yoo-hoo or a Starbucks frappuccino. Despite being the market leader, sales of the drink dropped by 40% in 2022, and it was discontinued. One of the reasons for its poor performance was that consumers felt it didn't get them drunk quickly enough.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee offered a unique crossover between coffee and alcohol. It was well-priced and slightly sweet, with a taste that stood up to its competitors. Its relatively cheap price point meant it was unlikely to be more expensive than a coffee liqueur or the spirits one might buy to mix into a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was also dairy-free, so it didn't have the thick milkshake consistency of some bottled or canned lattes. It contained 35 milligrams of caffeine per can, about as much as a third of a cup of coffee. This made it a good option for those who wanted to change up their brunch routine from Mimosas or Bellinis while still getting their coffee fix.
The drink was a unique offering from Pabst Brewing, a company that has reinvented itself several times since its peak in the 1980s. After a successful brand reinvention in the early 2000s, Pabst Blue Ribbon experienced a resurgence as a budget-conscious beer option. The hard coffee drink was an extension of this, offering a boozy coffee at a reasonable price.
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It was described as tasting like Yoo-hoo or Starbucks Frappuccino
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was described as tasting like Yoo-hoo or Starbucks Frappuccino. The canned coffee drink was said to have deep coffee flavours and rich notes of chocolate, with a slight sweetness. It was also noted to have a stale coffee taste, similar to other packaged coffee drinks, which became more noticeable as the drink warmed up. With a relatively cheap price point, it was a unique crossover beverage that combined alcohol and caffeine.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was a canned alcoholic coffee drink that offered a unique drinking experience. It was described as tasting like Yoo-hoo, a chocolate drink, or a Starbucks Frappuccino, a coffee-based blended beverage. The drink combined deep coffee flavours with rich notes of chocolate, creating a slight sweetness. While it offered a unique crossover between alcohol and caffeine, some reviewers noted that it had a stale coffee taste similar to other packaged coffee drinks. This stale taste became more prominent as the drink warmed up in the hand.
The unique flavour profile of Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee made it stand out in the market. Its combination of coffee and chocolate notes, along with a hint of sweetness, offered a boozy twist on traditional coffee drinks. The drink was also dairy-free, resulting in a thinner consistency compared to canned or bottled lattes. With 35 milligrams of caffeine per can, it provided a similar caffeine content to about a third of a cup of coffee.
While Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee offered a novel drinking experience, it may have had limited occasions where it would be a preferred choice. Its unique flavour and caffeine content made it a suitable option for boozy brunches or as a mixer for cocktails. However, as a coffee-based alcoholic drink, it might not have been a "go-to" beverage for all consumers outside of specific contexts. Despite its interesting flavour profile and crossover appeal, the entire hard coffee category faced challenges due to consumers' preferences for quicker-acting intoxicating effects.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee ultimately discontinued, although it was the market leader in its category. Its sales dropped by 40% in 2022, contributing to a broader decline in the hard coffee segment. While it offered a unique taste and experience, it seems that consumers sought more immediate intoxication from their drinks, leading to the product's demise. Nevertheless, Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee left its mark as an innovative and flavourful alcoholic coffee beverage.
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Frequently asked questions
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee is a canned coffee with alcohol. It is described as having deep coffee flavours and rich notes of chocolate.
Sources do not indicate the exact ABV of Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee. However, one source mentions that consumers want similar drinks with an ABV closer to 14%. Another source mentions that the drink does not get you drunk fast enough, which may be why sales dropped by 40% in 2022.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee contains 35 milligrams of caffeine per can, which is about as strong as a third of a cup of coffee.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee has a slightly sweet taste with hints of espresso, drip coffee, and melted baking chocolate. It has a smooth finish with coffee aromatics and a lingering chocolate sweetness.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee was discontinued in 2022. Therefore, it may be difficult to find in stores. However, some sources mention that it was available in cafes and retail stores before its discontinuation.
