# Cheap beer outside the U.S.A. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818 "2011-01-08T01:11:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 8, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/1 "2011-01-08T01:11:58Z")
I’ve been to Europe a couple of times and in a couple of countries. But I did almost all my drinking in bars and such and didn’t got into shops. I didn’t notice any rotgut brews in the pubs I was in. Are there beers there that are the [PRICE] equivalent of cheap beers in the U.S. like Milwaukees Best, Hamms, Totally Dirt Cheap, etc…? I’m talking price, not how they taste. I don’t care that \*\*\*\*\* sucks. I paid $1.77 tonight for a 4 pack of Keystone Ice 16 ouncers. Anything like that in Europe or anywhere else? What are the alcohol taxes like outside the U.S.A? ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/2 "2011-01-08T01:17:54Z")
When I was in the Philippines in 1983, San Miguel was less than a quarter per bottle, but it wasn’t really rot gut beer. It was because everything there was cheap. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/3 "2011-01-08T01:24:16Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > in 1983 Forgive the snarkyness, but… In 1983 I could buy a case [24 twelve ounce bottles] of Kingsbury, Wisconsin Club, or Red, White, & Blue for $1.88. This means what, now? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/4 "2011-01-08T01:28:08Z")
In Vietnam once I went to a bar where a bottle of beer was actually cheaper than a bottle of water. And that wasn’t just because the water was hugely inflated in price. It was a green glass bottle and called Castle Beer - I think it cost about 10c. And, amazingly, it was drinkable! In Europe it really does vary. But I think a tax haven like Andorra would sell very cheap beer as the government tales nothing. I went skiing there, I can’t remember the specific prices of beer but I remember it was very cheap and I do remember you could buy an (albeit rubbish) box of wine for less than a euro from the supermarket. Easily enough to get you and a friend drunk. In Britain, you could buy a box of 20x250ml bottle of passable lager for about £6. Someone might correct me but I believe the tax for beer is 17.5%. In Scandinavia tax makes the beer VERY expensive, but alternatively it’s very cheap in Eastern Europe. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/5 "2011-01-08T01:41:19Z")
Yeah, there are “budget brands” in all European countries, and often the beer itself is excellent, at least in comparison to American off-brand brews. The Netherlands has Oranjeboom and Gulpiner Pils, both regional beers that are often cheaper than Heineken or Grolsch, and every bit as tasty. Dommelsch is another Dutch cheap beer, and I actually became quite fond of it over the years, though it seems to be a joke among the locals. (I didn’t care a bit) ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/6 "2011-01-08T01:41:20Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Forgive the snarkyness, but… > In 1983 I could buy a case [24 twelve ounce bottles] of Kingsbury, Wisconsin Club, or Red, White, & Blue for $1.88. This means what, now? As I said, San Miguel isn’t rotgut. Beer on base, even cheap stuff like Pabst, cost 50-75 cents a bottle and more for Budweiser or Miller. I’ve seen San Miguel in local stores about 5 years ago (the last time I really checked) selling for over $10 a six pack. In Okinawa in 1983, the “cheap” stuff was selling for $1 a bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/7 "2011-01-08T01:45:08Z")
Beer is relatively expensive in Thailand, as it’s heavily taxed. But there are cheap (relatively) products to be had. Chang is the best known, along with Leo. Then there are the dirt-cheap plonks like Archa and Cheer. I think there’s even one that is imaginatively called Beer. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/8 "2011-01-08T01:47:29Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I paid $1.77 tonight for a 4 pack of Keystone Ice 16 ouncers. Anything like that in Europe or anywhere else? What are the alcohol taxes like outside the U.S.A? Tesco’s value lager is even cheaper.About $1.60 for a four pack including tax. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/9 "2011-01-08T01:52:26Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Yeah, there are “budget brands” in all European countries, and often the beer itself is excellent, at least in comparison to American off-brand brews. > The Netherlands has Oranjeboom and Gulpiner Pils, both regional beers that are often cheaper than Heineken or Grolsch, and every bit as tasty. Dommelsch is another Dutch cheap beer, and I actually became quite fond of it over the years, though it seems to be a joke among the locals. (I didn’t care a bit) And when visiting Belgium, and needing a break from all the excellent (if very filling) Trappist brews, try Maes or Jupiler, Belgium’s answers to Pabst Blue Ribbon or Old Style… ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/10 "2011-01-08T01:53:12Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Beer is relatively expensive in Thailand, as it’s heavily taxed. But there are cheap (relatively) products to be had. Chang is the best known, along with Leo. Then there are the dirt-cheap plonks like Archa and Cheer. I think there’s even one that is imaginatively called Beer. Chang is the most popular beer in Thailand I think, however it really is nasty stuff. It’s the only beer I’ve ever drunk which would GUARANTEE you a headache the next morning. ---
**Author:** ![zatarra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e36b37/32.png) [@zatarra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zatarra)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/11 "2011-01-08T01:55:19Z")
A cheaper option in UK is cider, [http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/asda-compare-prices/Cider\_And\_Alcopops/Gaymers\_Olde\_English\_Cider\_2L.html](http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/asda-compare-prices/Cider_And_Alcopops/Gaymers_Olde_English_Cider_2L.html) 2 litres of cider at 2.82 sterling, for you Americans thats roughly 67.62 US fluid ounces at $4.38. Frosty Jacks was always my preferred cider i remember it used to 2 litres a bottle at 2.50. or if you really want beer try this[http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/asda-compare-prices/Beer/ASDA\_Smartprice\_Bitter\_4x440ml.html](http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/asda-compare-prices/Beer/ASDA_Smartprice_Bitter_4x440ml.html) 4 cans of 440ml at 97 pence, so say thats around 59.51 US fluid ounces, at $1.50 however the second link is only 2.1% ABV. the measurements and prices were taken from google. Essentially if you want to get drunk as cheaply as in the UK i suggest trying Frosty Jacks or White Lighting or any other cheap white ciders most are around 7.5% ABV if memory serves ---
**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:** [January 8, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/12 "2011-01-08T01:56:03Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Tesco’s value lager is even cheaper.About $1.60 for a four pack including tax. That is really cheap. But everything I’ve seen on line says this stuff is only 3.5% alcohol. I’ve seen a couple of versions that were only 2% alcohol. I’d get a better buzz slamming a diet cola. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/13 "2011-01-08T01:58:47Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Chang is the most popular beer in Thailand I think, however it really is nasty stuff. It’s the only beer I’ve ever drunk which would GUARANTEE you a headache the next morning. Singha is considered the national brew. If Chang beats it in sales, and I don’t think it does, it would only be because of the price. I know very few people outside of poverty level who actually prefer Chang. If they can afford better but don’t like Singha, they’ll generally drink imports like Tiger and Heineken. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/14 "2011-01-08T02:11:49Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Singha is considered the national brew. If Chang beats it in sales, and I don’t think it does, it would only be because of the price. I know very few people outside of poverty level who actually prefer Chang. If they can afford better but don’t like Singha, they’ll generally drink imports like Tiger and Heineken. Under [Singha Beer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singha_Beer) in Wikipedia, I found: **“Until recently Singha was the best selling beer in Thailand, but is now challenged by the cheap and more potent (6.4% abv) Beer Chang, brewed by ThaiBev (formerly the Beer Thai Company). In 2007, Boon Rawd [maker of Singha regained its throne of beer market leadership in Thailand.”** When it says Boon Rawd regained the throne though, it could mean all of its brands put together, not just Singha. (It brews the aforementioned Leo, which it created as a direct challenge to Chang.) Singha used to be 6% alcohol but quietly reduced to 5% a few years ago. Similarly, Chang was I think 8% but reduced too. I know the OP said “nasty” was not a specific criterion, but yeah, Chang is some nasty shit. There used to be a bar called The Cat House that offered all-you-can-drink Chang from 2-8pm every single day for 100 baht, which today is US$3.30. It was later shortened to 4-8pm, but it was still an ugly, ugly scene come 8pm. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/15 "2011-01-08T02:18:15Z")
Australia doesn’t have cheap beer so far as I’ve seen. For instance, the major brewers like Foster’s and Lion Nathan don’t sell economy versions as Busch is to Bud, at least not full-strength versions. I seem to remember some proposed legislation to allow low-cost beers that (obviously) didn’t pass but I can’t find anything about it. Most alcohol is expensive here, with the exception of box wine. The cheapest wines in my area run about AU$ 12 for 4 liters, so 30 cents/standard drink. When compared to 14 bucks for a 6 of Victoria Bitter (which I think works out to $1.94/standard drink) or $30 for a 750 ml bottle of vodka ($1.24/SD), it’s little wonder that I developed a tolerance for wine. I’m not sure how Aussie wines compares to cheap wine other places price-wise, but I drank cooking wine in Italy-- strictly for research purposes-- that tasted better than some of the worst Australian wines. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/16 "2011-01-08T02:23:05Z")
China has tons of cheap light lagers ala Blatts. Actually, some are pretty good. IIRC, 6 months ago a 24 oz bottle of beer swill can be had for as little as about $0.25/bottle when bought by the 12 pack ---
**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:** [January 8, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/17 "2011-01-08T03:12:40Z")
> [@zatarra](#): > > Essentially if you want to get drunk as cheaply as in the UK i suggest trying Frosty Jacks or White Lighting or any other cheap white ciders most are around 7.5% ABV if memory serves Around here Kick Axe malt liquor (8.6%) is $2.39 for four 16 ouncers (total of 64 ounces). It used to be a lot cheaper before the college pricks found out about it. It’s the least horrible of the horrible brews. I prefer ice beer, as it sucks, but doesn’t make me want to gag as much as strong malt liquor. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/18 "2011-01-08T03:43:32Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Yeah, there are “budget brands” in all European countries, and often the beer itself is excellent, at least in comparison to American off-brand brews. In the mid-80’s I was in Germany on a business trip and a current controversy was EU rules that allowed non-Reinheitsgebot beer (i.e. cheap, non-German beer) into Germany. On the evening news one night, something triggered great laughter from my colleagues. When I asked for a translation, it turned out that a a Germany brewer was being interviewed and was not concerned with the whole issue. His comment was “The only people who will drink that garbage live under bridges.” It guess it is not that great compared to German beers 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oscalo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Oscalo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oscalo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/19 "2011-01-08T04:05:08Z")
In France you can buy 24 ounce Kronenbergs for about 2-2.50 Euros (which is pretty cheap for Paris). I’d rate it a few notches above the mule piss that is Bud Light. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818/20 "2011-01-08T10:53:43Z")
We were discussing beers in teamspeak yesterday, and brands were being discussed and I have introduced the idea that cheap nasty beer should be poured back into the horse to my corp mates =) Oddly enough, they all seem to dislike Stella Artois, never drank it but it seems to be advertised heavily in Connecticut right now. Is it really that bad? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-beer-outside-the-u-s-a/566818.md?page=2)