You clip the coupon inserts and always chase out the best grocery bargains.
But do you think about cutting costs on beer? Or do you treat a chilled brew as an indulgence — something for special occasions?
If you answered the latter, you could be overlooking some of the best bargains at your neighborhood big-box or grocery outlet.
Private-label products aren’t just limited to pantry essentials, canned soups and everyday staples anymore. Many chains now offer their own beer labels.
So how do these house-brand brews compare on price? And what about flavor?
A handful of beer fans from our office sampled four unidentified beers to determine which were national brands and which were store-labels. The results might surprise you.
Trader Joe’s Simpler Times Lager
Six-pack (cans)
$3.99 plus tax; 67 cents per can
Trader Joe’s Simpler Times Lager sports a cute can design but offers very little in the way of descriptive copy.
While the price is hard to beat at just 67 cents a can, the drinking experience left many wanting more. Tasters’ reactions included:
“Tastes like the beer I’ve played every round of beer pong with.”
“Nothing remarkable, but not terrible.”
“Tastes like water.”
Although our panel found this lager thin in flavor, it actually had the highest alcohol content of the bunch at 6.2% ABV.
Aldi Bacher Lager
Six-pack (bottles) $5.99 plus tax; $1 per bottle
Aldi’s imported Bacher Lager claims it’s “brewed in accordance with the German purity law” and made from “untouched pure water sourced from a natural spring,” according to the label.
Staff impressions ranged from “Oh man, no, that’s terrible,” to “I can actually smell this,” to “This tastes more like a beer.”
Despite mixed feedback, Bacher Lager presented a fuller flavor profile than some of the alternatives. Hops made their presence known in this round.
Yuengling Lager
Six-pack (bottles)
$6.99 plus tax; $1.16 per bottle
Although we matched up similar lagers, it was clear that American staple Yuengling stood apart from the rest. It had a deeper, caramel hue, a stronger aroma and a more pronounced taste. The label notes it comes from America’s Oldest Brewery.
(While Yuengling has surfaced in political conversations, note that we included it for its recognizable name, not for its owner’s political views.)
Those who correctly identified Yuengling appreciated the classic profile, but tasters who couldn’t place the brand had other thoughts.
Self-styled beer connoisseur and Senior Writer Mark Thompson scoffed, “I expected to like this more,” then added: “This tastes like soap. I don’t care for that at all.”
Walmart’s Trouble Brewing Red Flag Amber Ale
12-pack (cans) $12.96 plus tax; $1.08 per can)
Walmart’s beer cans have a delightful look — you wouldn’t immediately assume this was from the nation’s largest retailer. Walmart has faced criticism for shelving its Trouble Brewing line among craft beers, despite questions about whether they qualify as craft.
Yet during our tasting, nobody guessed Red Flag Amber was a Walmart brand.
Video Manager Michael House and I both spent too long trying to pinpoint the beer’s distinctive notes, with him calling it “a floral” sweetness and me guessing “some kind of citrus?” with a shrug.
Neither of us plans to become beer critics, but we both picked this one as our favorite.
“It’s pretty smooth, though a bit on the flat side,” Senior Audience Analyst Mark Bolden observed.
How to Score the Best Deal on Beer, No Matter Your Preferred Brand
As you likely inferred from our blind tasting, beer is very much a matter of personal preference — and a premium label doesn’t automatically translate to superior flavor.
It may take some trial and error to discover which beers suit both your palate and your wallet. Try experimenting with store brands and bargains. If saving isn’t enough and you’d like to make money while you drink, check out ways to earn back when you buy alcohol.
Your Turn: Have you sampled the beers we tried at the office? Which one wins your vote?
