Five years ago Pabst Blue Ribbon rose like a phoenix from the ashes to become the official beer of the sad modern “counter-culture,” effectively branding itself as the adult beverage of choice for urban 20 and 30-somethings seeking to shed their pansy-ass realities and earn some hard street cred by creating a facade of being one with white-trash folk. But do the cool kids realize that the folks at Pabst who make and market their beloved “anti-establishment” beer of choice are also savvy capitalists who’ve been quite effective at making massive profits off of their “non-conformist” asses through slick marketing? Read more »

I’ve taken a look at winning ads from last week’s Cannes Ad Festival that I’ve liked. Now, a take-down of some winning ads that I absolutely hate. This Miller High Life campaign by Saatchi & Saatchi New York won a Press Gold Lion. The only stupider selection by the prestigious jury was the awarding of the Press Grand Prix Lion to this Wrangler hooey. While the strategy of separating the men from the fey men is acceptable, the executions here are as subtle as a beer bottle to the brain. As a comparison, take a look at the series of Miller TV spots by W+K from the late 90s early 00s that used the same basic strategy (one, two, three). Perfectly pitched, and my intelligence is left unbludgeoned. The “Decrossifier”—gimme a fucking break. Jump for a third bad ad featuring another painfully unfunny Miller “innovation.” Read more »

We’re well beyond asinine silver bullet trains and hipster brown bag street ads here. Beautifully-photographed ads (click them to enlarge) via Barcelona agency Caldas Naya for Super Bock Abadia, a wheat beer. Super Bock is a premium Portuguese brand owned by Carlsberg. This obviously isn’t “the one beer to have when you’re having more than one.” (That was piss-like Schaefer’s old tagline for you youngsters.) This is the beer to gently quaff while devouring some fancy black pasta as you vigorously discuss whether Damien Hirst is an artist or a vulgarian while also speculating on his dick size. While the convergence of sex and fashion and art and food creates rich canvases, I think the campaign is a tad too ambitious to really move cases. Read more »

Connoisseurs of cheap beer will enjoy these vintage knit sweaters from some of America’s biggest brewers. Below is a selection of 1970s and 80s beer sweaters from the collection that artist AJ Fosik has amassed.

Photos by AJ Fosik