YAB(eer)T: What is best mainstream American Beer?

[Arkaign]

Sam Adams, Killians, Blue Moon, Yuengling etc. are what I consider decent mainstream American Beer. The ones you listed, I'd probably consider budget American Beer for the most part.

Mainstream is what I'd consider available at any old sports bar on tap, or in your local 7-11 or stop-n-rob's coolers.

Those are hit and miss in that regard, so I'd say they're a bit borderline to consider mainstream. I like some varieties of Sam Adams, and I don't mind Killians. Blue Moon and Yuengling I'm not too crazy about, but they're far better than the big three.

If I had to guess, the big three outsell the ones listed above at least 100-1 in this country. Or at least very close to that, going by availability alone. At the corner store here, we have a moderate selection of 6-packs of decent stuff, Becks, Shiner, Sam Adams, etc. But that's a single cooler door, and a single slot for each of those types. Right next to that are door after door after door of the big three, 24 packs, 12 packs, 6 packs, 4 pack tallboys, 6 pack tallboys, bottles, cans, kegs, just piles upon piles of crap beer that sells like mad.

 

[OOBradm]

Since when did people start thinking PBR was an OK beer? I've always classified it with the extreme budget beers, like Natural Light or Keystone light or Milwaukee's best...

Seems like its the "cool" beer in college now or something

 

[Arkaign]

Since when did people start thinking PBR was an OK beer? I've always classified it with the extreme budget beers, like Natural Light or Keystone light or Milwaukee's best...

Seems like its the "cool" beer in college now or something

Hipsters jumped on it a few years back as an 'ironic' choice. Yeah I don't think PBR has any respect from anyone with taste buds. Beer advocate has a lot of hilarious entries on it though

 

[busydude]

Update:

The main reason for this post was due to the fact that we had a party planned. I did not want want to go over board, money wise, as I am a broke college grad.

But.. the plan backfired and now I have to spend this Friday alone. While on my way back from college; I checked into a liquor store and on the very first aisle I bumped into Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Being a Stout snob.. I picked it up.At slightly more than $2 per bottle.. they are pretty expensive, but the taste is amazing. Really enjoying the beer now. The best part is the after taste.. really really well made beer.

 

[Wanescotting]

Update:

The main reason for this post was due to the fact that we had a party planned. I did not want want to go over board, money wise, as I am a broke college grad.

But.. the plan backfired and now I have to spend this Friday alone. While on my way back from college; I checked into a liquor store and on the very first aisle I bumped into Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Being a Stout snob.. I picked it up.At slightly more than $2 per bottle.. they are pretty expensive, but the taste is amazing. Really enjoying the beer now. The best part is the after taste.. really really well made beer.

Ever had a black and tan? Try it, you won't regret it

 

[duragezic]

Yuengling. How is this even a debate?

x9000

 

[foghorn67]

x9000

Because, as Perk said earlier, it's not nationally distributed. So no, it's not in the running. If it is, I'll name a billion craft beers only available on the west coast that will kick it's butt.

 

[Excelsior]

For a truly national beer that is considered mainstream at the low price point, I am a Miller man.

Miller Light (if I am watching it)
High Life

With that said, Sam Adams Summer Ale is in my fridge right now.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Landshark
Sam Adams

Yuengling? Where do you have to live to find this. I tried it when I was in FL last year and it was ok. I've never seen it anywhere else. If we're going to go with regional beers I'd like to submit Alaska Amber. Stuff is the bomb...

 

[sonambulo]

Aren't these all owned by foreign companies or folded into foreign consortiums? Anyways out of all the cheap shit I guess I'd reach for a Mich regular followed by Miller Lite.

I was a sworn Anchor Steam man until they got sold to foreigners now I switch it up between Long Trail and Rock Art.

 

[Arkaign]

Update:

The main reason for this post was due to the fact that we had a party planned. I did not want want to go over board, money wise, as I am a broke college grad.

But.. the plan backfired and now I have to spend this Friday alone. While on my way back from college; I checked into a liquor store and on the very first aisle I bumped into Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Being a Stout snob.. I picked it up.At slightly more than $2 per bottle.. they are pretty expensive, but the taste is amazing. Really enjoying the beer now. The best part is the after taste.. really really well made beer.

Yeah that is good stuff, 7.5% ABV which is much higher than the 5% regular Guinness Extra Stout. I'm happy to see it gaining traction and starting to show up in more stores.

 

[shortylickens]

I like Killians and Amber Boch but would not consider either of them mainstream.
I rarely see either of them at any restaurants or mini-marts.

 

[busydude]

Yeah that is good stuff, 7.5% ABV which is much higher than the 5% regular Guinness Extra Stout. I'm happy to see it gaining traction and starting to show up in more stores.

Yeah, but oddly enough, the volume is 11.2 FL. Oz... and they come in a 4 bottle pack. Needless to say, I drank all of them.

 

[xSauronx]

*snip*

Being a Stout snob.. I picked it up.At slightly more than $2 per bottle.. they are pretty expensive, but the taste is amazing.

that's not that expensive, especially when it comes to beer snobbery, moreso when its a high gravity brew.

the sam adams imperial stuff will run $3 a bottle or so, iirc (in a 4 pack), and ive paid 10 - 15 for some 750s or 22oz bottles, but i like trying specialty stuff.

expensive hobby, at times, but i do love a good beer