Cheap, local beers from around the US and the world
September 23, 2018 11:57 AM Subscribe
What is or was the cheap/basic local beer where you are? Is there an index of regional beers? I am specifically not interested in the more upscale local breweries.
Here's the sort of thing I have in mind, based on cheap beers I've had (and the places I associate them with, not necessarily where they're brewed):
National Bohemian (Maryland)
Narragansett (Mass.)
Lone Star (Texas)
Old Style (Chicago)
Labatt (Michigan)
Molson (Michigan)
Utica Club (upstate NY)
Yuengling (Penn. and MD, although maybe a little less cheap than others, and also they're boycotted)
Note: They don't have to be bad! I like 'Gansett
I'd love to know about beers from outside the US too, although I don't know if "cheap" or "basic" is always going to be a fair description. Like, what's the cheap, basic beer in England? I asked my girlfriend and she said "Fuller's?" Or, for example, I know Tusker is a major Kenyan beer, and it seems wrong to group that in with Natty Boh (or is it?).
Bonus points if you know how I can get any of these (or any other regional beers) here in the CA Bay Area. I've been hankering for Lone Star, I think because I just watched a bunch of horror movies from Texas.
Here's the sort of thing I have in mind, based on cheap beers I've had (and the places I associate them with, not necessarily where they're brewed):
National Bohemian (Maryland)
Narragansett (Mass.)
Lone Star (Texas)
Old Style (Chicago)
Labatt (Michigan)
Molson (Michigan)
Utica Club (upstate NY)
Yuengling (Penn. and MD, although maybe a little less cheap than others, and also they're boycotted)
Note: They don't have to be bad! I like 'Gansett
I'd love to know about beers from outside the US too, although I don't know if "cheap" or "basic" is always going to be a fair description. Like, what's the cheap, basic beer in England? I asked my girlfriend and she said "Fuller's?" Or, for example, I know Tusker is a major Kenyan beer, and it seems wrong to group that in with Natty Boh (or is it?).
Bonus points if you know how I can get any of these (or any other regional beers) here in the CA Bay Area. I've been hankering for Lone Star, I think because I just watched a bunch of horror movies from Texas.
Olympia or Rainier in Washington.
posted by abrightersummerday at 12:15 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by abrightersummerday at 12:15 PM on September 23, 2018
Labatt and Molson are both breweries, not beer brands per se.
In Canada their respective big beers are Labatt Blue and Molson Canadian. These are both the most ubiquitous beers in Canada (mostly) and should both be available at BevMo in the Bay Area.
Ontario's "Beer Store" (a monopoly run by big brewer's oligopoly) lists the top them most popular beers in Ontario. Because of Canadian/Ontario beer rules most are made in Ontario even if they're big US brands like Bud or Coors. Bud and Coors are both widely drank (drunk?).
Moosehead (from Moosehead) is the major beer in Atlantic Canada. I think I've seen Moosehead at BevMo.
Kokanee (Labatt) is the ur-beer for BC. The BevMo website indicates they carry it sometimes.
posted by GuyZero at 12:15 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
In Canada their respective big beers are Labatt Blue and Molson Canadian. These are both the most ubiquitous beers in Canada (mostly) and should both be available at BevMo in the Bay Area.
Ontario's "Beer Store" (a monopoly run by big brewer's oligopoly) lists the top them most popular beers in Ontario. Because of Canadian/Ontario beer rules most are made in Ontario even if they're big US brands like Bud or Coors. Bud and Coors are both widely drank (drunk?).
Moosehead (from Moosehead) is the major beer in Atlantic Canada. I think I've seen Moosehead at BevMo.
Kokanee (Labatt) is the ur-beer for BC. The BevMo website indicates they carry it sometimes.
posted by GuyZero at 12:15 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Down here in Cornwall, UK it was probably Doom Bar. Not sure that's as popular since the brewery got bought up and standardised and then rolled it out across the UK (and not brewed in county!). I always preferred Tribute anyway, which got a similar treatment but is still drunk in a lot of locals here, its a reliable session bitter.
posted by biffa at 12:16 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 12:16 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
In the Louisville, KY area, the "traditional" cheap beers were Falls City and Sterling. The Falls City brand has rehabilitated upmarket, but Sterling is still basically a lawnmower beer.
posted by jackbishop at 12:18 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by jackbishop at 12:18 PM on September 23, 2018
Genesee Cream Ale in Rochester, NY.
San Miguel in the Philippines. Or Red Horse if you want the teenage, get drunk as fast as you can experience.
posted by snaw at 12:22 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
San Miguel in the Philippines. Or Red Horse if you want the teenage, get drunk as fast as you can experience.
posted by snaw at 12:22 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Iron City Light in Pittsburgh, PA and Western PA.
Maybe try Total Wine & More? There's a location in San Mateo, CA if that is convenient for you. The Total Wine stores (in Maryland at least) have a wide variety of beers and you can make a up a six pack of six different beers if you like.
posted by Rob Rockets at 12:30 PM on September 23, 2018
Maybe try Total Wine & More? There's a location in San Mateo, CA if that is convenient for you. The Total Wine stores (in Maryland at least) have a wide variety of beers and you can make a up a six pack of six different beers if you like.
posted by Rob Rockets at 12:30 PM on September 23, 2018
Probably Four Peaks in Arizona. (While they were bought by In-Bev a while ago, in AZ, it still comes from our local brewery.) Their Kiltlifter is pretty ubiquitous here. Edit: and delicious!
posted by Weeping_angel at 12:32 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by Weeping_angel at 12:32 PM on September 23, 2018
Also Western PA: Rolling Rock, Straub
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:34 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:34 PM on September 23, 2018
Portland has Couch Lager (Burnside Brewing), which when I see it in bars is generally Pabst/Rainier-prices. Far more common to see PBR, Rainier, Tecate, tho.
posted by curious nu at 12:36 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by curious nu at 12:36 PM on September 23, 2018
In Togo we joked about the “Tour de Togo” or the 5 main beers sold: Lager, Pils, Awooyo, Castel, and “33”. Also retail for between $1 to $1.50. They are pretty much available all over the country and bottled by the Brasserie de Lome
posted by raccoon409 at 12:36 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by raccoon409 at 12:36 PM on September 23, 2018
And probably ShinerBock for TX
posted by raccoon409 at 12:37 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by raccoon409 at 12:37 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Came to say Shiner Bock.
posted by MexicanYenta at 12:42 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by MexicanYenta at 12:42 PM on September 23, 2018
I'm from San Francisco Bay Area and also live near Sacramento. I see Coronas and Tsingtao and Pabst on the regular, but almost everyone I know drinks craft beer so Lagunitas or Blue Moon is like the minimum cheap 'craft beer'. Is that cheap enough?
posted by yueliang at 12:45 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by yueliang at 12:45 PM on September 23, 2018
In Burkina Faso, Castel and Brakina are available at almost every bar, unless it's the type place that only sells locally made millet beer.
Heineken and Guinness are the most widely known imported beers. (Castel is practically local; Togo's next door.) They're a step up in price and not available everywhere.
Expensive craft beers aren't really a thing.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 12:54 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Heineken and Guinness are the most widely known imported beers. (Castel is practically local; Togo's next door.) They're a step up in price and not available everywhere.
Expensive craft beers aren't really a thing.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 12:54 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
For England, it's tricky. Down-to-earth beer means lager, which means imported brands. The most English lager's definitely Carling, which I've just learned is Canadian. Similarly for Scotland, the only local lager would definitely be (the much more highly rated) Tennent's.
But yeah, if we're talking local, then that's a bit more upmarket and it's definitely ales, and it can get parochial. There's 2 mass-market local breweries serving my small city (Bath): Abbey Ales, whose main beer is Bellringer and Bath Ales's Gem. For a regional beer, Wadworth 6X is probably the most predominant.
In Birmingham, where I grew up, the two local beers are Brew XI and Banks's, but they're not brewed locally any longer.
posted by ambrosen at 1:04 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
But yeah, if we're talking local, then that's a bit more upmarket and it's definitely ales, and it can get parochial. There's 2 mass-market local breweries serving my small city (Bath): Abbey Ales, whose main beer is Bellringer and Bath Ales's Gem. For a regional beer, Wadworth 6X is probably the most predominant.
In Birmingham, where I grew up, the two local beers are Brew XI and Banks's, but they're not brewed locally any longer.
posted by ambrosen at 1:04 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Agh! Craft beer, that's the term I was searching for. No, even cheap craft beer isn't what I have in mind.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 1:12 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 1:12 PM on September 23, 2018
Grain Belt for Minnesota. I'm not sure exactly what happened to the brand but it pretty much died there for a while, only it's back now. Relatively cheap, definitely basic, definitely local association. As canoe beers for hot summer days go, I like it.
posted by traveler_ at 1:13 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by traveler_ at 1:13 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
McEwan's was (maybe still is) the local cheap and nasty in Glasgow. It's slightly worse that Tennent's, if that's possible. The red cans of McEwan's Ale were known as "Red Death", and would be the only carry-outs left at parties.
Beer in the UK is intensely regional. Fuller's would a southeast thing. Birmingham has a microcosm all its own.
The Canadian geezer beer is Molson Stock Ale. It's very brown and malty.
posted by scruss at 1:18 PM on September 23, 2018
Beer in the UK is intensely regional. Fuller's would a southeast thing. Birmingham has a microcosm all its own.
The Canadian geezer beer is Molson Stock Ale. It's very brown and malty.
posted by scruss at 1:18 PM on September 23, 2018
St. Louis is/was home of Anheuser Busch, the largest brewer in the US, so our cheap regional beers are national. The go-to cheap summer beer is Busch or Busch Light, or if you wanted to be fancy, Bud Light. From what I know, Busch feels more regional than Bud.
posted by zsazsa at 1:20 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by zsazsa at 1:20 PM on September 23, 2018
I’d group Lionshead along with Yuengling for southeast PA; it’s the beer we always had on hand at my college co-op.
posted by ActionPopulated at 1:21 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by ActionPopulated at 1:21 PM on September 23, 2018
Stag from Southern Illinois/ St. Louis metro. East.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:47 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:47 PM on September 23, 2018
Iowa is Busch Light.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:52 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:52 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Around Frankfurt, Germany and especially in the Taunus valley near the town of Lich, that's Licher territory. I've actually seen it imported to USA from time to time.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:21 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:21 PM on September 23, 2018
Basic beers for the Netherlands: Grolsch, Heineken, Brand, Dommelsch, Bavaria, Amstel and Hertog Jan. All of these are brands and the basic stuff is their pilsener. Some are more common in certain regions, but all of them can be found in supermarkets all over the country.
Grolsch is more of a 'east of the country' thing, Dommelsch/Bavaria/Brand are more commonly drunk in the south. Heineken and Amstel are all over but more common in the west.
Anything that would be considered 'local' to a more specific place would be more of a craft beer and not cheap/basic.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:26 PM on September 23, 2018
Grolsch is more of a 'east of the country' thing, Dommelsch/Bavaria/Brand are more commonly drunk in the south. Heineken and Amstel are all over but more common in the west.
Anything that would be considered 'local' to a more specific place would be more of a craft beer and not cheap/basic.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:26 PM on September 23, 2018
In BC Kokanee for sure; there is also Cariboo which I believe is even cheaper. At university if you pressed the "secret button" on the department clubroom's vending machine, usually Cariboo would come out.
posted by btfreek at 2:51 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by btfreek at 2:51 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
As others have said, the beer side in the UK is very very regional with respect to brands, while lager is more national, and given the closure of many regional breweries, those brands are often produced under contract in other parts of the country or even abroad: classic Yorkshire beers brewed in Durham, Newcastle Brown Ale brewed in the Netherlands.
Anyway, I'd be thinking of the beer that gets sold in big multipacks, and in my old northern neck of the woods that would mean John Smith's Smooth, Tetley, McEwan's Export, etc. Mostly variants on "best bitter", malty, about 3.6% ABV. You can also throw in store brands with even lower ABV, and cases of cheap Euro lager in 33cl bottles which back in the day were shipped back from booze cruises in France.
posted by holgate at 3:02 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Anyway, I'd be thinking of the beer that gets sold in big multipacks, and in my old northern neck of the woods that would mean John Smith's Smooth, Tetley, McEwan's Export, etc. Mostly variants on "best bitter", malty, about 3.6% ABV. You can also throw in store brands with even lower ABV, and cases of cheap Euro lager in 33cl bottles which back in the day were shipped back from booze cruises in France.
posted by holgate at 3:02 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I mentioned the session beers in Cornwall above but Cornwall is pretty unusual within the UK in that virtually all pubs have 2-5 cask ales on draught at any given point and then are collectively more popular than lager. Stuff like John Smith's and Tetley's are pretty rare here.
posted by biffa at 3:12 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by biffa at 3:12 PM on September 23, 2018
Tecate filled this role when I was in New Mexico -- not technically local, since it's from Actual Mexico, but close enough, since the 'local' stuff was craft and considerably pricier. Then I moved to the East Coast of the US and discovered that bars there consider it an 'import' and charge accordingly, which took some mental adjustment for me. (NYC bars also hilariously consider Narragansett an 'import' -- it's the PBR effect)
posted by halation at 3:23 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by halation at 3:23 PM on September 23, 2018
In Turkey, Efes Pilsener has been the best-selling beer for decades. It's a perfectly nondescript lager, and is available everywhere.
posted by bassomatic at 3:27 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bassomatic at 3:27 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
also: labatt blue is terrible please avoid it at all costs. i do not say this out of snobbery; i will get down with a boh, and a grain belt is a fine beer for a hot day, and prior to the boycott i found yuengling a perfectly serviceable go-to, but labatt blue is legitimately terrible.
posted by halation at 3:30 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by halation at 3:30 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Grain Belt Premium is true for the parts of Minnesota near Minneapolis, but probably more like Hamm’s as you leave the city.
posted by advicepig at 3:40 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 3:40 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Abita Amber is the default local beer in New Orleans. It's decent, not too pricey. For some reason in other areas of the country, the only Abita I can ever find is Purple Haze, which is gross. Distributors suck.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:48 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:48 PM on September 23, 2018
I happen to like Labatt Blue! In Syracuse, Blue & Blue Light are ubiquitous. Also Genesee Cream Ale is what you’re looking for.
posted by lyssabee at 3:52 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by lyssabee at 3:52 PM on September 23, 2018
Australia:
New South Wales = Tooheys New
Queensland = XXXX
Victoria = VB (Victoria Bitter)
posted by trialex at 3:54 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
New South Wales = Tooheys New
Queensland = XXXX
Victoria = VB (Victoria Bitter)
posted by trialex at 3:54 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh, and in Gabon it's Régab. It is… not very good. It's cheap though, and about as good as anything else in the area. People joke that it's short for regardez les gabonaise boivent.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:54 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:54 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
In New Zealand I would say Rheineck (yes it's brewed here despite the name), Double Brown, Lion Red and Tui have this covered.
posted by BeeJiddy at 4:01 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by BeeJiddy at 4:01 PM on September 23, 2018
In my 20's (1980's) in Houston, a keg of Shiner Bock was the default for parties because it was the cheapest keg @ $35.00.
posted by Grumpy old geek at 5:00 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by Grumpy old geek at 5:00 PM on September 23, 2018
Another data point for Rainier, memorialized in the local children's rhyme "Rainier beer comes from here" (sung with a series of hand gestures that end with pointing at your crotch).
posted by karayel at 5:07 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by karayel at 5:07 PM on September 23, 2018
also there are a few archaeologists who have created beer can typologies/collections/indexes that may be of interest
posted by karayel at 5:14 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by karayel at 5:14 PM on September 23, 2018
15+ (okay fine 20) years ago, the cheap beer in Minnesota was Pig’s Eye.
posted by misterbrandt at 7:18 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by misterbrandt at 7:18 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
I’m from Cincinnati, home of the Hudepohl-Schoenling brewing company and Hudepohl, 14k, Hudy Delite, and Little Kings Cream Ale.
In Havana Cuba, delicious local beers were Cristál (3.2 abv) and Cacique (5%). You could also get Presidente (Dominican Republic) but it was not delicious.
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:21 PM on September 23, 2018
In Havana Cuba, delicious local beers were Cristál (3.2 abv) and Cacique (5%). You could also get Presidente (Dominican Republic) but it was not delicious.
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:21 PM on September 23, 2018
In Belgium (!) it's Jupiler, Stella and Maes Pils. All Euro lagers.
And the American SE (excepting Louisiana) doesn't really have anything in this category. The oldest active breweries only date back to the 80s when brewpubs were made legal.
posted by holgate at 7:30 PM on September 23, 2018
And the American SE (excepting Louisiana) doesn't really have anything in this category. The oldest active breweries only date back to the 80s when brewpubs were made legal.
posted by holgate at 7:30 PM on September 23, 2018
FYI Narragansett is Rhode Island, not Mass.
posted by KazamaSmokers at 9:03 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by KazamaSmokers at 9:03 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
The national beers of Costa Rica are Bavaria & Imperial. As the names imply, they got a lot of German brewing culture.
posted by mmascolino at 9:05 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by mmascolino at 9:05 PM on September 23, 2018
Seville, Spain: Cruzcampo
Granada, Spain: Alhambra
Barcelona, Spain: Estrella Damm
Madrid, Spain: Mahou
posted by pleasant_confusion at 9:08 PM on September 23, 2018
Granada, Spain: Alhambra
Barcelona, Spain: Estrella Damm
Madrid, Spain: Mahou
posted by pleasant_confusion at 9:08 PM on September 23, 2018
In CA Bay Area, look at the SFBeer subreddit.
Total Wines and More, and Bevmo, are the two large sellers for a variety of beers. There are many smaller shops such as K&L Liquors.
posted by blob at 9:49 PM on September 23, 2018
Total Wines and More, and Bevmo, are the two large sellers for a variety of beers. There are many smaller shops such as K&L Liquors.
posted by blob at 9:49 PM on September 23, 2018
Poland: Żywiec, Lech, Tyskie, Żubr, Warka. There are some regional popular brands as well, but they tend to be owned by the same international conglomerates, like Królewskie in Warsaw. All standard lagers and frankly I'm very happy there are other choices (but then I'm a very occasional beer drinker).
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:20 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:20 PM on September 23, 2018
Asking for a caña in a typical bar in Spain will get you something different depending on where you are:
In Barcelona/Cataluyna it will mostly likely be Estrella Damn, in Galicia it'll be Estrella Galicia (which isn't related). In Madrid, and I believe the rest of the central provinces, it's Mahou. In Zaragoza/Aragon, they have Ambar. And in the south, Cruzcampo is popular
posted by gregjones at 10:40 PM on September 23, 2018
In Barcelona/Cataluyna it will mostly likely be Estrella Damn, in Galicia it'll be Estrella Galicia (which isn't related). In Madrid, and I believe the rest of the central provinces, it's Mahou. In Zaragoza/Aragon, they have Ambar. And in the south, Cruzcampo is popular
posted by gregjones at 10:40 PM on September 23, 2018
In Pakistan, Murree Beer. It's illegal for most Pakistanis but ubiquitous. The only thing more ubiquitous is moonshine. Beer drinkers tell me it's good stuff.
posted by tavegyl at 11:06 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by tavegyl at 11:06 PM on September 23, 2018
The generic beer in most of Greece is Mythos; in Thessaloniki and north you'll also get Vergina
posted by sarahdal at 1:58 AM on September 24, 2018
posted by sarahdal at 1:58 AM on September 24, 2018
In my little corner of England, Purity brews the local beer - Gold or Ubu. They also make a decent lager called Lawless. Even more parochially, you've got Slaughterhouse which serves a five-mile radius around the brewery. That's how regional it gets.
In Madagascar, the ubiquitous beer is Three Horses.
posted by rd45 at 2:05 AM on September 24, 2018
In Madagascar, the ubiquitous beer is Three Horses.
posted by rd45 at 2:05 AM on September 24, 2018
Victoria = VB (Victoria Bitter)
Nah, not in Melbourne pubs, it's Carlton Draught. Or "pot of draught please" if you are standing at the bar.
posted by deadwax at 4:11 AM on September 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Nah, not in Melbourne pubs, it's Carlton Draught. Or "pot of draught please" if you are standing at the bar.
posted by deadwax at 4:11 AM on September 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Buffalo is also Labatt Blue.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:29 AM on September 24, 2018
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:29 AM on September 24, 2018
Wisconsin used to have a bunch of them, some of which have been bought by Pabst/Miller/Coors and are still brewed. They sound like a parade of terms for bodily functions: Schlitz. Blatz. Hamm's.
posted by dr. boludo at 6:20 AM on September 24, 2018
posted by dr. boludo at 6:20 AM on September 24, 2018
In Denmark, the big brands are Carlsberg and Tuborg, but back in the day, every town had it's own brewery, and the ones that have survived are those that make discount pilseners that you can get now and then (or even always) in Aldi or Netto. Crown is one, Albani another. My new home town is special, because they started making craft beers before anyone else, but they still have a quick and dirty pilsener.
posted by mumimor at 6:42 AM on September 24, 2018
posted by mumimor at 6:42 AM on September 24, 2018
Grain Belt for Minnesota. I'm not sure exactly what happened to the brand but it pretty much died there for a while, only it's back now. Relatively cheap, definitely basic, definitely local association. As canoe beers for hot summer days go, I like it.
Grain Belt is now brewed by Schell's, which is the second oldest family owned brewery in the country. In fact, most of the beer made by Schell's would fit the criteria for this post.
posted by mygoditsbob at 6:44 AM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Grain Belt is now brewed by Schell's, which is the second oldest family owned brewery in the country. In fact, most of the beer made by Schell's would fit the criteria for this post.
posted by mygoditsbob at 6:44 AM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think Labatt's Blue & Molson's are actually a bit fancy for Michigan -- I'd say Stroh's, at least for the Detroit area.
Red Stripe for Jamaica.
posted by Bron at 7:20 AM on September 24, 2018
Red Stripe for Jamaica.
posted by Bron at 7:20 AM on September 24, 2018
San Francisco: Tecate.
Philadelphia: Yuengling.
For Atlanta I want to say Sweetwater, but that might be more "craft" than you're looking for. As holgate points out the Southeastern US isn't good for this.
posted by madcaptenor at 7:30 AM on September 24, 2018
Philadelphia: Yuengling.
For Atlanta I want to say Sweetwater, but that might be more "craft" than you're looking for. As holgate points out the Southeastern US isn't good for this.
posted by madcaptenor at 7:30 AM on September 24, 2018
Northwestern Wisconsin features Leinenkugel, which I think fits your criteria. The standard Leine's isn't a craft beer at all, but maybe it's part of the Miller empire now?
North-central Wisconsin used to feature Rhinelander, but it looks like that's become a craft brew now?
When I was in Slovenia, the 2 local brews were Union Pivo and Lasko. I'm a Union man, myself.
posted by elmer benson at 11:32 AM on September 24, 2018
North-central Wisconsin used to feature Rhinelander, but it looks like that's become a craft brew now?
When I was in Slovenia, the 2 local brews were Union Pivo and Lasko. I'm a Union man, myself.
posted by elmer benson at 11:32 AM on September 24, 2018
As mentioned, Labatt Blue was dominant in Southwestern Ontario in the mid/late 20th century. In rural Ontario, bars would only have Labatt Blue, Molson Canadian, & Labatt 50 (often favoured by Vets at the Legion, not terrible beer). Blue is an awful beer in my subjective opinion, with a sluggish taste, but if a loud band was playing the only thing that the server taking orders could hear over the din was "BLUUU!" Barflys & yokels often boasted that Canadian beers were better than American generic brands because they had a half % more, but hey.
posted by ovvl at 6:26 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ovvl at 6:26 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: This is my favorite thread. Thank you so much for all the answers - a few beers I’d forgotten about, and a whole lot I’d never heard of. Super cool.
Also, yes, Total Wine does carry Lone Star.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 5:50 PM on September 25, 2018
Also, yes, Total Wine does carry Lone Star.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 5:50 PM on September 25, 2018
In Korea, it's Hite or Cass. Any variety isn't going to cost you more than 2 bucks a bottle. But it's not good.
posted by FakePalindrome at 6:25 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by FakePalindrome at 6:25 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh god, Snow Beer - that was the first time I saw an inequality sign on alcohol content (as in, they could guarantee ">3% alc/vol" but but weren't exactly sure how much was there beyond that?)
posted by btfreek at 10:07 PM on October 5, 2018
posted by btfreek at 10:07 PM on October 5, 2018
Ooh yeah, blargh to the Hite. I found a paper "S" of roughly the right size and stuck it on the front of the name: then had to deal with a bunch of half-cut Korean colleagues running about yelling "shite! shite!"
posted by scruss at 7:14 PM on December 23, 2018
posted by scruss at 7:14 PM on December 23, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hijinx at 12:09 PM on September 23, 2018