Budweiser
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The King of Beers. Budweiser is as American as apple pie, a McDonald’s hamburger, or Clydesdale horses at the Superbowl. Its lighter brother might sell significantly more cases, but the classic Bud Heavy is the superior beer in nearly every way.
That Anheuser–Busch can produce a beer of consistent flavor and quality at this massive scale is an achievement in and of itself. Knowing that Budweiser will drink the same regardless of where you purchase it is at least half of the appeal of this, the macro-est macro beer.
The beer itself has a light, inoffensive maltiness that is pleasingly sweet without the artificial candied finish of a Bud Light. Get it ice cold and it will hit the spot.
Hoegaarden
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The perfect entry-level beer for people looking to expand their pallets outside of your classic American fare of pilsners or lagers. Hoegaarden is a wheat beer based on an old Belgian witbier recipe that supposedly dates back to the Middle Ages and was originally brewed by a milkman who took up brewing in a barn as a hobby.
This unfiltered beer has a pale and light golden color with a slight haze and decent head when poured. There are subtle notes of banana, citrus, and coriander though not so forward as to be overpowering.
There are certainly better examples of the style, but none so readily available.
Pacifico
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Cerveza Pacífico Clara is a crisp, refreshing Mexican-style pilsner that was originally brewed in 1900 by three German brothers in Mazatlán, Mexico. It drinks as smoothly as a Corona without that awful skunky smell and is lighter on the pallet than a Modelo. With or without a lime it is a perfect summer BBQ beer.
The presentation is superlative — the bold yellow label on the brown bottle will stand out in any ice-filled cooler. It’s classic without looking dated. Sure, you’ll pay slightly more in the States for a Pacifico than you might other similar cervezas, but the upgrade in drinkability more than makes up for it.
Coors
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The “Banquet Beer” got its nickname from miners in Colorado who would, unsurprisingly, enjoy it in banquet halls and banquet tents after long, grueling days on the job. Similar to Budweiser, opinions on Coors have likely been soured by drinkers likely only encountering the light variety. What a shame, this beer is an iconic throwback.
The beer itself is an American-style lager with a crisp, clean finish, a sweet, but not off-putting body, and a slightly fruity nose. The classic stubby golden bottle with the red cap feels as good in the hand as it looks in a cooler.
Miller Light
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Tastes great, less filling. That about sums it up. Miller Lite is the original light beer, based on Gablinger’s Diet Beer first brewed in the late 1960s.
It’s the only light beer you’re going to find on this list, and for one very important reason — of all of the macro light beers it’s the only one that tastes good. It manages to drink like a light beer without being thin and watery and has a clean, cornflake-adjacent taste.
It isn’t a great beer by any stretch of the imagination, but if you’re looking for something lower in calories or ABV, you can do a LOT worse.
Pabst Blue Ribbon
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The Pabst Brewing Company claims that their “blue ribbon” comes from being named America’s Best beer in 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Obviously, there is no definitive proof of that happening, but when do facts ever get in the way of a great brand?
Pabst Blue Ribbon became the official “hipster” beer of the early aughts for one very simple reason: it was absolutely dirt cheap. The fact that it has retained its popularity since then is also simple: it tastes pretty good. Compared to other mass-market American-style lagers, PBR has a distinct, full-bodied beer flavor. Not too sweet, not too malty, not too watery or too hoppy
Guinness
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The world’s best-selling stout beer, Guinness can trace its origin back to the 1700s in Dublin. The draught is as pleasing to drink as it is to look at. Owing to a mix of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, the beer has a thick, creamy head that sits atop a dark, almost black brew that drinks lighter than it looks. The beer has chocolate and coffee notes but also a unique bitter tang.
Surprisingly Guinness is low in ABV at 4.2% and not very heavy, in terms of both calories and how it sits in the stomach. Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or a random Friday you can’t go wrong ordering a Guinness down the pub.
Modelo Especial
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Modelo Especial was first brewed in Mexico in 1925. Now, just under a hundred years later, Modelo Especial is the best-selling beer in the United States having overtaken Bud Light as the king of cookouts in 2023.
Which makes sense — it’s a light and easy-drinking beer that tastes good and offers plenty of versatility (great with or without lime, Modelo also makes for a great Michelada if that’s something that you’re into). The distinct foil neck is visually appealing, though admittedly can be annoying to peel away.
It’s the platonic ideal of the summer beer. Sunshine in a bottle.
Miller High Life
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Miller High Life is the oldest offering from Miller Brewing, first introduced in 1903. The lager is highly carbonated, and these extra bubbles led to its charming nickname “the champagne of beers.”
This inexpensive dive bar classic is immensely drinkable. A drier beer than most macros that also doesn’t have the sweet aftertaste of a Bud or Coors light. When served ice cold and in a glass bottle it just hits differently.
It also serves as the base for the Spaghett, a delightful summer cocktail of beer, Aperol, and lemon juice. Blasphemy to the High Life purists, but delicious nonetheless
Hamm’s
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Hamm’s is the perfect no-frills beer. In the last few years, the throwback has found itself on the top of many blind taste tests of beer aficionados and is threatening to supplant High Life and PBR as the cheap trendy beer for the new generation.
Originally from the land of sky blue waters (aka Saint Paul, Minnesota), this Adjunct American Lager is smooth and drinkable, offering plenty of flavor with none of the boozy aftertaste you can find in similarly-priced beers.
If it’s behind the bar, order up a tall boy can and crack open this throwback that will hit the spot without emptying your wallet.
