Are you drinking Cheap Beer?

[caneshockeychick]

Interesting piece here...focuses mainly on the Miller brand but still, I just can't drink Miller, Bud, Busch etc. Can you? Even in this cash strapped, high food and gas priced economy? My last 6 pack was Stella Artois

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/retail/cash-strapped-drinkers-downgrade-economy-beers/

Cash-strapped Drinkers Downgrade to Economy Beers :lol:


MILWAUKEE--Cash-strapped drinkers are starting to trade down to economy beers, the chief executive of Miller Brewing Co. said Thursday.

The Milwaukee-based brewer saw some shift between higher-priced, premium beers and economy beers such as Miller High Life and Milwaukee's Best starting in January, Tom Long told reporters on a conference call.

"We think it's primarily driven by decline of disposable income and pocket money that American consumers are feeling right now," he said.

Long said the volume of beers sold remains stable, but the company expects to sell more lower-priced beers this year if gas prices continue to rise.

Americans also are spending less in bars and restaurants, and Long said Miller is seeing declines in sales to those businesses.

Miller's parent, London-based SABMiller PLC, announced Thursday its full-year profits rose 22.7% and the growth rate for lager volumes doubled.

In the U.S., Miller's revenue rose 4.8% to $5.1 billion. Earnings before interest, taxes and amoritization rose 27% to $477 million, though that includes a gain of $33 million from a settlement of a dispute.

Sales of flagship brand Miller Lite was up 1.1%, as were sales of Miller High Life. That brand's performance, on the strength of its humorous ad campaign urging people to "Take Back The High Life" reversed a three-year decline.

But other brands didn't fare so well. Miller Geniune Draft's sales were down 10.6%, as the domestic premium brand continued to struggle. Economy brew Milwaukee's Best also saw declines.

SABMiller did not break out fourth-quarter results. The brewer, the world's third-largest, said overall revenue was up 15% to $21.4 billion.

Long didn't offer any new information about the proposed joint venture between Miller and Molson Coors Brewing Co:eek2:. That awaits governmental approval.

Miller, the nation's second biggest brewer, and Coors, the third biggest, say the pairing -- to be called MillerCoors -- will help them better compete against industry leader Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., the maker of Budweiser.

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[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

I'm a Miller Lite type of guy myself. Between that, Molson, and Blue Moon with an orange, that is the limit of my beer drinking.

[Guyute]

When my keg runs out, I drink IceHouse, which I think is a Miller product. That's as cheap as I'll go though.

[puck_it]

typically i drink real beer, but bud light et al, serve their purposes.

[RangersCanesFan]

Not cheaper beer, just less.

While I used to have 2 or 3 beers, I now have 1 or 2.

If the price of a good six pack ever got over $10 on average, I'd probably stop drinking beer rather than try to choke down Bud, Miller, or Coors.

Anyway, we have enough wine in the house (over 70 bottles) to drink... This is what happens when you are in two wine clubs (Chatham Hill and Silver Coast(Ocean Isle Beach))with a pregnant wife.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

We have Yuengling and Red Stripe in the fridge right now. That's about as cheap as we get, though those weren't chosen based on price. If I have nothing but Miller/Bud/Coor/etc to drink, I'll stick with water.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

What's all the hating on Miller Lite? Best lite beer out there. Now Bud and Coor's I can understand.

[corylav]

Yuengling is very good and not much more than the real cheapies ... Killians isn't too pricey either. I generally don't go less than that on quality ... tho I have been known to have a "Champagne of Beers" mood hit me.

[Guyute]

I used to Really like Yuengling in bottles. Then I started keeping it on tap, and there's a night & day difference. The bottles are nowhere near as good anymore. lol

[caveman]

life is too short for beer of low value (if it's cheap and you like it, no problem!):

http://www.pfadvice.com/2007/09/14/life-is-far-too-short-to-drink-cheap-beer-9-ways-to-maximize-your-beer-value/

[StormShaman]

Life's too short to drink crappy beer.

Which reminds me, I need to stop at the store on the way home and make my monthly beer purchase.

[caneshockeychick]

I picked up the Sam Adams Summer Ale (Thank you Kat and D!!) Sat night after a long day at the HT (things are getting crazy there. I might have to go elsewhere:()

Anyway, I really didn't check out the beer pricing per se but I have noticed more of the big name domestics (Bud, Miller, etc ) going out (cases) vs 6 packs of the micro brews, imports, etc.

[Guyute]

The shop and the price are huge factors. It's hard to spent $9 on a six more than every once in a great while. There are some beers I always look at if I'm in that section (Guinness, New Castle, etc) and if they're on sale I'll usually pick up some. Like coming across $13 12packs of New Castle, you betcherass I bought a couple. lol

The "Well, I'd pay $4.50 for that at a bar" doesn't hold as much weight as it used to... since I rarely go out to drink anymore.
I did recently though, and tried Big Boss (a raleigh brewery) Bad Penny. VERY GOOD beer. Pricey at Lowe's though, so didn't bring any home.
I'm in the middle of teetering between annoyance and turmoil over Canes tix though, so no chance I'm buying micros right now. heh

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Unfortunately my absolute favorite beer is Samual Smith Nut Brown Ale. That crap is something like $4 for 1 bottle! Man, it's so worth it though.

[Guyute]

Yeah, there's no such thing as a bad Sammy. I actually had a Sammy Smith NB in a seafood place in Hilton Head. First time I've Ever seen a Sammy in a restaraunt. I was a bit shocked. Paid $4.50 for one of the little bottles. But, it was worth it to have one with my meal. :)

Back in '97 when I did Phish tour, the big bottles were $2.45. We bought them by the truckload and sold them for $5 each in the lot. Couldn't keep them in stock. I wish they were still that price...

[corylav]

Anyone ever had Old Peculiar? It's not imported around here anymore, but it's amazing. When I interviewed at All About Beer magazine, the publisher pretty much told me that was the consensus best beet out there ... and I have to agree. Wow.

Since I can't get it around here anymore, I really shouldn't have passed on that job based on the "free beer" perk alone.

[Guyute]

Not in many years. I remember it being good, but my palette wasn't fully developed back then, I'd have to give it another shot.
Have you tried the gas station on 401 that has like 400 beers? Quite pricey, but when I need a Wild Goose fix, that's where I have to go.

[corylav]

Not in many years. I remember it being good, but my palette wasn't fully developed back then, I'd have to give it another shot.
Have you tried the gas station on 401 that has like 400 beers? Quite pricey, but when I need a Wild Goose fix, that's where I have to go.

I've called all over ... they used to have it at Flying Saucer, but the only distributor that used to carry it stopped doing so, I guess. Heartbreaking. Luckily, I found some in Columbus when up there for the draft.

[StormShaman]

My current favourites are:

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy
Harpoon Raspberry UFO
Franziskaner Hefeweizen

Most beer lovers tend to scoff at wheat beers, but I really like them because they tend to be very light and refreshing.

But my next adventure will be a foray into the world of trappist ales and Lambics. Mmmm...Kriek.

[StormShaman]

Have you tried the gas station on 401 that has like 400 beers? Quite pricey, but when I need a Wild Goose fix, that's where I have to go.

And this is where on 401? :D

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I generally really like wheats, though some of the Belgian ones are a bit too moldy tasting for me. And I love Hefeweizen, especially in the summer.

Lambics....mmmmm. Lindemann's framboise Lambic with dark chocolate is just amazing. Happiness in a glass.


Does anyone know of a place where they do beer dinners around here? I so miss doing those when we lived in Boone. I never really got into beer until I took Mr SHC to one for his b-day and realized what I'd been missing.

[Shell]

And this is where on 401? :D

6901 Louisburg Road
Raleigh (http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/list?city=Raleigh&c_id=US&s_id=NC), North Carolina (http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/directory/9/US/NC), 27616
phone: (919) 876-4440

Just look for dates on the bottles though. I think some stuff that doesn't move may have been there for a long time!

[Guyute]

Does anyone know of a place where they do beer dinners around here? I so miss doing those when we lived in Boone. I never really got into beer until I took Mr SHC to one for his b-day and realized what I'd been missing.
I don't but if you come across one you best let me know!

[puck_it]

I did recently though, and tried Big Boss (a raleigh brewery) Bad Penny. VERY GOOD beer.

I thought bad penny was alright. i'd stay away from hells belle, though. VERY BAD beer. it was just.... not so tasty.

I had some stuff from foothills brewery (local to NC). All of it was good.

When i was out of town last week i had Thirsty Dog brewery's (out of Akron, OH) "Old Leg Humper". Was a very good porter. I'm going to have to try to find some around here.

[caneshockeychick]

Yeah, I've heard Hell's Bell is for S*&t but bad penny's not bad. Aren't these local? I haven't tried either yet but almost got the bad penny the other night but decided to stick with the Sam Adams.

[Guyute]

yep, Raleigh. Think their brewery is somewhere around Atlantic maybe.

[Shell]

we met one of the guys who worked at the brewery for Big Boss, and he said there was a huge difference between the bottles and the draft.. Guyute has only tried the draft so that may be a difference.

[Guyute]

True.
I also tried a Magic Hat #9 draft, which I quite enjoy out of the bottle. Keg though it was WAY fruity. Not a fan. Some beers are just totally different keg vs bottle. Yuengling in a keg is so near "micro" it could pass for other stuff, and while bottled it's "ok", there's really no comparison.

[Kat]

If you like wheat beer/hefeweizen, you should try the Sam Summer Ale.

I don't like Magic Hat #9 *at all*. Tastes like perfume to me. Same with the Sam Cherry Wheat, not a fan. They have a Sam Summer Mix Pack (boston ale, pale ale, cherry wheat, summer ale, hefeweizen), but I make Mr Kat drink the Cherry Wheats. Blech.

I don't mind Yuengling in a keg, but bottled it isn't very good imo. Another one that is actually quite tolerable in a keg is Killian's, whereas bottled, no way. Did a keg of Blue Moon once, and that is okay for the first couple of rounds but gets old quick.

We had a beer a long, long time ago called "Ravishing Red"... got it at the HT and I think it might have been local. I have never, ever had a worse beer before or since. Mr Kat and his roommate and I are all beer drinkers, and his roommate has been known to practically drink dishwater if it is alcoholic, and there were still 3 of those left in the 6-pack 8 mos later when they moved out...

[nccanes]

Mr Kat has a roomate? Or is that a former roomate? ;)

[Canesluver]

Hmmmm.... interesting rooming arrangement in the Kat household!

:smoke:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I love getting the Sam Adams or Pete's Wicked seasonal packs.

[goalie33]

I know I'll just get laughed at, but I have to throw in for the working musician's beer of choice:

http://adweek.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/pabst_1.jpg