# Are there any real difference between cheap beer and the pricier stuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [June 4, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276 "2011-06-04T02:17:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/81 "2011-06-09T20:32:01Z")
> [@nashiitashii](#): > > Honestly, I think Pilsners taste like shit, so you’re not really proving a point to me, especially because you’ll drink stuff you don’t like rather than abstain from alcohol. 😉 No - you’re right. Budweiser is a lager. I was thinking of Miller and I wrote Budweiser instead (for reasons that I think should be obvious)… I wouldn’t say that I would “drink stuff I don’t like” rather than abstaining from alcohol because I like all beer - some more than others - even cheap mass produced beer. I don’t like mouthwash much. Not for drinking anyway. And I don’t like Triple Sec straight. But beer? Heck, I’ll drink any beer. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/82 "2011-06-09T20:36:02Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I think you’re completely wrong- those guys could make a _better_ Pilsner than PU, Staropramen(AB-Inbev owns them, BTW), Budweiser Budvar, etc… IF they wanted to. There’s nothing stopping them- they have state-of-the-art, high dollar equipment, very experienced and knowledgeable brewmasters, and the market muscle to get whatever ingredients they damn well please. It takes love. They lack the love. Plus a publicly traded company can’t really make a great beer just for the hell of it. That would be illegal and somebody would get fired or else the CEO might go to jail. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/83 "2011-06-09T20:37:57Z")
> [@samjones](#): > > No - you’re right. Budweiser is a lager. I was thinking of Miller and I wrote Budweiser instead (for reasons that I think should be obvious)… I’m confused. Both Budweiser and Miller are lagers, specifically, American pale lagers or adjunct lagers. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/84 "2011-06-09T20:52:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m confused. Both Budweiser and Miller are lagers, specifically, American pale lagers or adjunct lagers. It doesn’t matter. I was only picking a cheap beer off the top of my head (I meant to pick Miller). Miller advertises itself as a Pilsner. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/85 "2011-06-10T05:08:28Z")
> [@samjones](#): > > Miller advertises itself as a Pilsner. Miller Lite is advertised as a Pilsner. [Miller High Life](http://www.millerhighlife.com/beer/) is advertised as a lager as is Miller Genuine Draft, as are the “light” versions of both of these. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/86 "2011-06-10T11:18:55Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Miller Lite is advertised as a Pilsner. > > [Miller High Life](http://www.millerhighlife.com/beer/) is advertised as a lager as is Miller Genuine Draft, as are the “light” versions of both of these. Pilsner is a type of Lager so anyone can reasonably advertise themselves to be both. It’s funny - I pay so little attention to the megabrews that I wasn’t ever aware of all the beers in the MillCoors portfolio… Whatever advertising literature you plan to dig up or whatever obsession you’re going to heap on the word “is”… Miller and Miller Lite have advertised themselves as Pilsners for decades. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/87 "2011-06-10T15:44:32Z")
The pilsner designation in American macrobrews is a fairly meaningless bit of marketing. About all it means is that you’re going to get some sort of pale lager and that it may have, at some point in its history, been inspired by an actual pilsner along the way, even though it has little in common with one, other than using lager yeast and pale malts. I don’t even think Miller uses the term beyond their slogan “great pilsner taste” anymore. I’m pretty sure they used to have “true pilsner” or “natural pilsner” or something similar on their labels years ago. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/88 "2011-06-10T19:40:19Z")
> [@samjones](#): > > It takes love. They lack the love. Plus a publicly traded company can’t really make a great beer just for the hell of it. That would be illegal and somebody would get fired or else the CEO might go to jail. Huh? That doesn’t even make sense. Some of the best beers in the world are brewed by publicly traded companies. Get yourself a pint of Velkopopovický Kozel dark and then tell me that public companies can’t brew excellent beer. (Kozel is owned by SABMiller, just like Pilsner Urquell and Radegast) Or for that matter, you’re going to tell me that Greene King, Wychwood, Brakspear or Ringwood don’t make good beer? The big boys can make great beer if they want. Here in the US, as everywhere, they brew what sells. In the UK it’s beers like Ruddles County and Brakspear Bitter, while in the US it’s Miller Chill and Bud Light Lime. ---
**Author:** ![new\_nick\_on](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/49beb7/32.png) [@new\_nick\_on](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/new_nick_on)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/89 "2016-09-10T12:50:26Z")
I can’t drink alcohol that much. I can only drink 1/3 can of Budsweiser beer, I face gets red. I can drink more Busch beer. I can drink 2/3 can of Busch beer, then I face gets red. So I think Budsweiser beer is stronger than Busch beer. This is why Budsweiser is more expensive than Busch beer. So the cheaper the beer the more water in it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/90 "2016-09-10T13:36:31Z")
> [@new\_nick\_on](#): > > I can’t drink alcohol that much. > > I can only drink 1/3 can of Budsweiser beer, I face gets red. > > I can drink more Busch beer. I can drink 2/3 can of Busch beer, then I face gets red. > > So I think Budsweiser beer is stronger than Busch beer. This is why Budsweiser is more expensive than Busch beer. > > So the cheaper the beer the more water in it. Regular Busch is 4.3%; Budweiser is 5.0%. So there is some validity to what you’re saying, but I would not expect alcohol content to necessarily be the driving force for pricing. And one third of a can (4 oz) of Budweiser has about as much alcohol as 4.65 oz of Coors (so you’d only need 0.65 ounces, or 4 teaspoons more of Coors to ingest the same amount of alcohol, not an entire third of a can as you’re suggesting. For that, Busch would have to be 2.5% abv.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/91 "2016-09-10T15:15:11Z")
> [@new\_nick\_on](#): > > I can’t drink alcohol that much. > > I can only drink 1/3 can of Budsweiser beer, I face gets red. > > I can drink more Busch beer. I can drink 2/3 can of Busch beer, then I face gets red. > > So I think Budsweiser beer is stronger than Busch beer. This is why Budsweiser is more expensive than Busch beer. > > So the cheaper the beer the more water in it. Nope. Wrong-o. Not unless you are so sensitive to alcohol that you shouldn’t be drinking **at all**. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/92 "2016-09-10T17:20:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope. Wrong-o. Not unless you are so sensitive to alcohol that you shouldn’t be drinking **at all**. Well, to be fair, I’d be pretty red-faced if caught drinking a can of Bud… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/93 "2016-09-10T19:28:13Z")
Me, too. But I actually \*like \*Busch, in a “My gods it’s hot out here!” kinda way. Can’t stand Budweiser. It’s the rice. Corn in beer as an adjunct, sure. But not rice. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/94 "2016-09-11T03:09:51Z")
Taking advantage of the zonbie thread to mention Houston’s own St Arnold’s [5 O’Clock Pils](https://www.saintarnold.com/beers/5oclockpils.html)–available in cans or on tap. > [@](#): > > We believe the greatest beers are the ones that achieve their goal with the simplest recipes. 5 O’Clock Pils is all about its two ingredients: pils malt and Saaz hops. This is the entire basis of the original Bohemian Pils style. > > The pils malt is light yet with a pleasant bready character, emphasized by the decoction mash wherein a portion of the mash is removed, boiled and added back. Saaz hops, the only hop that has never been hybridized dating back to when it was first cultivated from a wild plant around 1,000 years ago, gives a pleasant earthy spiciness. > > The final, unfiltered beer has a light maltiness, a big refreshing bitter and wonderful, delicate hop flavor and aroma. This is the beer we enjoy every year in the Czech Republic when doing our Saaz hop selection. Only, we’ve added even more hops. It is a beer that can be enjoyed everyday of the year. You will never tire of it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/95 "2016-09-11T03:52:30Z")
A long neck Busch is fantastic after mowing the yard. Find a shady spot on the deck and enjoy. Goes down so good on a hot day. We put it in the ice chest for fishing trips. I pay more for Michelob because it has a smoother, cleaner taste. Michelob is premium priced compared to Busch or Budweiser. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/96 "2016-09-11T03:53:37Z")
I keep Busch and Michelob in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/97 "2016-09-11T18:56:37Z")
Out of curiosity, is it against board rules to call a banned poster a sanctimonious prick? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/98 "2016-09-11T19:09:38Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Out of curiosity, is it against board rules to call a banned poster a sanctimonious prick? Technically, only in the Pit. TPTB prefer you leave the banned alone as they can’t respond. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/99 "2016-09-11T19:11:34Z")
\\ Probably. Even if you **are** right. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276/100 "2016-09-11T19:46:38Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Taking advantage of the zonbie thread to mention Houston’s own St Arnold’s [5 O’Clock Pils](https://www.saintarnold.com/beers/5oclockpils.html)–available in cans or on tap. Absolutely, it’s good stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-difference-between-cheap-beer-and-the-pricier-stuff/584276.md?page=6)