The Hands-Down Best Cheap Beer Isn't Pabst Blue Ribbon Or Miller Lite

Cheap beer isn't just an affordable option for college kids or a part of your local dive bar experience. There are budget beer brands worth drinking because they actually taste good. So we set out to try all the cheap beer brands we could to find the very best option that both you and your wallet will enjoy. We ranked each beer, according to overall taste and mouthfeel, and found that despite the popularity of PBR and Miller Lite, the best cheap beer is Miller High Life. 

With a motto that claims the brew to be "The Champagne of Beers," we were pleased to see that Miller High Life lived up to the hype. It may not be on par with Champagne, but it's certainly just as bubbly and effervescent, with a crisp refreshing finish that makes it very easy to drink. As a standard lager, Miller High Life has a subtle flavor, but it's still very much pronounced and not watered down like certain competitors our reviewer tried. The beer had delicious malty, yeasty notes that felt as comforting as a slice of fresh baked bread. Furthermore, Miller High Life isn't too heavy, so you can enjoy it before, after, and during meals without feeling weighed down. This beer is a crowd pleaser that people of any drinking age will happily drink and savor. So it's a great budget-friendly choice to buy in bulk for a party or for personal enjoyment throughout the week.

Even on a site as lofty and detailed as BeerAdvocate, beer connoisseurs were surprised at how tasty Miller High Life could be. One reviewer described its flavor as "lightly toasted malty bread and toasted corn cakes... joined by the subtle bitterness from the hops... and it's at the finish where you can taste the mild grapefruit and pear. Better than expected." Another reviewer on the platform said Miller High Life is "crisp, refreshing, and is a good ol' fashioned beer," distinguishing it from other sweeter lagers like Coors Banquet, "which makes it easier to drink a few after a meal without getting a tummy ache." That said, the same reviewer said that Miller High Life and Miller Lite tasted very similar, with Miller Lite having fewer calories. 

There were also plenty of negative reviews for Miller High Life. Some thought the flavors were muted at best, and one BeerAdvocate reviewer even likened the beer to "apple juice that sat in the sun too long." On Reddit, many were even left unimpressed or underwhelmed by the beer.

Miller High Life may get mixed reviews, but we certainly think it's a beer worth buying for its price point and simplicity. It's also great for food pairings like nachos, fried chicken, or loaded fries. Otherwise, bring a 12-pack to your next burger cookout. Since beer is the perfect drink pairing for pizza, Miller High Life could be a budget-friendly, bubbly option to accompany your favorite slice. You can also use Miller High Life as a cooking liquid in a beer batter for fish and chips, or in your next batch of homemade chili.