Pabst Blue Ribbon’s New Beer Tastes Like Pickles

(Photo: Pabst Blue Ribbon)

Less than a week after the debut of its grill-ready, beer-infused sausage line, Pabst Blue Ribbon is upping the ante with a splash of garlic and brine.

On Monday, the brewer unveiled a pickle-flavored beer. Created in collaboration with the Massachusetts-based Grillo’s Pickles, the 4.7%-ABV lager is intended as a nod to the spear in a beer recipe — a Midwest U.S. dive bar tradition typically made with brands like PBR, Busch Light or Miller High Life.

Though the limited-edition lager doesn’t contain an actual pickle spear inside each can, it’s said to boast a “crisp, dill-forward punch” that complinents that maltiness of PBR’s classic recipe. Six-packs are now available through major retailers like Walmart and Total Wine at a suggested retail price of $7.99, while supplies last.

And somehow, the story doesn’t end there. Never one to settle for a mere news release, Pabst is spreading the word by way of a co-branded car in the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Speedway. Fans tuning in on April 26th can expect to see a PBR X Grillo’s paint scheme racing around the track, presumably decorated in shades of red, white, blue and green.

“I don’t think the founder of Pabst saw this one coming. But somewhere along the line, someone put a pickle in a beer and never looked back,” Pabst Senior Brand Director Rachel Keeton said. “We’re taking that ritual and making it official with Grillo’s. It’s exactly as good as it sounds.”

Grillo’s CCO Mark Luker added, “We’ve been working on this collab for quite some time, and we’re pumped to see it come to life. PBR has been a great partner, and this collaboration delivers a crisp, refreshing blend of both brands. We’re excited for beer and pickle lovers to try it!”

Though a pickle-flavored beer is unusual even by PBR standards, the brewer is no stranger to an outlandish seasonal release. The brand consistently makes its way into the headlines thanks to its super-sized beer packs, the latest of which was a 99-pack themed around Japanese kaiju like Godzilla and Mothra. Past releases included an 180-pack released in honor of the brewer’s 180th birthday, a Fourth of July-themed 1,776-pack and a “world’s largest” 1,884-pack.