10 Iconic American Beers, Ranked

Generally, I'm not that big of a beer person. As a wine writer, wine is obviously my drink of choice, but I like a good mezcal cocktail every now and then too. However, at the end of the night when I'm looking for a drink that's crisp, refreshing, and bubbly, a classic American beer at a dive bar can feel like a gift from the beverage gods. This beer beginner is tasting and ranking 10 iconic American beers from worst to best, all according to my palate. Ultimately, I'm looking for a beer that's light and refreshing, but that still offers enough concentrated flavor to keep me coming back for another sip. On the other hand, the beers that rank low on this list are more likely to be watery or otherwise unbalanced on the flavor front.

Sure, the craft beer trend has been great, and there are definitely better and more meticulously made brews and delicious regional beers out there than the mass-produced varieties that appear on this list. But when you're looking for value, sessionability, and nostalgia, these classics are worth a taste. So, whether you've tried all of these beers before or you're just looking for a new one to add to your rotation, let's take a closer look.

Honestly, there are a lot of beers on this list that don't taste like much of anything at all. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, since some drinkers want a beverage that goes down smoothly without a strong flavor. I can get down with that kind of beer sometimes, but out of all of the basic, not-very-pronounced beers I've tried, Bud Light is perhaps my least favorite. Not only does this beer taste kind of like funky water, but it has a slight tinge of sweetness that doesn't taste pleasant to me in the absence of a stronger, hoppier bitterness in the mix. This light flavor is paired with a clean finish that goes down easy but is far from being exciting.

That being said, I wouldn't consider Bud Light an unpleasant beer. After all, it was America's favorite beer at one point. If that's all that's in the cooler, I'll absolutely drink it. But would I bring it to a party myself? Probably not. There are beers on this list with more interesting, concentrated flavors available for around the same price point, and I'd happily drink most of those instead. For people who really don't want to taste their beer, I can understand why Bud Light is a top choice.

Technically, Colt 45 is malt liquor, which is a type of beer that's a bit higher in alcohol than other varieties. That doesn't mean you're getting a bold, craft-like beer that comes in at a high ABV when you opt for Colt 45, though. Rather, this beer is still under 6% alcohol, so it's not significantly stronger than other classic American beers on the market. Another selling point is the fact that it's quite affordable — it was definitely one of the cheapest beers I tried on this list, so I can see the appeal there.

If you're looking for the tastiest beer around, though, Colt 45 would not be at the top of your list. It ranks higher than Bud Light because it has a more prominent flavor, but most of that flavor comes in the form of sweetness. That malty flavor is slightly more pronounced here, which is a nice touch that adds complexity, but I mostly taste an unbalanced sweetness. I don't enjoy it very much, and it's noticeable upon the first sip. After a few sips, I can get used to the stuff, but it's still not an option I can see myself revisiting very often.

When you're looking for a plain, basic light beer that gets the job done and probably won't turn anyone at the party off too much, Coors Light has you covered. This is perhaps one of the most boring beers I've ever tried, but as I said, there's a time and a place for that. There's very little perceptible flavor, although Coors Light has a subtle hoppiness that earns it a higher ranking than the previous two beers. It's clean, light, and easy to drink. I can taste a touch of sourness there, but it's not anything special. I do appreciate that this is a low-alcohol beer, at just 4.2%. That makes it great when you want to drink but don't want to overdo it with strong beverages.

Honestly, I don't have much bad to say about Coors Light, but I don't have a lot to praise, either. It's a solid beer to keep in the fridge for when guests come over or whenever you want an easygoing drink after work, but I can't imagine anyone getting particularly excited about this beer, either.

Craving something that's a bit hoppier? Miller Lite has you covered as another mild-flavored, light beer. You're not going to crack open a can and discover that it's packed with bold, intense flavor. But I do think the flavor here is slightly more pronounced than other bottles and cans on this list. There's a light maltiness that's not groundbreaking but is relatively tasty. I can also taste some hoppiness, though it, too, is subtle. It's crisp and tastes better, in my opinion, when it's ice cold. This beer is also darker-looking than some of its other counterparts and has an overall grainier touch.

Miller Lite is a generic-tasting beer that gets the job done but isn't all that different from other mass-produced light beers on the market. Because of its bolder, slightly more pronounced, and less watery consistency, it's not at the bottom of this ranking. I think there are better iconic American beers out there to choose from, though.

Sometimes, it just makes sense to opt for a light beer. When you're looking for an especially refreshing flavor, or you're watching your calorie intake, light beers are an excellent choice. But what about when you're craving a classic domestic beer that's richer, darker, and a bit more complex? That's when Budweiser can be a good option. There is a nice richness here that gives this beer more presence on the palate, along with a touch of sweetness balanced by a distinct bready quality that feels more substantial than lighter, fresher beers.

That doesn't mean that Budweiser isn't a relatively light option, though. It's still quite refreshing and something I'd want to drink during the hotter months of the year when I want to cool down. Like basically all of the beers on this list, Budweiser is pretty bland, which means that it's easy to drink in any context. This middle-of-the-road brew is a good choice when you're looking for a beer that can appeal to everyone around the table ... but nobody is going to be particularly excited about drinking it, either.

Now, I may be biased when it comes to Icehouse, since it's a beer I remember my dad drinking when I was growing up. It was one of the beverages I felt curious about. After taking a whiff, I was shocked that people actually drank the stuff. But once I turned 21 and could finally buy beer of my own, I found myself reaching for Icehouse, considering my familiarity with it. Therefore, my assessments of this beverage may be tinged by nostalgia. Although I find this beer quite watery and nondescript, it has a sort of creaminess to it with a touch of corn flavor. That grain-forward note gives this beer more substance than several of the other light beers listed here.

Something else I appreciate about this beer is that it seems more intensely carbonated than some of the other varieties here. That extra bit of bubbliness seems to make it slightly more refreshing, with a crispness despite its more flavor-forward character. For a cheap, easily accessible beer, it's nice, although it wasn't my favorite in the lineup.

I'm a little ashamed to admit that before this tasting, I had never tried a Coors Banquet before, but I was pleasantly surprised by how solid this basic beer is. There's a fruitiness to this beer that I don't encounter much with cheaper American beers, but it's really pleasant. Yes, there's a slight sweetness there, but rather, it's a banana quality that shines through those more intense, maltier flavors. This might not be appealing to everyone, but that extra boost of flavor makes this version of Coors taste significantly more interesting than its lighter sibling.

There's actually some breadiness to this beer, which is what I'm looking for in a lager. After all, a beer doesn't have to be watery and nearly flavorless to present as refreshing. There's a richness and weight in this brew that makes it taste like more of a colder weather option, though. Perhaps unimportantly, I really like how this beer is presented as well. Even though I haven't had any experiences with Coors Banquet before this, that specific yellow can feels a little old-school, a little nostalgic. That's certainly not what pushed Coors Banquet into the top half of this list, but it's worth mentioning.

Okay, hear me out with this one! I know that Pabst Blue Ribbon, affectionately known as PBR, is generally regarded as a cheap, unimpressive beer. And while I am a Pabst fan, I have to admit that this beer is on the more watery end of the spectrum. It has a lightness to it that can be a bit boring. However, I feel that as PBR loses its intense chill and gets slightly warmer (not warm, mind you — just warm in a way like the can has been sitting out for 5 minutes), it takes on a more interesting flavor. There's a breadiness, but not with the boldness you'll find in other beers. Rather, it almost tastes like white bread, with a blandness that's actually kind of nice in this context.

Was PBR my college beer of choice? Sure. And maybe, like with the Icehouse, I foster a sense of nostalgia for PBR. But after tasting it alongside so many other light, frankly quite neutral beers, I feel vindicated in the fact that I still pick up slightly more flavor from PBR than I do from a lot of other brands. Beer people, if you think I'm wrong, I accept your judgment. But I remain a PBR truther.

If you're choosing a beer off of this list and specifically want something that's on the richer, more flavorful, and fuller-bodied end of the spectrum, then Yuengling is probably one of your best options. Most of the other beers on this list are quite light, some of which barely have a perceptible flavor at all. That's not the case with Yuengling, though. 

Not only did I pick up on a bready maltiness, but there's almost a rich, toffee-like, candied flavor in this beer that gives it an interesting touch for a large-scale domestic brew. I tasted some hoppiness too, though it's quite light. This beer is smooth and easy to drink, but its flavor is more complex and concentrated than most lighter, standard American beers (at least the ones that appear on this list).

I think this beer can be a particularly pleasant option as a standard beer to keep stocked in your fridge. Not only is it a relatively affordable option, but it packs a punch of flavor you might not expect from a mass-produced domestic beer. With its weight, it's especially nice for sipping during the fall and winter months when a lighter beer might seem out of place.

Now, I know that Miller High Life — also known as "The Champagne of Beers" — isn't everyone's favorite, and it might be controversial for me to rate it at the top of the list. But it's my classic end-of-the-night dive bar beverage, and I think it earns this spot on the list. While Miller Lite doesn't have a particularly strong flavor to it, Miller High Life offers a lot more potency while still holding onto that fresh, easy-drinking quality. High Life also has fruitiness, with a banana flavor that I find even stronger than that of Coors Banquet. There's not a ton of sweetness there, but just enough to balance out a hint of bitterness. A grainy note finishes it off nicely and ensures there's no wateriness to be found.

As someone who drinks beer pretty casually, a High Life is a simple, unfussy option that always gets the job done — and doesn't make me feel bored by the time I'm at the end of my drink. And since it's often one of the cheapest beers at both the bar and the store, High Life has even more reason to be near the top of this list.

I selected 10 well-known, mass-produced American beers based on availability at my local liquor store. I ranked the beers according to flavor (and mouthfeel/consistency, when relevant), with bolder and more concentrated beers at the top of the ranking. Generally, lighter and waterier beers fell to the bottom of the lineup. 

I also addressed when personal preference or nostalgia impacted my ranking selections. I am not a beer expert, and I'm not claiming that any of these beers are better than any others. However, reading my assessments of these beers based on my disclosed palate can help you decide which might be best for you, whether we look for similar qualities in our beers or not.