By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published May 13, 2020 at 2:01 PM

Pabst has launched a new program to highlight and support bartenders as part of its broader Grabst A Pabst campaign to support 1,000 creatives in 2020.

"Straight From Your Local Bartender" asks bartenders around the country to create and share a unique cocktail and submit it to the website.

Then, every Thursday, PBR will share the recipe and give the bartender $250. The website currently spotlights a trio of cocktails and also has links to ServiceIndustry.Tips so that you can leave a tip for a randomly selected bartender in the city of your choice (or you can choose to tip a completely random service industry worker).

The winning bartenders will also be featured along with their cocktails on Pabst’s social media accounts.

The Grabst A Pabst campaign also includes collaborations with musicians via its Sound Society program and artists, who have been challenged to design can artwork, and via the Workshop Wednesdays program that allows viewers a peek into the process of visual artists at work.

"With bars closed and the arts industry already facing losses over $3.5 billion from the pandemic," reads a press release from the company, "Pabst Blue Ribbon’s creative community is reeling. But while we are all stuck at home, creativity has become more important than ever and a source of positivity for millions. Everyday, people are experimenting with new forms of expression _ be it cooking, dancing, digital social occasions, art or other hobbies. It’s inspiring.

"The brand will invite bartenders, designers, animators, dancers, singers, directors and more to do what they do best, helping get its community back to work and those at home to get involved."

For more, visit pabstblueribbon.com.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.