We love rare beers here at Pintley. But let’s be honest: this kind of love can get pretty expensive. Sometimes, we like to knock down a good beer that doesn’t leave us broke. Unfortunately, most cheap beers out there are pretty tasteless. That’s why we put together a list of cheap beers that don’t suck.
Cheap Beer List Criteria:
Most craft brewers offer 6-packs that provide great value to the drinker. For our list, we focused on finding a variety of styles that ring up under $10. We did our research in the Boston area, but for the most part these beers should be available nationwide at or under this price point. If you know where to look, good beer can be affordable. Luckily, we’ve found the best cheap beers for you:
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Dale’s Pale AleBrewery: Oscar Blues Brewing Company This beer is hoppier than most Pale Ales, and it provides a more interesting mouth feel and drinking experience. It almost bridges on being an IPA, especially with it’s impressive ABV. It has hints of pine and citrus that provide a nice balance. It’s highly drinkable and makes for a great summer beer. Lucky for you, it’s also a cheap beer. |
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Brooklyn Summer AleBrewery: Brooklyn Brewery Some summer ales tend to be a little boring and lack the punch of flavor that we come to expect with a good craft beer. The Brooklyn Summer Ale is a solid exception. It’s refreshing, as a summer ale should be, but features nice malty undertones. The malt is balanced with some nice hints of citrus, and the finish is slightly spicy. It’s nothing overly complex, but it’s a great summer ale that we wouldn’t mind enjoying any time of the year. |
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312 Urban WheatBrewery: Goose Island Beer Co. This is a great, refreshing beer. It’s not overly carbonated and has hints of citrus and even some banana. This is a good beer for those who don’t really enjoy hop-forward beers, and the bitterness here is very faint. It’s simple and straightforward, and works great as a pick-me-up in warm weather. Yes, we know that InBev bought Goose Island, but this beer is still fantastic. |
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Hop Devil AleBrewery: Victory Brewing Company This is one of the best examples of a well-balanced IPA. The bitterness of the hops and the sweetness of the malt play off each other in order to create a fantastic beer. It’s hoppy, but not too hoppy. You can taste the alcohol, but not in an unpleasant or overpowering way. At around $10 for a 6-pack, this IPA is a steal. |
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Harpoon Chocolate StoutBrewery: Harpoon Brewery, Massachusetts Unlike some other beers that claim to be “chocolate,” this particular blend really packs a true chocolatey punch without being cloying or overpowering. It starts off with a distinctive hot-chocolate, cocoa-esque taste and follows it up with coffee bitterness that adds nice balance. It’s not too heavy and in fact is quite drinkable for a stout. This would be a nice cheap beer to enjoy on a cold night, and it pairs excellently with desserts. |
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Narragansett LagerBrewery: Narragansett Brewing Co. The Narragansett Brewing Company was once the number one selling brand in New England but was closed down in 1981. It was reestablished in 2005, and now occupies a much smaller segment of the market. For those of you who live in the Northeast area where Narragansett is available, you’re in luck because you’re guaranteed to get a bang from your buck with this cheap beer. But the good news is that it doesn’t taste cheap. It has a clean finish and is a highly drinkable lager, with a subtle hoppiness and a nice malt profile. It’s straightforward and unoffensive, so it likely won’t blow your mind or anything, but this is a cheap beer that is really worth every penny. For those of you outside of the northeast, the obvious and ubiquitous Sam Adams Boston Lager is a decent alternative. |
How about you? What are your go-to cheap beers?
