There hais been plenty of discussion here about the best overall beer in the US and/or the World - well what about the cheap beer that costs less than $5 or $6 for a six pack?

For some reason, Natural Light in a bottle tastes surprisingly good to me. :D

Would love to hear what everyone elses favorite cheap beer is.

In Prague recently I enjoyed Bernard 10°. It could be had in non-touristy bars for about $1.00 for 1/2 liter. I imagine the price to take home in bottles is about the same.

Aldi sells a beer called Northstar in the US. It's slightly sweet but for $4.99 per 12 it can be agreeable. :D

The cheapest beer in the world is that consumed by a friend of mine called Dermot.
It's cheap because it costs him nothing because he has short arms and deep pockets.
He's a tightwad basically - but all his friends let him get away with it because he has a gorgeous wife whom most of us have slept with without him knowing.
So whilst his beer is cheap it holds valuable memories for us.
Ain't life sweet !

The best and cheap in USA was Creek Beer I taste in Wisconsin. About $2 for 6.

Aldi sells a beer called Northstar in the US. It's slightly sweet but for $4.99 per 12 it can be agreeable. :D

Where in the US? Aldi locations I've visited in IL and TN don't sell beer, unlike all of the Aldi's and Lidl's I visited overseas!

Molson Golden can be had for $6 or less per 6-pack, and although it's an acquired taste, it's my favorite.

Stroh's 30pack for 12USD.

Pbr ^

Pbr ^

Yah what he said.Love them pork chops in a can!!

Where in the US? Aldi locations I've visited in IL and TN don't sell beer, unlike all of the Aldi's and Lidl's I visited overseas!

Molson Golden can be had for $6 or less per 6-pack, and although it's an acquired taste, it's my favorite.

NC ALDIs do, athough only one brand of Dutch beer, for some reason.

PBR or Cardinal in Switzerland.

Definitely PBR

I actually am partial to Shiner Bock. I can usually find it for $6/6-pack, sometimes as low as $4 when it goes on sale.

Singha :cool:

Makes me want to go back to Thailand..

Singha :cool:

Makes me want to go back to Thailand..

Wasn't the title of this thread good cheap beer??
If so you gotta go with Chang.


I love it my 100th post is about beer.
Hopefully my next 100 won't take 5 years.;)

My everyday $5 six pack is Yeungling

Pbr ^

I can feel my mullet growing already. Decent beer for a cheap price.

As it happens one of my favorite beers in the world also falls under your category of cheap. Spaten Optimator is available locally (Athens, GA) for $10.99 per 12 pack. At 7.2% abv it's nearly twice the strength of most American macro lagers which means less recycling, less trips to the bathroom and it's so much better tasting. I think I'll have one right now.:cool:

A beer that packs one hell of a punch for not very much money is Steel Reserve. They make it in two strengths. The stronger one is over 7% and a 24 ounce can is available for under $1. Not necessarily recommended though but $2 worth and it's tomorrow before you know it.:D

For those die hard beer fans out there I recommend converting an old fridge into a keg cooler. I've had everything from St. Bernardus Abt 12 to Old Rasputin Imperial Stout in mine and the cost per serving is WAY below what the packaged beer runs, usually less than a Bud would cost.

For some reason, Natural Light in a bottle tastes surprisingly good to me. :D You're not alone. I am a fan of it too and while I get kidded about it, I find it amusing that someone wrote a college essay (http://www.brookdale.cc.nj.us/fac/writing/rdery/examplebeer.htm) about NL. At a beer store years ago another customer in line laughed at my 12 pack of Bud Light and held his 12 pack of Natural Light up in the air saying "I work for Anheuser-Busch and I'll tell you there is practically no difference between these two except marketing and price." So, there you go....

In Australia: Victoria Bitter... IMO a great mass-market, general purpose beer... wish Carlton would export it.

In the US: I'm partial to some of the Henry Weinhard's labels, esp. Private Reserve and Blue Boar... both cheap and good... but not widely known outside the Pacific Northwest.

Out here in California the best cheap beer is good old Pabst Blue Ribbon aka PBR there are bars around that just charge just one dollar for one and thats not even during happy hour

I'm in the PBR train as well... especially on nickel PBR nights.

Otherwise Yuengling is good.

I've also developed a taste for Fosters when they do $1.25 pints :)

In fact, anything from the Orlando Ale House when its cheap

the blue ribbon is great - used to get sixers of the PBR tallboys for $2.50 ^

JAX beer, purchased in Mississippi, dirt cheap and tasty. Of course the best cheap beer is any beer you are drinking, that you did not buy!!

Miller Lite, yes I get mad fun of all the time for it!

I am happy to spend what ever for a Paulaner (Munich) or Gaffel (Cologne) - both Germany out of the keg^

I actually am partial to Shiner Bock. I can usually find it for $6/6-pack, sometimes as low as $4 when it goes on sale.Hey, I love me some Shiner Bock!!! :D However, I have to say that I am loathe to put it in the cheap beer category. Shiner is far better than most of the beers that I think of as cheap.

And, out here in California, it isn't necessarily cheap. But, at least I can get it! ^

Miller Lite # 1 - standby is Coors Lite

busch beer, something like 12 or 15 dollars for a 30 pack. Perfect for a case race.

What was the brew that used to be sold in the barrel shaped bottles? Was it Utica Club? I don't remember the taste, just that you could really chug them!

What was the brew that used to be sold in the barrel shaped bottles? Was it Utica Club? Ahhh... Mickey's Wide Mouth? Or Genesee Cream Ale? Both NY/New England cheap beer standbys back when I was in college, but I don't think they'd ever end up on a "best" list... ;)

Ahhh... Mickey's Wide Mouth? Or Genesee Cream Ale? Both NY/New England cheap beer standbys back when I was in college, but I don't think they'd ever end up on a "best" list... ;)

No, never tried Mickey's. Genny Cream would make the top ten list of quite a few people I know back in upstate NY. I'm not a big fan, and I was amazed to find it out in CA at a premium price! :eek:

And, Utica club should be a "best" cheap beer, if that's what I'm thinking of, except it drank so quickly, there really wasn't time to taste it.

Ahhh... Mickey's Wide Mouth? Or Genesee Cream Ale? Both NY/New England cheap beer standbys back when I was in college, but I don't think they'd ever end up on a "best" list... ;)

No, never tried Mickey's. Genny Cream would make the top ten list of quite a few people I know back in upstate NY. I'm not a big fan, and I was amazed to find it out in CA at a premium price! :eek:

And, Utica club should not be a "best" cheap beer, if that's what I'm thinking of, except it drank so quickly, there really wasn't time to taste it.

Afore mentioned PBR, Genny, and Natty Light....all good cheapies. As is Blatz, which was once Milwaukee's biggest seller (supplanted in the '60s for a decade or two by PBR). The stuff is increasingly tough to find outside of Wisconsin....and even takes a little searching there.

I'm a big fan of Sagres...which is from Portugal...not too bad, and nice and cheap.

-W

Quilmes in Argentina has my vote, cheaper than bottled water

I used to have lunch at a couple bars/diners back home when I was a teen age college student. The cheap draft was PBR. The pricey draft was Andeker. I always assumed it was from the folks that brewed PBR. I think it was an extra nickel a glass. It wasn't great but I always felt it was worth spending the extra nickel.

Heineken.

I can't help it, but I still have an affinity for Milwaukee's Best, especially if I need a good colon cleanse..the morning after ensures one. On college football Saturdays it's a good choice because you can go through 12 pack throughout the day without getting hammered.

Hey, I love me some Shiner Bock!!! :D However, I have to say that I am loathe to put it in the cheap beer category. Shiner is far better than most of the beers that I think of as cheap.

And, out here in California, it isn't necessarily cheap.

I'll jump on the Shiner Bock bandwagon, too. It's not the standard pale cheap beer swill, and you can (gasp!) actually taste some hops.;) I think they're really ramping up their distribution efforts recently (I even saw a Shiner billboard in rural Delaware!), so the national availability might be going up (and the price may be going down for you at some point iapetus). The price from my local distributors here in Pittsburgh ranges from $20-$24/case.

(Of course, it's not the same as fresh off the tap at Willie's Pub, but whatcha gonna do?)

Beer Lao.

When the commies took over, they nationalized a brewery belonging to Fosters and had East Germany fly in some highly skilled commie German brewmeisters to show them how to run it.

Pretty good beer.

The cheapest beer in the world is that consumed by a friend of mine called Dermot.
It's cheap because it costs him nothing because he has short arms and deep pockets.
He's a tightwad basically - but all his friends let him get away with it because he has a gorgeous wife whom most of us have slept with without him knowing.
So whilst his beer is cheap it holds valuable memories for us.
Ain't life sweet !
...?!? Awesome!! :p


Miller Lite # 1 - standby is Coors Lite
Bad choice man. As they say, drinking Miller Lite is like having sex in a canoe.

Personally, I like San Miguel from the Philippines. It's also available in Hong Kong, Thailand and some other parts of Asia, but on a limited basis in some of those places. Most beer (and other bottled beverages) in this region are sold by the container. Some people who live there and haven't travelled much will look at you and act confused if a "six pack" is asked for. Price in Manila for a bottle of San Mig is about 20-30 Pesos, which is about .50-.60 USD. Good stuff and IMO it would easily top stuff that sells in North America for 3-4 times as much.

Lone Star and Tecate. I think Lone Star is only available in Texas but I could be wrong... Of course there is always Shiner (I prefer the Hefeweizen) but I don't want to put it on the cheap beer list.

My advice for which beers to stay away from, RanierBeer... Wow, that's some awful stuff.

Nothing better than a bottle of ice-cold Miller High Life. It is, indeed, the Champagne of Beers!

I used to enjoy a frosty bottle of Altes at Gusoline Alley in Royal Oak, Mich., when I lived there. Too bad they stopped making it. Tried making the switch to the next cheapest beer there, Goebel, but just couldn't stomach it (Gus's actually had a sign up that said "Broke? Try Goebel" and it was maybe $1/can).

Gotta be kidding ... High Life is more like urine than any
other beer I've ever encountered, and I've encountered
some nasty ones.

I grew up in Wisconsin, which brews some of the most boring (most of the Miller brands) and interesting domestic beers. The best cheap ones are the bock versions of the small town breweries, such as Huber, Leinenkugel, Augsberger, Capital Brewery and some others I can't remember. Back in my college days (late '80s), you could get these terrific beers for $6-9 for a whole returnable case.

Anyone else remember returnables?

Gotta be kidding ... High Life is more like urine than any
other beer I've ever encountered, and I've encountered
some nasty ones.

There's nothing terrible about the mass produced American beers -- they're not awful. The problem with almost all of them is that they are really boring. For the same price, you can find much more interesting beers.

I also love Tsingtao. Can definately add that to my list.

I also love Tsingtao. Can definately add that to my list.But it isn't a cheap beer in much of the world (US price is about $1.40 per bottle -- or double the price of the "cheap beer" threshold). Given that it is brewed in china from ingredients imported from Canada and Australia, it will never be very cheap. While below average by German pilsner standards, Tsingtao does have a sweeter taste which appeals to the Asian market, and is a well made beer.

There's nothing terrible about the mass produced American beers -- they're not awful.

Oh, I don't dispute that - I'll drink Bud or Busch or MGD or Michelob or
even Rolling Rock, but High Life ... get someone to buy one for you, and
let it warm up past 40F, and sniff it, and see if you don't agree.

High Life ... get someone to buy one for you, and
let it warm up past 40F, and sniff it, and see if you don't agree.

I wonder if they've changed the formula for this stuff. Back in the early 70s, I remember it as being pretty decent. Nothing special or particularly distinguished, to be sure, but a reasonably high quality macro brew.

The current version, however IMHO, is pretty hard to take.

Goebel: Now there's a blast from the past! My memory of it was that it was dirt cheap, but not bad. My grandfather used to like to knock one back (and just one) at the end of a hot summer day.

In Belgium I was picking up 4 packs of Chimay for 4 Euro. It says a lot about the general standard of beer in a country when the cheap supermarket beer is Chimay.

Because I'm Australian my pick of the budget beers there would be a Coopers

I don't think I've bought a "cheap" beer in the US yet as there's far too much interesting beer out there that has to be tasted but if I'm unfortunate to be stuck somewhere with a limited beer selection I usually tend towards sam adams.

Hamms

The current version, however IMHO, is pretty hard to take.It's entirely possible that the High Life formula has changed over the
ages - when I started drinking, I preferred Budweiser (that was 1953, and
I was very very young), but at university ('60s-'70s) I didn't think Miller
was that bad. But now, I can smell it two or three glasses away.

Hamm's? Hamm's hasn't been anything to write home about for decades,
either. I remember when Consumer Reports gave it the top rating (that too
was probably 30-35 years ago), but shortly thereafter it was bought up
and brought down. Actually, it was never that good, just a clean, crisp,
almost unhopped beer. Not unlike Olympia ("it's [the] water), Stroh's
("fire-brewed"), and several others that went the same way of all fluid.

Here in Madison we get 24-packs of 500mL cans of Hollandia for about $16. It's a good, honest, dry pilsner from Holland. Much better than any cheap American pilsner, and also much better than Heineken.

Here in Madison we get 24-packs of 500mL cans of Hollandia for about $16. It's a good, honest, dry pilsner from Holland. Much better than any cheap American pilsner, and also much better than Heineken.

I'm a little less than two hours away from Mad City, so next time there, I'll make it a point to pick up some.

I pretty much agree with the previous poster about Hamms, Strohs, and Oly. Of the three, I'd rate Strohs as "least boring"....but not by much.

Hey, I love me some Shiner Bock!!! :D However, I have to say that I am loathe to put it in the cheap beer category. Shiner is far better than most of the beers that I think of as cheap.

And, out here in California, it isn't necessarily cheap. But, at least I can get it! ^

Love Shiner Bock. But I can't get it for less than $7 for a six-pack here in Washington. That's not exactly in the cheap beer category.

I'm a fan of Miller Lite and Molson. During college, though, I drank many Keystones and Natural Lights.

Hamms

Hamms was my first beer ever. My Dad had a six pack in the fridge for about 6 months and I kept looking at it and wondering how I could sneak one and give it a try. I know I eventually took one. Not sure how I didn't get caught. Probably was 13 years old. Been downhill ever since.;)

I like Orangeboom from Holland. I can get it for $4.99/six pack at Trader Joes.

I also love Victoria beer from Mexico. I believe it's made by the same folks who brew Corona. I've had it in Cancun but haven't ever seen it in the US.

No, never tried Mickey's. Genny Cream would make the top ten list of quite a few people I know back in upstate NY. I'm not a big fan, and I was amazed to find it out in CA at a premium price! :eek:

And, Utica club should not be a "best" cheap beer, if that's what I'm thinking of, except it drank so quickly, there really wasn't time to taste it.

Genny Screamers (called that as how it affected some the next morning on the throne) ^ . I haven't had a screamer in ages.

I remember getting Goebel's in high school (early 80s) for $3.99 a case. Mickeys was always the cheapest in the store when buying by the 6-pack.

I'm a little less than two hours away from Mad City, so next time there, I'll make it a point to pick up some.

You'll need to go to Woodmans. If you're coming from the E or S, head to Corner Hwy 51 and Milwaukee St. Great selection of beer there. Also Bitburger cans are good value (but Hollandia tastes better).

Milwaukee's Best regular and Light is usually available all over the US for about $13.00 a 30 pack.

Miller reformulated the recipe slightly a couple years ago when they starting putting MILLER on the Milwaukee's Best cases. Don't tell anyone, but is the same as Miller Lite, just in the "economy" package.

We have watched the cans come off the assembly line while waiting for our semi's to be loaded. Both lines feeding from the same vat, just different labels and packaging. And no advertising budget for Milwaukee's Best.

You'll need to go to Woodmans. If you're coming from the E or S, head to Corner Hwy 51 and Milwaukee St. Great selection of beer there. Also Bitburger cans are good value (but Hollandia tastes better).

I presume the Woodman's just off the Beltline at Gammon would also work. I have a customer right up the street from there, so that's where I'd be. (I'm not real crazy about Bitburger, BTW...at least the U.S. version).

There is a good cheap, beer?

If I can't get a pint of Guiness, I usually order a Budweiser...I think it's a great beer.

Coors Light is my cheap beer, when quantity is more important than quality.

If I can't get a pint of Guiness, I usually order a Budweiser...I think it's a great beer.

Are you referring to the original or that which is brewed in St Louis?

And, on that topic, has anyone noticed the differences in the taste of Budweiser depending on where it's brewed? I haven't had a Bud in decades, but in college, I noticed a much different flavor while visiting St Louis than what I was accustomed to from Merrimac, NH.

I presume the Woodman's just off the Beltline at Gammon would also work. I have a customer right up the street from there, so that's where I'd be. (I'm not real crazy about Bitburger, BTW...at least the U.S. version).
Should do, though I don't usually shop at that one. Either way, I think you'll be impressed by their beer selection and prices.

I'll cast another vote for PBR...it would go to Shiner Bock 'cept that in California it is not a cheap beer. :mad: Now...my next question is what airline club serves the best beer in the US? Worldwide? My vote is for Sierra Nevada at the SFO DL CRC and the incredible beer machines at many of the lounges at NRT. (WC, AC, RCC, etc)

I will vote for Singha when in Thailand or Staro Pramen (think thats how its spealt) in Prague... oh and also Budwar is so tasty.

Prague definately has the cheapest and best beers!

"Life is too short to drink cheap beer."

Yes, being in Germany too long gets you to know good beer. But in the states I would vote for Shiner Bock

And, on that topic, has anyone noticed the differences in the taste of Budweiser depending on where it's brewed? .

Honestly, No.

I think A-B used to have a minor issue with this, but solved it quite a few years ago.

In my own instance "back in the day" I once in a great while thought Bud from Columbus might be just a little "off". If anything, I thought the stuff from L.A. might be a tad smoother than usual. But in each case, it was probably "just me". As for St. Louis brewed beer, I never thought it had any particular "attributes".

PBR? People must be kidding. Keystone Light is far superior, AND less filling.

I just purchased a 30-pack of Natural Lite, for $10.00

I always enjoy drinking Dixie in New Orleans, but I'd guess that a large part of my enjoyment comes from being in New Orleans rather than the beer itself...

I prefer to drink microbrews or imports, but my cheap domestic go-to is usually Bud Light.

I'll second the Wisconsin standbys. Up until 2 years ago I could get returnable cases of Leinenkugels COLD for $11. Used to like PBR on tap for the price, but now that they sponsor rock concerts, that's not true always. Minnesota Premium Grain Belt is good, but I've heard the brewery was sold, and the water no longer comes from the artesian well in Minneapolis, making it not as good.

Also recall Rheinlander 10 packs of bottles for $3, but it wasn't _good_
We also would get the Meister Brau returnable cases for $6, icky as well. The store kept it under the produce coolers where it was WARM from the exhaust.

Current favorite is Huber Bock 12 packs of bottles for $6. They used to sell the returnable cases for $8, but alas, they've been acquired by a Canadian Malt Liquor mogul, so I'm sure that will not help. Huber ranks higher in taste tests than their flagship Berghoff Bock which costs more, but is still good.

I always enjoy drinking Dixie in New Orleans,
.

Now THERE'S a good cheap beer!

Not the bargain-basement stuff it used to be before the rest of the world "discovered" it, but it still tastes as good as it always has!

(Except, of course, for the infamous batch back in the mid-70s that was affected by fumes from a floor refinishing job elsewhere in the building. It took them a long time to recover from that little episode!)

Haven't seen our friends to the North mentioned. Moosehead at $10.99 for a 12 has a special place in my heart. I have fond memories of Leinenkugel's out of the tap in Minong, WI many years ago. Course, I was 16 at the time, the bartenders didn't give me a second glance. What a thrill for a kid from Chicago to be able to hang out in the bar tossing them back with the oldtimers, then head out to the dock at midnight for some catfishing with stinkbait. But time or my memory makes the taste sweeter - Leinie's on tap here just doesn't have the same taste.

I believe what you're experiencing with Leinie's is that most of the stuff in Chicago would likely not be from Chippewa Falls. Whatever you had in Minong would have been from there....at least "back in the day".

Moosehead? I'm in Canada all the time and almost never see it. They made a push a few years ago to become more of a player at home, but it didn't really get anywhere. Too many other good Canadian brews....but none of them exactly cheap.

IMHO the best of a very good bunch north of the border includes Alexander Keith's, Sleeman's (especially the cream ale), Rickard's, Labatt 50 (ale), and Molson Export (ale). All of these are best on draught, but still quite good bottled (or in the oilcans they sell in Quebec).

Cheap? A relative term. Carling Light in the Ontario beer stores and LCBO stores is about a buck cheaper per sixpack than the big boys and isn't bad at all. As for other "cheap" beers available in Canada, anyone who'd go up there and drink Busch or Old Milwaukee is "a few bricks shy of a load"!:D

I bought a sixpack of Milwaukee's Best Light last night for the beer can chicken I'm making tonight. I paid $3.39. Since I only need a half can to cook, I'll probably take a sip. If it isn't awful, I'll probably drink the rest. But since it's from Miller, I'll probably not like it.

I've actually been more disappointed with premium priced American beers. Anhueser World or something like that in a green bottle was putrid. I also bought a six of Miller 1855 2 years ago and can't give away the last 2 bottles.

Coors Light, draught, is pretty tasty on a warm day. Doesn't taste nearly as good in a can though.

LUCKY LAGER! Can't beat it.

Heineken.

"Heineken???!!!??? F**K that S**T! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!"

:D

Wasn't the title of this thread good cheap beer??
If so you gotta go with Chang.

If you're talking cheap, you'd probably have to talk about Leo instead of Chang. IIRC, Leo is the cheap version of Singha. I think there is a cheap version of Chang but I can't remember what it's called. Singha has a higher tax rate than Chang in Thailand because it's considered to be more of a premium beer.

Chang is probably the best cheap beers of the ones I can get easily at the moment (if only Shiner Bock was a cheap beer for me... :D ) but it's only good when really cold. I can handle Singha when it warms up a bit but not Chang.

Personally, I like San Miguel from the Philippines. It's also available in Hong Kong,

In the late '90s, San Miguel from the Philippines was more expensive in HK than the San Miguel that was brewed in Hong Kong. For a while, it was trendy to be seen drinking your San Miguel from a Filipino stubby rather than a regular bottle. Don't know if that's still the case.

My son likes Keystone. Says a 12-pack is only 5.99.

Love, love, this store. I live out of state, used to live in Illinois,family in kenosha.

They have chase and sanborn coffee, difficult to find; no charge at ATM, thank you. Staff are great I leave the store proud to be a mid-westerner.

I am so glad I crossed the cheddar curtain.

Anyone tried Pilsner Urquell? its my favourite beer from Prague. Around 50cents for a 600ml glass a couple of years back when i was there.

MGD in a keg.

Love, love, this store. I live out of state, used to live in Illinois,family in kenosha.

They have chase and sanborn coffee, difficult to find; no charge at ATM, thank you. Staff are great I leave the store proud to be a mid-westerner.

I am so glad I crossed the cheddar curtain.

Welcome to FT, radiofirst. I have never heard the expression, cheddar curtain. cute. :D

Anyone tried Pilsner Urquell? its my favourite beer from Prague. Around 50cents for a 600ml glass a couple of years back when i was there.

I just finished a six pack. Unfortunately, about $1.25 a bottle here.

I have to be honest.. good beer really won't run much more than double the $.50 for a bottle... why not just spring an extra couple of dollars for good stuff?

My fav is Pacifico, if that's considered cheap beer.

Anyone tried Pilsner Urquell? its my favourite beer from Prague. Around 50cents for a 600ml glass a couple of years back when i was there.

Definitely a good quaff....but hardly a cheap beer in North America. Cheapest Czech beer I've found is Staropramen. Not exactly cheap here, either, but usually less expensive than Budvar or Pilsner Urquell. A good brew, too.

When my daughter lived in Prague, she reported it to be one of the favorites if not the favorite of the locals. It was also her usual drink. At two Czech crowns for a pint, (62 cents then), she could even afford the stuff!

I just finished a six pack. Unfortunately, about $1.25 a bottle here.

pilsner is ok but over-rated... gambrinus 10degree, 6 .5l bottles for $2.50 at the supermarket, best deal in the world. but in general, czech republic has the best beer for the lowest prices. everything else is just an overpriced copycat.

in the states, best cheap beer: coors original, very refreshing, easy to drink and no hangover for me..

if its only price you care about, ocasionally you can buy branik at a hyper market for 1.90kc, about 10cents a bottle...

-matt

Anchor Beer in Cambodia (not to be confused with Angkor Beer)
Tsingtao in Thailand...
or even Coronas and Pacifico Beer in Mexico

Genesee Beer from upstate NY, $3.99 for a six-pack

Carib from Trinidad.. Back in the days the alcohol level would change.. Higher around Christmas and Carnival... Wow now that is a beer

I sometimes enjoy a hearty but cheap beer. While I certainly know the difference between "good beer" and cheap beer, sometimes nothing hits the spot like some rot gut brew. Am I the only one who ever craves a cheap beer? Anyone else ever gone to the convenience store in Atlanta or Detroit and grabbed a "forty" at 2 am?

Some of my favorite cheap beer:

Natural Ice - I think it's more of a nostalgic thing. Drank lots of it when I was studying. One taste of this All-American brew brings back memories of Wed. Night poker and cheap buzzes. I always thought the Ice got a bad wrap. Maybe their marketing campaign should be: "Natural Ice: Not just for whinos and gang bangers anymore."

Mickey's - Actually a malt beverage but a decent buzz for "budget" drinkers.

Camo - A little known brand that boast a 9.0 percent alcoholic content. About $1.29 for a 24 oz. can. I still buy these on occasion.

Those are some of my "best of the worst." Look forward to hearing from others on this amusing topic. I'm sure this post will elicit a variety of responses. :D

Make mine a Bintang

Used to buy Southpaw in Florida brewed by Miller. 5% alcohol and didn't taste all that bad, kind of similar to Icehouse, but cheaper.

Used to buy Southpaw in Florida brewed by Miller. 5% alcohol and didn't taste all that bad, kind of similar to Icehouse, but cheaper.


Southpaw isn't that bad. I haven't seen much of it in awhile. Do they still make it?

Red Dog was another one put out by that company. If I recall it was pretty rough. Haven't seen it much lately either.

Southpaw isn't that bad. I haven't seen much of it in awhile. Do they still make it?

Red Dog was another one put out by that company. If I recall it was pretty rough. Haven't seen it much lately either.

I haven't seen Southpaw for almost 2 years.

Red Bull was awful, similar to the old Schlitz "red bull" and "blue bull" offerings.

I grew up in Wisconsin, which brews some of the most boring (most of the Miller brands) and interesting domestic beers. The best cheap ones are the bock versions of the small town breweries, such as Huber, Leinenkugel, Augsberger, Capital Brewery and some others I can't remember. Back in my college days (late '80s), you could get these terrific beers for $6-9 for a whole returnable case.

Anyone else remember returnables?I also grew up in Wisconsin, Stevens Point to be specific. In high school (mid 80's) we would beat a path to the Eastside IGA, where returnable "expired" cases of Rhinelander, Hamms, Schlitz, Pabst and some obscure brands could often be had for less than $5. For us, Point Beer (http://www.pointbeer.com/brewery.php) and Leinenkugels were true premium beers.

Point Special Beer, Point Special Beer;
Brewed to perfection, it tastes so good;
Satisfies completely, like good beer should;
Better quality, smoothness you'll agree;
Point Special Beer!

Alas, beer drinking was a little too familiar to me, and after a 1990 Chicago bender, I called it quits on all alcohol.:confused: So, I'm coming up on my twentieth anniversary of alcohol sobriety and I'm about ready to declare myself cured!^

Long neck Old Milwaukee is cheap and not bad.

I think Kalik from the Bahamas is at least as good as Corona.

Red Horse from the Philippines has a nice full-bodied taste (saw some in Hawaii).

So many of the microbrews taste like Sam Adams to me.

The firebrick-amber stuff they have on Northwest now (successor to the James Page) I think is pretty good. From a company in New Ulm, Minnesota.

Life's too short to drink cheap beer. Give me a Stone Ruination IPA anyday!

"Life's too short to drink cheap beer. Give me a Stone Ruination IPA anyday!"

Since your post is looking down on everyone else....

By that rationale, shouldn't you be drinking high end Belgian or German beer instead of that new world unbalanced swill? That's not to mention the palette fatigue from that much hops. Personally, on a hot day, when I just want something cool and light to drink I'll go Miller Lite. I'll take a pass on the estrogen laden IPA.....Enjoy those man boobs though.

I haven't seen Southpaw for almost 2 years.

Red Bull was awful, similar to the old Schlitz "red bull" and "blue bull" offerings.


Update: I found some Southpaw at a local store tonight. It wasn't in the best part of town but it was a convenient stop on my way home. Evidently they are still making it. Only 3.79 for a 6 pack. ^

This post should probably be renamed, "best beer at best inexpensive price", because the word "cheap" is well just that --cheap and that doesnt fit with the equation of Best Beer.
The words Cheap and Beer are not compatible.

Cheap beer is the kind that makes you squirt on the toilet in the morning. (hey you asked the question, thats the honest answer). After 30 years of drinking I can speak here as an expert.

By far GERMAN beer is the BEST WORLDWIDE. That is not by coincidence, first off the water is better, second off the indgredients are better (100 % natural), but most off all is the Rheinheits-gebot, someone can correct me on the date, but I think its like 1516 ? which says that Beer is to be made of ONLY NATURAL INGREDIENTS = ORGANIC.

This is the way ALL german beer is made still to this day by law, over 400 years, and that is why it renown as the best in the world. This law is twice as old as the entire country of nativeamericans-invadedbyeuropeans-USA.

On the other hand American greedy-corporations do not follow this rule, they sell bottom-barrel swill garbage to the masses (sheeple) at cheapest prices. If that is what you are looking for, please use your own toilet. Besides absconding the name Budweiser from the europeans original Busweis (this is Czech) they do not have integrity nor good beer. Yes it will give you a buzz if you drink enough, but trust me the hangover is not worth it, especially if you miss a day of work moaning about how much your head hurts, while bragging about the few bucks you saved on the cheap ami beeer.

Second is czech beer such as Pilsner Urquell (the original Pilsner) made in Pilzen from the best water in the world. I think this is the best import in usa if you ask me. And perhaps if you have limited possibilites then choose popular dutch beer such as Heineken sold worldwide. But please dont confuse good beer with cheap beer.

If you ever have a doubt, your butthole and your pounding head will tell you the truth.

You are not a bird "cheap cheap cheap.....)

If you are smart, try to find the best beer at the best price, always avoid the word "cheap" no matter what.

You have been warned.

Bringing you the TRUTH....

"Life's too short to drink cheap beer. Give me a Stone Ruination IPA anyday!"

Since your post is looking down on everyone else....

By that rationale, shouldn't you be drinking high end Belgian or German beer instead of that new world unbalanced swill? That's not to mention the palette fatigue from that much hops. Personally, on a hot day, when I just want something cool and light to drink I'll go Miller Lite. I'll take a pass on the estrogen laden IPA.....Enjoy those man boobs though.

Wasn't looking down on everyone else. I prefer to drink a better quality beer if I'm going to drink a beer. Intersesting how Stone Brewing has been rated the 3rd best Brewery in the World by ratebeer.com (behind another San Diego brewery, Alesmith at #1). So looks like you're in the minority.

Not sure what your comment about man boobs is about, but perhaps a few push ups might be helpful in your case.

"Life's too short to drink cheap beer. Give me a Stone Ruination IPA anyday!"

Since your post is looking down on everyone else....

By that rationale, shouldn't you be drinking high end Belgian or German beer instead of that new world unbalanced swill? That's not to mention the palette fatigue from that much hops. Personally, on a hot day, when I just want something cool and light to drink I'll go Miller Lite. I'll take a pass on the estrogen laden IPA.....Enjoy those man boobs though.

Man boobs are funny. I hit the iron for 10 years plus just to avoid them. At the end of the day, even with all the 1-AD, juice etc; I didn't feel any different about the quality of beer I drank. To be quite frank, I don't think any beer is conducive to a good training program. Alcohol itself is estrogenic, regardless of brand or price point. It's been said that even one drink in a 24 hour period can reduce your 'T' production by over 50%. Bottom line, training program or not, it's hard to turn down a beer.... :)

I agree. It's hard to turn down a beer. Just wish I could get better beer here (although Chimay Blue is a good fall back)!

I have been around many breweries in the UK. From the small in coverted cattle sheds to large multinational chains. All offer FREE beer at the end of the tour and the tours are often FREE.

For really cheap but interesting beer , I recommend a tour round any of the CAMRA affiliated breweries in the UK.

Where in the US? Aldi locations I've visited in IL and TN don't sell beer, unlike all of the Aldi's and Lidl's I visited overseas!



The Aldi I frequent in Matteson, IL carries several different beers. Also wine.

There are some great cheap beers being offered at Trader Joe's. The entire Sea Dog brand seems to be pretty good at a really low cost - usually $5.99 here in DC.

In Norway a god tip is to find a place that serves Aass beer on tap ( http://www.aass.no/usa/us.htm ). This is primarily in their home city of Drammen, but occasionally can be found in Oslo. Thier "classic" is not great , but their Pilsener is IMO the best beer to be found in Norway, a true pilsener, made to German purity laws. Crushes the competition. Their Bock is decent too. Aass is not a popular beer, but this is down to distribution - their competitor Rignes Hansa makes god-awful beer, but has the distribution locked in. Nonetheless, if you find a place with Aass on tap, dont pass it up.

Definitely a good quaff....but hardly a cheap beer in North America. Cheapest Czech beer I've found is Staropramen. Not exactly cheap here, either, but usually less expensive than Budvar or Pilsner Urquell. A good brew, too.

When my daughter lived in Prague, she reported it to be one of the favorites if not the favorite of the locals. It was also her usual drink. At two Czech crowns for a pint, (62 cents then), she could even afford the stuff!
Actually Staropramen is cheap swill. If you have a closer investigation, you find that their beer is lagered the least of all the major Czech breweries, uses cheap ingredients, and consequently has least proper taste. They brand Staropramen abroad as "quality", expensive stuff, but in fact it is manufactured to low standards and by cutting corners.

Budweiser Budvar is the one that actually makes the beer properly and with good ingredients. Costs more, but hey, its easy to make cheap beer, if you cut corners.

Pilsner Urquell is something in-between, but closer to Staropramen. There is a beer very common in Prage called Gambrinus, which I found to be most ubiquitous.

In any case, dont confuse broad availability of beer in Europe with popularity or quality. European Breweries often have exclusive lock-in contracts with bars, so you dont get them all to chose from - that would be the proper test of popularity - and in the case of England, they even outright own the bars/pubs.

If you find yourself in Prague , forget Staropramen, have a Budvar Dark beer on tap - heavenly, Or better yet, take a day trip to Pilzen for some even better local brews, all of which are quite cheap over there. I think you'd see Staropramen for what they are after that: brands with history that have been .......ed by SAB-Miller or whatever global compay owns them now...


I have been around many breweries in the UK. From the small in coverted cattle sheds to large multinational chains. All offer FREE beer at the end of the tour and the tours are often FREE.

For really cheap but interesting beer , I recommend a tour round any of the CAMRA affiliated breweries in the UK.
It is not CAMRA-affiliated, because it isnt an "ale" but Samual Smiths organic lager on tap is a fantastic brew. And relativeley cheap by English standards. Samuel Smiths doesnt have many pubs left, but there was one in Maida Vale in London that had this brew on tap. Highly recommended. They also have a pub in Shad Thames south of Tower Bridge, but I dont remember seeing the organic ale there. Other good ones though...

This post should probably be renamed, "best beer at best inexpensive price", because the word "cheap" is well just that --cheap and that doesnt fit with the equation of Best Beer.
The words Cheap and Beer are not compatible.

Cheap beer is the kind that makes you squirt on the toilet in the morning. (hey you asked the question, thats the honest answer). After 30 years of drinking I can speak here as an expert.

By far GERMAN beer is the BEST WORLDWIDE. That is not by coincidence, first off the water is better, second off the indgredients are better (100 % natural), but most off all is the Rheinheits-gebot, someone can correct me on the date, but I think its like 1516 ? which says that Beer is to be made of ONLY NATURAL INGREDIENTS = ORGANIC.

This is the way ALL german beer is made still to this day by law, over 400 years, and that is why it renown as the best in the world. This law is twice as old as the entire country of nativeamericans-invadedbyeuropeans-USA.

On the other hand American greedy-corporations do not follow this rule, they sell bottom-barrel swill garbage to the masses (sheeple) at cheapest prices. If that is what you are looking for, please use your own toilet. Besides absconding the name Budweiser from the europeans original Busweis (this is Czech) they do not have integrity nor good beer. Yes it will give you a buzz if you drink enough, but trust me the hangover is not worth it, especially if you miss a day of work moaning about how much your head hurts, while bragging about the few bucks you saved on the cheap ami beeer.

Second is czech beer such as Pilsner Urquell (the original Pilsner) made in Pilzen from the best water in the world. I think this is the best import in usa if you ask me. And perhaps if you have limited possibilites then choose popular dutch beer such as Heineken sold worldwide. But please dont confuse good beer with cheap beer.

If you ever have a doubt, your butthole and your pounding head will tell you the truth.

You are not a bird "cheap cheap cheap.....)

If you are smart, try to find the best beer at the best price, always avoid the word "cheap" no matter what.

You have been warned.

Bringing you the TRUTH....

WOW..where do I start.....how many of those Pilzens did you consume before writing this...Dude, you really have issues with America and Americans...If you want to start your own thread, by all means do so, don't try to rename this one....cheap beer is all relative. Some folks might think this is Budweiser and others might think its Old Milwaukee or Milwaukee's Best. You know, sometimes I don't feel like forking over $30 for a case of Stella or Pilsner Urquell (so we do agree on one thing!!) so I might just grab something on sale for $15 or so. I believe that was the intent of the OP.

You might not like Budweiser, but they are one hell of a successful company with a 50% market share in the US. It was, I believe, the first brewery to create a national brand, shipping barrels of beer in iced rail cars thus expanding its footprint. Ownership of the Budweis name has been litigated in the court system, you might like the outcome, but that's too bad. BTW, are you a comunist? In your native land, there is no for-profit corporations? Is greed just an American trait?

The German Beer Purity Law of 1516, Reinheitsgebot, states that beer can only contain Malt, Hops, Yeast, Water...that's it...no other cereal grains.

By the way, my best cheap beer is Busch, $11 for a 30 pack cube and I can fit about 20 into my cooler that I bring to the NASCAR race in Dover.:D

WOW..where do I start.....how many of those Pilzens did you consume before writing this...Dude, you really have issues with America and Americans...If you want to .....
You might not like Budweiser, but they are one hell of a successful company with a 50% market share in the US. It was, I believe, the first brewery to create a national brand, shipping barrels of beer in iced rail cars thus expanding its footprint. Ownership of the Budweis name has been litigated in the court system, you might like the outcome, but that's too bad. BTW, are you a comunist? In your native land, there is no for-profit corporations? Is greed just an American trait?

The German Beer Purity Law of 1516, Reinheitsgebot, states that beer can only contain Malt, Hops, Yeast, Water...that's it...no other cereal grains.

By the way, my best cheap beer is Busch, $11 for a 30 pack cube and I can fit about 20 into my cooler that I bring to the NASCAR race in Dover.:D

I dont recall mentioning Budweiser or Busch, but well...they do contain......emm....rice. Funny enough. they didnt turn up in my list. I must be "prejudiced" or something...

Cheers. PS, em.... I am American, passport and all, even. Cheers buddy......

.....

Used to buy Southpaw in Florida brewed by Miller. 5% alcohol and didn't taste all that bad, kind of similar to Icehouse, but cheaper.

I visited a friend at Florida State in Tallahassee and that was the popular beer - I agree it is not bad!

Another cheap decent beer is Natural Light - it is actually my father's beer of choice! :confused:

There are some great cheap beers being offered at Trader Joe's. The entire Sea Dog brand seems to be pretty good at a really low cost - usually $5.99 here in DC.

Everytime I go to Trader Joe's I pick up a pack! It is really good. ^

I agree with the motto "life's too short to drink cheap beer," but at an open bar with all domestics, I'll take Coors over Bud or Miller

Everytime I go to Trader Joe's I pick up a pack! It is really good. ^


You can also usually get Full Sail there, which is excellent and priced well.

Where I live we are able to buy Sierra Nevada all day long for under $6! Pale Ale is quite easily the best beer in America if not the world!!

By far GERMAN beer is the BEST WORLDWIDE. That is not by coincidence, first off the water is better, second off the indgredients are better (100 % natural), but most off all is the Rheinheits-gebot, someone can correct me on the date, but I think its like 1516 ? which says that Beer is to be made of ONLY NATURAL INGREDIENTS = ORGANIC.

Just to clear this up: "Natural ingredients" is not the same thing as "organic". If you have hops and malt that have been grown with chemical fertilizers and/or are from genetically manipulated seeds, these are NOT organic.

German beer is generally good in quality but it is not necessarily organic. It does help that it is made from top quality natural ingredients and not the garbage that goes into most mass-produced beers.


Second is czech beer such as Pilsner Urquell (the original Pilsner) made in Pilzen from the best water in the world. I think this is the best import in usa if you ask me. ...
Sad to say but Pilsener Urquell today is but a parody of itself. Like Staropramen, this company was bought by a global brewer and they have steadily degraded its quality, using cheaper ingredients and also cutting the "lagering" (storage/ageing) process vastly. Just using Pilzen water is not enough to keep it as a good beer - there is also mediocre beer to be found in Czech Rep too and Pilsener Urqell is one of them: premium priced, yes, but still a cheaply and poorly made product, not really any different than San Miguel or other generic "premium" brands..

Anyway to add to the list:
- In the UK, Cains Brewery of Liverpool makes fantastic quality ales and lagers, often keenly priced. Worth a try as well.
- In Croatia there is a brand called "Karlovacko", which is relatively cheap but is the best quality beer that I found in my time there

One I liked (even though mass market in Russia) is Baltika. Not that expensive, although anything liquor wise is cheap in Russia. Pretty tasty.

Best beers I had were in Belgium. Not that expensive (from a Canuck's standpoint, nothing in Europe is "cheap") on average, and very good. Could have a good pint to half litre for around 2 to 3 euros in most restaurants/bars. About the cost of a coke, but with much better taste

One I liked (even though mass market in Russia) is Baltika. Not that expensive, although anything liquor wise is cheap in Russia. Pretty tasty.

Best beers I had were in Belgium. Not that expensive (from a Canuck's standpoint, nothing in Europe is "cheap") on average, and very good. Could have a good pint to half litre for around 2 to 3 euros in most restaurants/bars. About the cost of a coke, but with much better taste

I have seen Baltika at Wild Oat Market. I think it was $1.29 a big bottle. I bought one and dropped it on the way to my hotel. Never got to try it. :(

I remember the beer in Ghana was cheaper than pop. STAR and GUINESS MALT.

I remember the beer in Ghana was cheaper than pop. STAR and GUINESS MALT.

Where in Ghana was this? In Accra, I can't find Star cheaper than GHC 9000 anywhere but most Coke/Sprite/etc... are around GHC 5000.

Where in Ghana was this? In Accra, I can't find Star cheaper than GHC 9000 anywhere but most Coke/Sprite/etc... are around GHC 5000.

This was when I was there in 2001. Yes, Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi.

Just had Toña, a lager brewed in Nicaragua. Bought in Mpls, MN @ $12 for a case of 24 bottles.

I really like this beer, esp. for $.50. It is much higher quality in my opinion than even most (if not all) of the other $1 and below beers.

I guess it's been in Nicaragua since 1926 and the US since 2003, but this is the first I've heard/seen and will be buying more.

Being fiscally challenged again, I was pleased to find Genesee
Cream Ale on sale for some 40c a can in case lots and revisited
this brew: not bad at all - better than most of the domestic
"premium" beers.

No one has mentioned Bia hoi (draft beer) in Vietnam it's a pilsener ,no preservatives (Czech formula).About 10 to 15 cents a glass and I have seen the locals drink it until they pass out and fall off their chairs they are then re deposited back onto the chair by their friends,face slapped 1 or 2 times and they awaken to continue drinking

Just returned from Cambodia and was drinking both Ankor and Anchor cans of beer for about 40cents each. Not the best beer, but certainly did the trick.

I like Hite from Korea. It's totally cheap and my favorite of cheap, Asian beers

My son likes Keystone. Says a 12-pack is only 5.99.

:) My college roommate and her friends drank Keystone Light, IIRC... It was always easy to tell which beer was mine... it cost more that $6 for a 6-pack.

Stegmaier isn't bad, and when Mr. Kipper was in college, it was cheaper than Beast per ounce. It was $11 for pounders.

but certainly did the trick.

Nice way to put it! I like it.... :D

"It does help that it is made from top quality natural ingredients and not the garbage that goes into most mass-produced beers."

The macros don't use poor quality ingredients. They have a brand to protect and they use excellent quality hops, grain, water and yeast as well. They also brew in a much more consistent manner than the micros. They do add things like corn which adds highly fermentable sugars to the mash to increase the attenuation of the yeast. By doing this, they can make a beer that tastes lighter and people can easily drink a lot of. It might not have as much taste as a micro, but it's not accurate to look down on it as low quality.

For me, I'll go bud or miller lite. I do like the budvar yeast and bud has a reasonable amount of taste in it. Miller lite is nice and has a good hop character. I just wish that the US breweries would realize that light doesn't have to apply to both calories and alcohol. The only good beer I found in Australia was the low carb kind...they were full alcohol though.

Stegmaier isn't bad, and when Mr. Kipper was in college, it was cheaper than Beast per ounce. It was $11 for pounders.

When violist was in college, Piels was $3.49 for 24x12.
Sometimes down to $2.99 on sale.

"It does help that it is made from top quality natural ingredients and not the garbage that goes into most mass-produced beers."

The macros don't use poor quality ingredients. They have a brand to protect and they use excellent quality hops, grain, water and yeast as well. They also brew in a much more consistent manner than the micros. They do add things like corn which adds highly fermentable sugars to the mash to increase the attenuation of the yeast. By doing this, they can make a beer that tastes lighter and people can easily drink a lot of. It might not have as much taste as a micro, but it's not accurate to look down on it as low quality.

The majors do use low quality ingredients - and as as a consequence they also use tons of additives, preservatives and E-numbers, all of which they are not required to declare in - at least not in the USA and not in most of the EU. Guess who lobbied for those laws?

As for consistency, some of the junk that goes in a Heineken or Becks in USA is not even allowed in Germany, so how do you figure. The only thing consistent is the mediocrity. In any case beer is supposed to be a craft product not a product that staste the same every time it is brewed - THAT is what those additives are required for, along with a dumbed down brwing process.

Corn as used by the major breweries is cheap junk added to beer because the US govt pays the tab via farm subsidies - which same reason as that corn ends up in coke, in cows, pancake syrup and a million other things you never realised - cheap filler. Ditto for rice. Dont let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise.