Matt Likes Beer returns for its first episode of 2026 with an unexpected and entertaining comeback beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon. Sparked by the striking Godzilla 70th Anniversary can art collaboration featuring work by artist Attack Peter, Matt revisits a beer he spent years actively avoiding—and discovers he may have been wrong all along.
The episode opens with a candid reflection on why the show paused in 2025, how life and work finally found balance, and why several NEOZAZ podcasts are experiencing a creative resurgence. From there, the focus shifts squarely to the beer in hand.
Matt conducts a full BJCP-guided evaluation of PBR as a 1B American Lager, breaking down appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression. Despite long-standing stigma surrounding macro lagers, PBR earns an impressive 40 out of 50, landing firmly in the Excellent range—much to Matt’s own surprise.
The most jaw-dropping moment comes when Matt compares PBR side-by-side with his own gold-medal-winning American Lager, discovering just how close the two beers really are in flavor and structure. The episode wraps up with a reading of hilariously savage one-star reviews, reflections on evolving beer quality over time, and a thoughtful reminder that judging a beer by its style—not its reputation—can lead to genuine surprises.
Whether you’re a craft beer devotee, a BJCP judge in training, or just here for Godzilla on a beer can, this episode proves that even the most unlikely beers deserve a fair tasting.
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