miws
Back when I used to drink on a regular basis, Rainier was my go to. Probably mainly because it was local (back then), but also because I actually liked it. This was the case for both Bar/Tavern, and Home consumption.
After a few years, and a Beer Gut mysteriously appearing out of nowhere, and just as mysteriously continuing to expand, a diet was in order. So, I mostly changed to Rainier Light at Home, but continued to drink Full-Strength Rainier while out.
After a few more years of mysterious Beer Gut expansion, co-incidentally along with wallet contraction, I switched to some of the cheaper beers. I really liked Keystone, and it seemed their lined can did give it better flavor, and was not just a gimmick, then in no particular order of either flavor or price preference, (although I suppose the latter is a wash between them); Hamm’s, Animal Beer (Schmidt’s—which Dad used to drink when he wasn’t drinking Rainier), and Milwaukee’s Best (I think).
There was at least one, but it seems like actually two, cheap beers that tasted so watered down, I wouldn’t buy them unless it was an absolute last resort. I want to say that one of them was “Beer” Brand Beer, and the other was one of the “Milwaukees”, maybe “Old”, because I really seem to recall putting “Best” in about the same class as Hamm’s, etc.
And, yet again, after I switched to those cheaper beers for Home consumption, I’d still order that Full Strength Rainier while out.
Nowadays, my beer (and wine—-never got too much into hard booze) consumption events are so few and far between, I budget it to be a little fancier. Still not the super expensive stuff, but maybe more Premium; the stuff that might cost $7.99 or so a six-pack. Think Henry’s, and such. Maybe a Hef, maybe an IPA. Try to keep it local-ish.
When out, I have generally found myself drinking Manny’s, if available, for about the past year or so.
Mike