Best CHEAP Beer??
#47
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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?
Anyone else remember returnables?
#48
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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.
#50
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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.
#51
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Originally Posted by dhuey
There's nothing terrible about the mass produced American beers -- they're not awful.
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.
#52
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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.
Last edited by cyberdad; Feb 18, 2007 at 8:18 am
#53

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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.
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.
#55
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Originally Posted by cyberdad
The current version, however IMHO, is pretty hard to take.
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.
#57
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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.
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I'm a fan of Miller Lite and Molson. During college, though, I drank many Keystones and Natural Lights.
#59
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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.

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.
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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!
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.
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.
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.



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.