When office spats turn into medieval battles… with beer.

And to pick up your own “steed”:

http://www.kegerator.com/Cruzin-Cooler-500-Watt-Electric-Motorized-Cooler/51-500XE-RD,default,pd.html

Part II in a weekly series

Pabst Blue Ribbon – Even though this low priced fixture is now furiously linked to the “hipster” movement, that is soon to have run its course. Yes, not too far in the not distant future, the hipsters will find PBR decidedly un-ironic and will see its ubiquity makes not them a beautiful or unique snowflake but rather part of yet another marketing group like anything else. Then finally the Blue Ribbon will be returned to the masses that have a need for a six pack but only have a five spot in their pocket. Of course, now it’s hard to find a sixer of PBR for under $5 in many places as its new found popularity has driven the price up throughout the country. Still, it can be found.

The iconic blue ribbon is for the beer’s 1893 victory at the Chicago World’s Fair, and its patriotic red, white and blue colors and (in many places) its red “Union Made” stamp give away its blue collar, Midwestern roots. It’s design is largely unchanged for decades, and is easily one of the most recognizable brands in the country.

PBR doesn’t have that strong of a taste, but of what it does have is a sweet and grain-like flavor with a malt finish. It it’s fairly light, meaning these are (sometimes a little too) easy to pound down one after the other, which is largely how we’ve seen them consumed.

So long as the price doesn’t continue to sky rocket, PBR still remains a good deal, especially with the larger cans. Even so, the recent price hikes knock this down a bit in the rankings, putting it at a #2 of 2. As it stands:

1. 1. Miller High Life

2. 2. Pabst Blue Ribbon

Although the first Oktoberfest was not held until 1810, that hasn’t stopped the producers of The Texas Renaissance Festival from creating an event mashup of epic proportions.

This Saturday and Sunday (Oct 10 – 11), The Texas Renaissance Festival will be hosting a hybrid Renaissance Fair/Oktoberfest celebration–the first of eight themed weekend celebrations. Polka dancing, bratwurst eating contests and copious amounts of German beer (mmm, Warsteiner) can be yours In addition to the usual shops, rides and games at the Renaissance Festival… As if we previously couldn’t get enough beer, slabs o’ meat and merrymaking!

I’m so intrigued by this mashup, I’ll offer a prize to those who can capture it on film. The first three (3) persons to send me a picture of a Knight, King, Fairy, Centaur or other mythical creature taking part in Oktoberfest festivities (e.g. doing the polka dance) will receive a coupon good for $25 off any purchase at Kegerator.com.

Tweet your pics to @LivingDirect or submit links in the comments below to enter.

For the next month we will look at cheap beers that we consider to be a good buy weekly.

Miller High Life – The Champagne of Beers. The Moon Maiden. Your ticket to the High Life. Whatever you want to call it, the $3.50-$5 six pack pack price range has made sure you’ll always have beer at a poker game no matter how long a cold streak you endure.

The bottle is a throwback to what you’d imagine Johnny Cash drinking in “Sunday Morning Coming Down” or what you’d find in your uncle’s garage fridge next to the Bel Air he’s fixing up. The can’s the plain sister except during the fall, when it comes in a blaze orange for hunting season.

Taste wise there’s a hint of bitterness, but it doesn’t have that rice-y taste you find in most big time domestics. It goes down fairly smooth, and you can easily polish a couple of these off without much unwanted aftertaste. Certainly you could ask for more out of a beer, but your beer would ask for more out of your wallet.

For the price, this is hard to beat. Also being an American standard for over 100 years doesn’t hurt either. As this is the first beer reviewed it will automatically take first place…for the moment.

Your comments are welcome.