Pabst Blue Ribbon Tavern Finds

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Memorabilia

This post is a nod to a famous Milwaukee beer that for some reason has managed to stand the test of time, Pabst Blue Ribbon. Just how has a mediocre tasting beer (okay, just my opinion, stand down all you PBR die-hards) managed to remain so relevant?

What is now considered a hipster beer, is instead to many of us, a nostalgic beer.

Traci and Staci Mautz, circa 1973

It was the brew of our fathers and grandfathers. It filled their coolers on fishing trips and stocked their fridges for football games. The pull tabs ripped off from its pre-aluminum cans were scattered throughout parking lots and campsites, left behind like land mines for the barefooted. It was our first sips of beer. It was cheap, easy-drinking, and felt patriotic with its red, white and blue packaging.

So with that, I give you a collection of Pabst memorabilia. These are all items that were uncovered inside the tavern - none of which would be any newer than 1978.

May you find comfort in its blue ribbon. Enjoy!

Glass Panes

Wall Plaque

Metal Thermometer

Metal thermometer that appears to have spent a good deal of time outside based on the rust.

Advertisement listing the Green Bay Packer and WI Badger football schedules for 1978

A wall hanging that looks like a barrel

Sconce that is still hanging behind the bar and above the cash register

Plastic wall hanging

Metal Bar Tray

Metal Bar Tray

Empties that are still underneath the bar

Styrofoam Can Coolers

Calendar from 1977

Stacks of cardboard coasters

Vintage Coasters

Cubs TV schedule (schedule removed)

This is likely from the late 1970s when the tavern closed. I'm gonna say it's past it's freshness date.

Pull Tabs and a glimpse of soda packaging from the 1970s. All still in the coolers behind the bar.

Comments

Vintage Soda Bottles

Vintage, Retro Soda Bottles They just don't make them like this anymore. Although they are heavy and fragile to transport, they are a more environmentally friendly option than the plastic soda bottles of today. And they just look so much cooler!! Buried in a box in the side garage were a pile of empty soda bottles of various brands. I find the bygone days of regional soda, before Pepsi and Coke took over everything, fascinating. I grabbed a few of some of these more interesting looking bottles, most of brands I had never heard of, and found a way to use them as vintage decor in my office. Most of these are from the 1950s. It was fun to do a little retro soda research. We do love our soda pop! Pile of 60+ year old empty soda bottles Vintage Soda Bottle Decor in My Office Howel's Root Beer Bottle is Circa late 1940s The origins of Howel's Beverage Company out of Chicago, IL started with the sale of an orange-julep syrup (this would eventually bec...

Let's Start with Englebert Mautz (formerly Mauz)

I'm going to start my blog with what little I do know about my great-grandfather, Engelbert Mautz, since he was the family member that first settled in East Bristol, WI. Nothing says classy biography like a bullet point list, but for your easy reading pleasure, here are some high level 'facts' that I found on the Internet and through information that my aunt had in the form of historical documentation, anecdotes, and photos. He was born in 1858 in Burladingen, Germany He was a cabinet maker According to my aunt, he was a tall and husky German (see photo below) He came to America in 1890 first to somewhere on the East coast. He settled in East Bristol, WI in 1893 His last name was actually Mauz. His first wife's name was Anna Heim. They had three daughters, Regina, Kate and Johanna. Anna died after giving birth to Johanna. His second wife's name was also Anna. Her maiden name was also Mauz. Were they related? At some point and for a reason I'm not s...

Kurth's Brewing, Columbus, WI

Kurth's Beer from Columbus, WI Well, the online auction of items from the tavern has been over now for a few months and at times I find myself still reflecting on how valuable some of those items were to people. Our signature piece was the Kurth's Beer sign that had been sitting in the garage for upwards of 70 years. It's that sign that has inspired this blog post, which focuses on all the vintage Kurth Brewing items that were found inside. Kurth's Beer Sign If you want to know more about Kurth Brewery, I encourage you to check out this July 2016 article by Lisa Cestkowski for the Columbus Journal https://www.wiscnews.com/columbusjournal/news/local/kurth-brewery-was-barreling-full-steam-ahead-until-flames-altered-the-course-of-history/article_a5cd6ef0-4a02-5501-bd40-1084d25fe168.html I'm sure it makes sense that there was an abundance of Kurth's Beer served at the tavern. Since the brewery was located in Columbus, WI it was likely the closest bre...

Mautz's Tavern- A Historical Commentary

Search This Blog