Not Yuengling Or Budweiser: This Is The Best Iconic American Beer On The Market

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Sing we an ode to thee, O dive bar darling, Venus of the pool hall. It's your bartender's favorite beer, yet classy enough to serve as the foundation of the cult-favorite Spaghett "cocktail." We could, of course, only be talking about Miller High Life. In Tasting Table's definitive ranking of 10 iconic American beer brands, High Life swept the competition and clutched first place — because there can, after all, be only one Champagne of Beers.

Refreshing and full-flavored, fans have been tossing back Miller High Life since 1903, and it's no mystery why this iconic brew has lasted the long haul. This American lager clocks in at a 4.6% ABV that can get the job done — and, coupled with the brew's impressively easy-drinking, swiftly accomplished. (Actual Champagne clocks in around 12.5% ABV, but we digress.) High Life arrives on the palate inoffensive and well-balanced thanks to its combination of malted barley, proprietary Miller yeast, and Pacific Northwest hops. That subtle touch of hoppy bitterness keeps each sip interesting, harmoniously balanced, and (crucially) totally skunk-free. As we mentioned in our review, "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." The mouthfeel ends in a smooth, clean finish, making Miller High Life an approachable beer even for non-beer-drinkers.

Even self-professed die-hard craft beer fans can get behind this versatile Everyman brew. "Why didn't anyone tell me Miller High Life was so drinkable?" asks one such imbiber in a Reddit thread. "I worked at a craft brewery for 4 years and, when not drinking craft, am usually having a yuengling, longboard or shock top. Just had my first miller high life yesterday after work and...It was surprisingly good." In Tasting Table's ranking, we also placed High Life above Yuengling, for the record. Another post praises High Life's satisfyingly fuller-bodied taste compared to other popular beer brands under the Light beer category umbrella.

Elsewhere online, Walmart customer reviews praise the brew's artful straddling of the intersection between quality and affordability, writing, "Just a good old-fashioned beer at a good price." Target customers express similarly enthusiastic praise backed by apparent longstanding brand loyalty: "Great tasting old school beer. Just a nice and inexpensive beer that has never disappointed over the years." This multi-dimensional brew is American through and through. It offers way more than just value — but that value factor is notable, too. Whether you're at the bar or the grocery store, the price is always near the lower end of the spectrum. At Walmart, a 30-rack of Miller High Life currently costs $18.56, which shakes out to about $0.62 per can. Don't need 30 of 'em? Happily, there's no need to buy in bulk when a 12-pack costs around eight bucks. Any time can be Miller Time, on a dime.