Budget Beers

Yeah those Ballast Point packs aren't a good deal in my area. 12-packs should be 1.5x the price of the six pack because you're buying bulk. But nooooooo, the ballast point packs are like 28-30$, which is more than twice the amount of two sculpin six packs.

 

When I'm poor (aka day to day life) I go for good ol' Rainier or Olympia Tall Boys. Classics.

 

I don't really switch to anything cheaper, I just cut my drinking down to about a fourth of what I usually consume.

 

Options?
1)Same things, less often
2)None
3) Assuming you don't mean AALs, 'cause they're generally cheap,available, & you already thought of them :
The year-round offerings from Sierra Nevada,Ithaca,Saranac, & Southern Tier (excluding 2XIPA) ,especially the 12 pks. Founders All Day IPA , & now PC Pils, that come in 15 packs. I've seen All Day for as low as $12.50.
Look for specials, especially the sort that can age well. ('Cause those specials are probably old, or getting there.) Example : I was just at the beer store today, & they had some of the summer seasonals (which?) for as low as $12/case. Some would even be OK now, as not IPAs, but I just didn't want that much, so passed.

 

Pocahoptas from Center of the Universe, and if I'm feeling cheap but a little fancy, Arrogant Bastard bombers have been fresh and ready at Kroger for $4.39 lately. May not be a stellar $ > oz. ratio but any quality bomber for under $5 is a bargain.

 

Guys, a pet peeve of mine on these price discussion threads. Its much more effective forum discussion if you state the beer you prefer and how many dollars above/below comparable beers that beer is for your buying area. Pricing of certain breweries and selected beers are drastically different from state to state, county to county so just saying "can't beat SNPA for $12 a 12 pack" might be the cheapest pale ale option in your little spot on the globe but other places may have 10 other more highly rated pale ales for less than SNPA so that comment really doesn't help much (maybe not a reality, but just as an example).

 

When money is tighter, I usually stop buying bombers, mixed singles and pitsopping at breweries/craft bars to sample, and just by 6 packs for $10-$13 and/or variety 12 packs for $15-$20. Usually about 20-50% savings on weekly beer budget just by making that switch.

 

Repeat after me: Polish lager. Okocim or Zywiec! 500ml cans, around 5.6% flavorful and dirt gotdamn cheap for the quality.

 

Usually I can find something that's close to its best by date cheap. Lately I've been drinking 8 bit pale ale, it was under $10 a 12 pack so I bought quite a few and its very solid. Also I just got into sours and lucky for me there is a local brewery, exile, that makes great berlinerweisses for 10-13 a six.

 

Same beer, just less? SN 12 packs or what ever good local I see.

 

Flat Broke - Narragansett Lager, nothing beats a sixer of 16 oz cans for $5.50.

 

I open a few bottles from my cellar to keep me from having to buy more beer and then when I want something lower abv that I havent been saving I go for some cheap craft 12 packs. Seems like Sierra Nevada has the best value for those at around $13-$15 each. I went through a few 12 packs of Otra Vez Gose cans here in humid South Florida this summer!

 

Can't go wrong with Sierra Nevada. Great distro and many solidly brewed styles.

 

Narragansett ($1 tallboys easy to find within walking distance of my house), Yuengling, and if I feel like saving but also still treating myself some, Sierra Nevada.

Also, whoo, first post-- hello, BA community!

 

I'll usually stick to either my SN Staples or Lagunitas - can't beat it for the price. The thing that kills me is not so much price, but my desire to always want to try something new.

 

For me, you can't beat good ol Stone IPA. Especially now that you can get it in cans. Even when not on a "budget" I find myself buying it. That 1.1 was an improvement, IMO

 

The FW & BP mixers are around $16 in KC. Still a good price.

 

Narragansett Lager
Yuengling
Lord Chesterfield
Flying Fish sixers at $8 here for an ipa, pale ale, dubbel or red or whatever is seasonal

Or i just buy a mix six of high abv singles and drink one a day.