Let’s have a hipster-y post about beer, shall we? I saw a list today on the Concourse of the 18 most overrated beers. Here’s the list, devoid of the original author’s comments. If you want to know why the author chose these beers, you’ll have to follow the link:
- Miller High Life
- Blue Moon
- Killian’s Red
- Heineken
- Yuengling
- Corona
- Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
- Heady Topper
- Stella Artois
- Bass Ale
- Magic Hat 9
- Your local brewery’s flagship
- North Coast Old Rasputin
- Anchor Steam
- Rolling Rock
- Red Stripe
- Moosehead
- Shiner Bock
My thoughts? Who the hell is out there drinking Miller High Life and declaring that it’s a “good beer?” Are there people that do that? Seriously? I’ve never once heard someone declare their sophistication for Miller High Life; at best, I’ve heard its praises as “it’s cold” and “I don’t know, I just like it.”
Blue Moon is trading on the craft beer thing even though it’s really not a craft beer. Of all the beers on this list, this is the only one that I’ll drink, always because I’m at the kind of place where my choice is Blue Moon or Bud Light.
I hate Killian’s Red, perhaps moreso than any other beer on this list. Most of that hatred comes from the fact that red ale is my favorite style to drink, so my standards are correspondingly higher. If the choice is between Killian’s Red and warm tap water, I’ll take the tap water.
My experiences with Heinekein tend to be limited to smiling smugly to myself when I see people who like them.
My father likes Yuengling. I have no opinion on it either way.
Corona isn’t very good, but since I live in the Southwest, there’s something that’s cultural about drinking it around here.
I have no opinions on 7 through 15. I either haven’t tried or haven’t heard of these beers. I have no idea about my local brewery’s flagship beer; maybe the one I order is their flagship? I’ve never asked.
I drank Red Stripe once and hated it.
No opinion on Moosehead. I tried Shiner Bock once; didn’t really care for it, but also didn’t hate it. So, meh.
What are my favorite beers (none of which made it to this list?) I’m happy to tell you!
Matt’s Favorite Beers
- Full Sail Amber Ale
- Jeremiah Red Ale
- Kiltlifter Scottish Ale
- Grand Canyon Amber Ale
- Bud Light Lime
Number five on my list is a troll pick, just to see if you’re paying attention. My actual number five would be Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
Cynical Idealism 
A few comments on that article’s list:
Yuengling – He didn’t have any comments on it, so I’ll just give my two cents. It’s a good beer for it’s price. It costs the same as Budweiser, but it actually has a decent flavor. In PA, it’s on tap absolutely everywhere, and it’s often on special for $2 a pint or something. I don’t know if I’d call it overrated, because the best I hear on it is usually “Pretty good for its price.”
Bass Ale – I like Bass. I can’t articulate why, but I think it’s pretty tasty.
Magic Hat #9 – I’ve been tricked by their fancy packaging on multiple occasions and I’m always disappointed.
“Your local brewery’s flagship” – Otto’s is the local bar here in State College. They’re known for the “Red Mo,” a standard issue Red Ale that’s pretty inoffensive and goes well with most things on their menu. It’s consistently outclassed by their new offerings and seasonals, so I almost never buy it anymore. I think this is the only useful observation from the list.
Red Stripe – I like session beers, as a style, so I might have to try some of this guy’s recommendations on them.
Overall, I’m not surprised that you don’t have a lot of opinions on many of the beers on this list. A lot of these are East Coast brews that I only started seeing when I moved to this side of the country. Beer tastes are very regional and you can tell the list’s author is from Massachusetts because he actually likes Sam Adams Boston Lager (which tops *my* list of overrated beers), and he seems to write off everything from PA. In fact, he seems to have an undue hostility towards everything not New England based.
As for your favorite beers, I’m definitely seeing a trend that you’re into malty beers, and you totally had me going with your 5th pick!
Since I’m from Rochester, whenever I’m on the east coast, I end up ordering Genesee Cream Ale. Not because it’s good, but because it’s the native drink of my people. Also, it’s good for relieving constipation.
I was thinking more about “my local brewery’s flagship.” The only local brewery I attend regularly is Thunder Canyon and I always order their Amber. Big surprise, I know! I’m not sure if their Amber is their signature, though.
I remember sharing a Genny Light with my landlord when I first moved to State College…good times.
I agree with almost everyone on this list except for Heineken. It’s made well and never a hangover. Yuengling pisses me off the most. It seems the people who order it think they are drinking a craft version of Budweiser and it makes people around them forget that they watch NASCAR.
Man, I didn’t realize Yuengling was hated by the pros. I’ve never thought about it in status as much as I just like it. This list will be on my mind next time I drink one though. Now Miller High Life? Pretty sure the bottles are just dipped in the toilet.
Seems like there’s some consensus that Yuengling isn’t all that bad. It seems more poised to be a reliable staple beer. I don’t know if that qualifies it for true overrated status.
What really interests me is how we all seem to have our one or two beers on the list that we want to defend. “I agree with most of the stuff on this list except Yuengling or Heineken or…”
I’m actually surprised that Bud Light Lime didn’t make the list. I swear to God this is a true story; I was talking to a friend who insisted that he had good taste in beers. I asked him what he considered to be a good beer.
He said, “Bud Light Lime.”
I asked if he was joking.
He was not joking.
Would killing him have been considered “murder” or “mercy?”
(I feel I should note that, as far as I know, he is alive and well. No killing of any kind took place as a result of this discussion).
You are a better man than I.
I’ve tried and enjoyed number 15; Rolling Rock. It’s smooth and has a pleasant taste, mind you in comparison I haven’t tried many of the rest. I would recommend it for someone who enjoys a flavourful pale ale!