The worst beers in the world, according to Beer Advocate
monticello // Shutterstock
The worst beers in the world, according to Beer Advocate
Multiple brands of beer bottles lined up
It’s no surprise that Americans love their beer.
Despite having a relatively old legal drinking age compared to the international standard of 18, America still ranked among the drunkest countries in the world in 2021. The previous year, legal consumers in the U.S. drank an average of 26 gallons of beer per person.
Craft beers, in particular, are growing in popularity in the U.S. In 2021, craft beer sales rose nearly 8%, compared to 1% for the overall beer market. A dramatic jump in the number of breweries nationwide began around 2010, increasing from 1,813 that year to 9,247 as of 2021.
But as it turns out, Americans also hate their beer. Beer Advocate allows users to rank and leave comments on any beer commercially available, and critics who pick up on watery taste and over-carbonation do not mince words.
Ironically, many of the worst-ranked beers are also the most bought nationwide, including Corona Extra and Bud Light. This could be because American drinking culture uniquely prizes low-quality, light-bodied beer that can be drunk quickly in large quantities. America has a more dysfunctional drinking culture than most other countries. The fraternity system and massive sporting events (not to mention tailgates) are just two examples of cultural staples that eschew other countries’ fondness for moderation and pacing when drinking.
Overall, however, the rise in popularity of craft beers may very well mean that these rankings will soon be reflected in sales numbers. This shift has already begun: over the past decade, regional breweries have stolen a more significant portion of national annual beer sales from global giants. In 2010, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors (formerly MillerCoors), two of the largest beer companies in the world, comprised roughly 77% of total beer sales in the U.S. In 2020, that share was less than 60%. As tastes become more refined, average beer prices are increasing as well, reflecting consumer demand for a higher-quality product.
So which beers are Americans “hate-drinking?” Stacker compiled a list of the worst-rated beers in the world, using ratings from Beer Advocate. This list was created by choosing those with the worst rank among beers with more than 100 ratings. To diversify the beers’ origins, Stacker selected a maximum of five beers per brewery for ranking.
You may also like: IPAs to Pilsners: The best beer of every type
Venn-Photo // Shutterstock
#25. Old Milwaukee Beer
A vintage aluminium can of Old Milwaukee beer
– Average rating: 2.39 (593 votes)
– Ranking: Ranked #30,688
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 4.6%
– Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
– Location: Texas, United States
Old Milwaukee’s lightness and heavy carbonation have some critics. Nevertheless, it won medals at the Great American Beer Festival six times since 1997.
8th.creator // Shutterstock
#24. Heineken Premium Light Lager
Bottles of Heineken beer in refrigerator
– Average rating: 2.38 (741 votes)
– Ranking: #30,692
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 3.3%
– Brewery: Heineken Nederland B.V.
– Location: Netherlands
Heineken’s Premium Light Lager was introduced in a limited number of states in 2005 before being released nationwide the following year. The beer’s primary draw is that it has just 90 calories, but many consumers think this comes at the cost of taste, with some reviews calling the offering watery and flavorless.
Estudio Conceito // Shutterstock
#23. Corona Extra
Bottles of Corona beers on ice
– Average rating: 2.37 (4,180 votes)
– Ranking: #30,698
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 4.6%
– Brewery: Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V.
– Location: Mexico
Corona Extra is the most popular of Corona’s beers and has ranked as one of the top-selling imported beers in the U.S. since 1998. Advertised as a light, fruity lager, some customers think it ultimately tastes too bland.
monticello // Shutterstock
#22. Desperados
Three Desperados bottles lined up
– Average rating: 2.35 (220 votes)
– Ranking: #30,690
– Type: American Lager
– ABV: 5.9%
– Brewery: Heineken Nederland B.V.
– Location: Netherlands
Desperados is known for its distinctive tequila flavor, resulting in an alcohol by volume of 5.9%. The unique taste rubs many consumers the wrong way, though, with several describing it as overly sweet, and the tequila notes overpowering the traditional beer hops.
Mikhail Esteves // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Black Label Beer
King’s Black Label Beer
– Average rating: 2.32 (109 votes)
– Ranking: #30,689
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 4%
– Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
– Location: Texas, United States
Black Label Beer has been brewed in Canada since 1926 but is consumed worldwide, even going by the shorthand “Carling” in the U.K. to make it easily summoned for at crowded bars. Despite Black Label’s popularity, it has been criticized for tasting like “sweat” and being flat.
Steve Cukrov // Shutterstock
#20. Tecate Light
Tecate Light bottles on ice
– Average rating: 2.31 (250 votes)
– Ranking: #30,702
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 3.9%
– Brewery: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V.
– Location: Mexico
Tecate Light is the less calorie-dense version of its namesake, brewed to achieve a citrus taste. Many drinkers note a distinct (and distasteful) corn syrup flavor in the drink.
maodoltee // Shutterstock
#19. Kirin Light Beer
Kirin Draft Beer in a glass on a table
– Average rating: 2.29 (149 votes)
– Ranking: #30,701
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 3.2%
– Brewery: Kirin Brewery Company, Limited
– Location: Japan
Kirin Brewery produces Japan’s two most popular beers, Kirin Lager and Ichiban Shibori. The brand also brews in Australia, Europe, and North America. Kirin Light, though appreciated for having 95 calories, is also disliked for its overly mild taste.
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
#18. Colt 45 Malt Liquor
Barman hands pouring a lager beer in a glass
– Average rating: 2.28 (669 votes)
– Ranking: #30,712
– Type: Malt Liquor
– ABV: 5.6%
– Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
– Location: Texas, United States
Colt 45 generally turns off drinkers with its overpowering booziness. A beer modeled to imitate malt liquor is unorthodox enough to require a star-studded PR campaign to encourage consumption: various celebrities have promoted the drink, most recently Snoop Dogg.
JHVEPhoto // Shutterstock
#17. Labatt Blue Light
Labatt facility in Mississauga, On
– Average rating: 2.26 (501 votes)
– Ranking: #30,714
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 4%
– Brewery: Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.
– Location: Ontario, Canada
Labatt Blue has been a dependable choice for Canadians looking for a light beer that can be consumed quickly en masse. Though this variation was created in 1983, the brewery itself has existed in its earliest form since 1847.
monticello // Shutterstock
#16. Beck’s Premier Light
Tops of a few Beck’s beer bottles
– Average rating: 2.24 (128 votes)
– Ranking: #30,709
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 2.3%
– Brewery: Brauerei Beck & Co.
– Location: Germany
Beck’s Premier Light has a unique selling point of being only 64 calories and containing just 3.9 grams of carbs. Though it is an enticing choice for the health-conscious, those looking for a fuller-bodied beer may be disappointed, with many reviewing it as being watery and too low-alcohol.
Smit // Shutterstock
#15. St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor
Malt beer in a glass
– Average rating: 2.22 (128 votes)
– Ranking: #30,713
– Type: Malt Liquor
– ABV: 8.2%
– Brewery: Saint Ides Brewing Company
– Location: Texas, United States
St. Ides is notable for having an alcohol content higher than malt liquor. What it lacks in flavor balance, it makes up for in pop culture lore. The beer has been endorsed by a slew of famous rappers including the Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Ice Cube, Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, and Eminem.
The Toidi // Shutterstock
#14. Coors Light
Coors Light 24 pack beer bottle display
– Average rating: 2.05 (4,240 votes)
– Ranking: #30,739
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 4.2%
– Brewery: Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors)
– Location: Colorado, United States
It’s not just a watery taste and overly carbonated texture that has gained Coors Light pushback. In 2013, the brand was called out by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly misleading consumers into thinking that it had achieved a scientific guarantee of freshness with slogans including “the world’s most refreshing can” and “beer on the inside, science on the outside.”
BY-_-BY // Shutterstock
#13. Red Dog
Draft beer pour in a glass from the crane
– Average rating: 2.04 (595 votes)
– Ranking: #30,737
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 4.8%
– Brewery: Miller Brewing Co.
– Location: Wisconsin, United States
Red Dog beer had its peak of popularity just before the 2000s and it is hard to find in stores today. But its manufacturer, the Miller Brewing Company, remains one of America’s most significant breweries, in operation since 1855, and influential in the development of light beer.
Sadie Mantell // Shutterstock
#12. Corona Light
Corona Light Beer in glass a glass bottle
– Average rating: 1.98 (1,734 votes)
– Ranking: #30,742
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 4.1%
– Brewery: Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V.
– Location: Mexico
Corona Light falls just behind Corona Extra in popularity, with around one-third of the calories and half of the carbs. The beer suffered from negative public opinion at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when over a third of Americans said they would not buy Corona “under any circumstances” because of its association (in name only) with the coronavirus.
JP WALLET // Shutterstock
#11. Keystone Lager
A hand pouring fresh beer in a glass
– Average rating: 1.9 (123 votes)
– Ranking: #30,740
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 4.9%
– Brewery: Molson Coors Canada
– Location: Ontario, Canada
Keystone Lager is light-bodied—so light that those looking for a nuanced, flavorful taste will have complaints. The beer’s smoothness, however, makes it a popular at tailgates and other gatherings that call for an easy-to-drink can.
monticello // Shutterstock
#10. Bud Light
Bottles of Bud Light beer
– Average rating: 1.87 (4,971 votes)
– Ranking: #30,749
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 4.2%
– Brewery: Anheuser-Busch
– Location: Missouri, United States
Bud Light is so popular that it inspired a collection of spin-off drinks, including Bud Light Seltzers, Bud Light Peels, Bud Light Platinum, and Bud Light Chelada. The beer was described by one reviewer as “water with a hint of alcohol.”
Brent Hofacker // Shutterstock
#9. Keystone Premium
Amber beer in a glass on a table
– Average rating: 1.85 (111 votes)
– Ranking: #30,743
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 4.4%
– Brewery: Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors)
– Location: Colorado, United States
Keystone Premium is much less popular than its lighter version—which is still derided amongst beer lovers (see #6 on this list). Critics say the fuller Keystone is “skunky,” with a “metallic” taste.
taveesak srisomthavil // Shutterstock
#8. Busch Ice
Beer cans chill in ice
– Average rating: 1.85 (273 votes)
– Ranking: #30,748
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 5.9%
– Brewery: Anheuser-Busch
– Location: Missouri, United States
Uniquely, Busch Ice has a slightly sweet taste, which many drinkers are not fans of. This is achieved through an ice-brewing process, during which the beer is frozen to achieve a sugary taste and high ABV.
taveesak srisomthavil // Shutterstock
#7. Natural Ice
Hand picking cold beer can from ice cooler
– Average rating: 1.84 (1,154 votes)
– Ranking: #30,753
– Type: American Adjunct Lager
– ABV: 5.9%
– Brewery: Anheuser-Busch
– Location: Missouri, United States
Though both beers are largely disliked by American consumers, Natural Ice has a slight edge on its brother Natural Light due to its higher alcohol content. The beer is brewed with hops, malt, and corn at a temperature below freezing—thus the “Ice” moniker.
MobiusDaXter // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Keystone Light
Keystone Light Beer beverage truck
– Average rating: 1.84 (1,626 votes)
– Ranking: #30,754
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 4.1%
– Brewery: Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors)
– Location: Colorado, United States
As the name Keystone Light would suggest, criticisms of this beer largely focus on the fact that it’s very watery. The beer is popular in drinking games, where its weak taste makes it easy to drink quickly in large volumes.
bogdanhoda // Shutterstock
#5. Milwaukee’s Best Light
Close-up of barman hand at beer tap pouring a draught lager beer
– Average rating: 1.83 (542 votes)
– Ranking: #30,750
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 4.2%
– Brewery: Miller Brewing Co.
– Location: Wisconsin, United States
Though Milwaukee’s Best Light is one of the lowest-ranked beers amongst the American public, it is favored by some judging panels, having won a silver medal at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival. In an effort to get the drink into the national spotlight, the beer was made sponsors of the 36th World Series of Poker and a national tour of the world’s largest poker table.
Keith Homan // Shutterstock
#4. Miller 64
A 12 pack of Miller 64 lite beer
– Average rating: 1.83 (588 votes)
– Ranking: #30,751
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 2.8%
– Brewery: Miller Brewing Co.
– Location: Wisconsin, United States
Miller 64 is marketed as an extra-light version of the 80-calorie Miller beer. Critics say it is so light that it is “barely beer,” and even Miller Brewing describes it as just “beer-ish.”
Joni Hanebutt // Shutterstock
#3. Natural Light
Cans of Natural Light Beer
– Average rating: 1.75 (1,731 votes)
– Ranking: #30,756
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 4.2%
– Brewery: Anheuser-Busch
– Location: Missouri, United States
Known fondly by American consumers as “Natty Light,” this lager undergoes a longer brewing process to achieve its low-calorie, light body. Natural Light now has a variety of offshoot products including seltzers, vodka mixes, and lemonade drinks.
VDB Photos // Shutterstock
#2. Sharp’s
Low angle close up of a pint of beer
– Average rating: 1.7 (119 votes)
– Ranking: #30,755
– Type: Low-Alcohol Beer
– ABV: 0.4%
– Brewery: Miller Brewing Co.
– Location: Wisconsin, United States
Though low-alcohol beers are generally lower in flavor than full-bodied ones, Sharp’s is disliked for being even less flavorful than its other low-alcohol competitors. The beverage premiered in 1989, with Miller boasting its “patented Ever-Cool brewing process” to achieve a beer taste with a minimal ABV.
RozenskiP // Shutterstock
#1. Budweiser Select 55
Budweiser sign on roof at the Anheuser Busch Brewery
– Average rating: 1.65 (458 votes)
– Ranking: #30,757
– Type: Light Lager
– ABV: 2.4%
– Brewery: Anheuser-Busch
– Location: Missouri, United States
Budweiser Select 55 is a 55-calorie alternative to Budweiser’s heavier Select original, and brewed with a caramel taste. Anheuser-Busch has been instrumental in popularizing lagers amongst American consumers for decades, after the beer style was first introduced to the U.S. thanks to German immigrants in the mid-19th century. One Beer Advocate reviewer summed this offering up thusly: “It’s thin, flavorless, and odd smelling.”
