Summer time’s coming, and with it arrives the timeless ritual of plunging your hand into an ice-filled cooler in the hunt for one thing chilly and crisp. In that second, nothing hits fairly like an inexpensive beer. No want for bells, whistles, or double dry-hopping — simply easygoing refreshment in its purest kind. Whether or not it’s a macro label with widespread distribution or a primary regional expression, a low-cost brew exists as a car for uncomplicated pleasure — and you may’t ask for rather more when the mercury’s boiling.
In fact, not all low-cost beers are created equal. Ask somebody who works in beer, and likelihood is they’ve acquired a favourite — one which slaps a bit of tougher than the others within the class, punching above its weight when it comes to taste, nostalgia, or sheer drinkability. With that in thoughts, we requested 12 brewers and beer trade professionals to call their go-to low-cost beer and why it really works for them.
The Go-To Low cost Beers, In accordance with Beer Professionals:
- Hamm’s
- Penn’s Finest Non-Alcohol Lager
- Coors Banquet
- Victoria
- Outdated Type Lager
- Genesee Cream Ale
- Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Okocim O.Okay. Beer
- Narragansett Lager
- Modelo Negra
- Blue Moon
- Miller Excessive Life
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“For our go-to low-cost beer, it’s Hamm’s and it’s no contest. Hamm’s constructed our brewery, within the sense that it was our working beer throughout demolition, development, startup — all the things. So far, I can confidently say we’ve got bought over 150 30-racks of Hamm’s to offer for our employees and buddies on lengthy work days. At present, we play a recreation in our again of home with trade buddies the place we slam a can of Hamm’s, crush the can, and play disc golf with the crushed can. I personally ended season one among our recreation 394 below par.” —Matt Holton, co-owner, Wandering Leaf Brewing Co., St. Paul, Minn.
“I don’t drink low-cost beer, however my husband, former Mt. Hood Brewing Firm brewmaster Jon Graber, does. His favourite is Penn’s Finest Non-Alcohol Lager. He loves having three–4 beers an evening, however the physician informed him ‘drink much less, please — you’re a brief man!’ So Jon blends Penn’s Finest NA with wonderful craft beers for his nightly tipples. He will get much less alcohol, however numerous taste. What he likes about Penn’s Finest NA is the value: 24 cans for $12 at Complete Wine & Extra. He additionally likes its impartial clear lager taste, which blends nicely and stays within the background of the great craft beers he blends it with.” —Teri Fahrendorf, founder, Pink Boots Society, Portland, Ore.
“I don’t usually attain for an inexpensive macro lager, however after I do, Coors Banquet is the one alternative. It has an precise malt profile in contrast to its mild or ‘lite’ counterparts. It’s an adjunct lager so it has sweetness, however one way or the other it doesn’t get as cloying as rapidly as Bud Heavy [a.k.a. Budweiser]. There’s a trace of an ester-y observe that means a complexity past your typical bodega beer. And perhaps the mystique of it solely being brewed in Golden, Colo., as an alternative of no matter random brewing facility serves your space, provides to its attract.” —Chris Cognetti, logistics supervisor, Wild East Brewing Co., Brooklyn
“My go-to low-cost beer rising up within the Midwest was Excessive Life, and I’ve turn into extra enamored by Genesee, a.okay.a. ‘Genny,’ since transferring to NYC. Nonetheless, Victoria, a.okay.a. ‘Vicky,’ has at all times been my favourite low-cost beer from my childhood house and recollections in Mexico Metropolis. A traditional Vienna-style lager that’s tremendous clear and balanced with the correct amount of toasty biscuity goodness, however tremendous drinkable and refreshing.” —Jonathan Ifergan, co-founder/head brewer, Niteglow Beer Firm, Brooklyn
“After ruminating on this for a bit, my reply is extra culturally certain versus economically, and is the Chicago Handshake: an Outdated Type lager and a shot of Malört. I like Malört, unironically in truth, and I’ve liked my occasions in Chicago. This ritual brings me fond recollections of these occasions.” —Jared Lewinski, head brewer, 5 Dimes Brewery, Westwood, N.J.
“I’ve a mushy spot in my coronary heart for Genesee Cream Ale. I used to be born and raised in upstate New York. This was the beer that my grandfather stored in his fridge, and he’d sneak me an occasional sip right here and there. Naturally, it turned my go-to 30-pack suitcase of alternative throughout my school years at Syracuse College. I revisit this beer usually, because of dependable distribution down right here in Asheville. It by no means fails to scratch the homesick itch.” —Phil Cassella, director of brand name, Burial Beer Co. Asheville, N.C.
“My favourite ‘low-cost beer’ is Pabst Blue Ribbon. Pabst separates itself from different domestics which are usually low-cost, because it’s a bit sweeter however stays tremendous drinkable whereas nonetheless having some taste behind it. It’s nonetheless my go-to seashore beer and I’ve tailgated extra live shows and festivals than I can recall with a cooler of ice-cold PBRs. There’s additionally simply one thing about their timeless can design that makes it stand out while you’re working into the grocery retailer for beer.” —Mike Bracco, brewer, FlyteCo Brewing, Denver
“I extremely advocate Okocim O.Okay. Beer. This Polish macro lager made by Carlsberg delivers above-average European-import macro high quality at an honest value level. Crystal clear golden lager with a vivid white crown, grassy and citrusy noble hops, a touch of balancing malt sweetness, a skinny mouthfeel, and medium carbonation.” —Dennis Maciupa, head brewer, 5 Dimes Brewery, Pink Financial institution, N.J.
“Again round 2007, I used to be managing a 400-bottle craft beer bar whereas in grad faculty in Gainesville, Fla. After I wasn’t there consuming craft beer, I’d hang around at dives and crush this new-to-me quirky lager from Rhode Island known as Narragansett. The straightforward, mild beer was excellent for after-hours consuming, restricted grad- faculty budgets, and scorching, sticky Florida summer time nights. Quick-forward to 2025, and I nonetheless crush ’Gansetts at Brooklyn dive bars, at Rockaway Seashore, and infrequently with the implausible people of the Narragansett brew workforce. It’s additionally a plus that [brewmaster] Lee Lord and her band of brewers on the Narragansett brewery in Windfall are killing it with a spread of wonderful beers on faucet. It’s undoubtedly a must-visit to pay homage to a traditional American beer.” —Heather McReynolds, Northeast craft gross sales, Hopsteiner, NYC
“I maintain Modelo Negra within the highest of regards, and am continuously wooed by that amber elixir whether or not I’m on the grocery retailer, gasoline station, or a favourite Mexican restaurant. I’ll drink it when it’s scorching, I’ll drink it when it’s chilly, and it’s unimaginable when utilized in cooking. Possibly its relevance in my life might be attributed to it being the beer of alternative after I was vacationing on the Yucatan on the supple age of 16. Both manner, Negra is the one for me.” —Woody Mott, head brewer, Tributary Brewing Firm, Kittery, Maine
“My go-to low-cost beer is Blue Moon. To me, the one factor that tops that clean and creamy physique with the crisp end and citrusy aroma is the nostalgia. Consuming it takes me again to recollections of consuming beer in school, enjoying shuffleboard with my now husband and co-founder, Chase Healey. It’s clearly a should to have it with an enormous slice of orange for full impact!” —Erica Healey, co-founder, American Solera, Tulsa, Okla.
“What a simple query! Miller Excessive Life, ideally in a glass bottle. Its reasonable sweetness, bitterness, and alcohol make the consuming expertise straightforward and nice. There’s additionally the magic of the tetra hop extract that makes it resistant to skunking, even in a transparent bottle. Plus, it has the facet impact of wonderful head retention. It’s a marvel!” —Daniel Galada-Maria, head brewer, Finback Brewery, Glendale, N.Y.
*Picture retrieved from schankz through inventory.adobe.com
