The 10 Worst Beers In The World You Should Avoid

If you love beer, you might have come across a list of the “worst beers in the world.” These are brews that most people don’t like. Even the most easygoing drinkers stay away from them. But what is it about these beers that make them so widely disliked? It’s surprising¹ to learn that, despite this, Americans drink about 28 gallons of beer each year. Yet, there are some types that fail to please almost anyone.

This piece focuses on the 10 worst beers ever, based on ratings from Beer Advocate. It looks into why these beers are considered so bad. We will examine the common criticisms of these beers. This includes issues like metallic, sour, and watery tastes. Lack of smell and unpleasant aromas also play a big part in their bad reputation.¹ The beers we’ll talk about range from Red Dog and Keystone Premium to well-known names like Coors Light and Bud Light. By the end, you’ll see why these choices are seen as the worst by many beer lovers.

Key Takeaways

The “worst beers in the world” are determined by user-generated ratings and reviews on platforms like Beer Advocate.
Affordable, light, and unconventional beer varieties often top the list of the most unpalatable beer varieties.
Common complaints include metallic, sour, and watery flavors, lack of aroma, and overall subpar brewing quality.
The subjective nature of beer taste means one person’s favorite could be another’s revolting beer flavor.
Platforms like Beer Advocate play a significant role in shaping perceptions of the industry’s terrible beer brands.

Unpopular Brews: Exploring the “Worst Beers in the World”

The title of “worst beers in the world” gets people talking. This discussion often takes place on Beer Advocate. There, beer lovers rate and review many types of beers.² These ratings create a list of the most disliked beers, based on the site’s community views.

Beer Advocate: A Peer Review Platform for Beer Ratings

Beer Advocate is a top site for discussing and rating beers with an honest outlook.² This platform uses the opinions of its many users to show which beers many consider the worst. It illustrates how taste is purely personal.

The Subjective Nature of Taste: One Person’s Favorite May Be Another’s Least Favorite

The worst beer for one person might be alright for someone else. This difference in taste is the core of the “worst beers in the world” topic.² While some see a beer as too weak, others might enjoy it. Beer Advocate gathers all these varied views to help others decide what they might not like.

Cheap and Cheerful: The Affordable Beers That Didn’t Make the Cut

The world of beer is always changing. Craft brews often cost a lot. Yet, there are affordable beers for those watching their wallet. Still, some of these lower-priced beers haven’t pleased beer lovers. They’ve ended up on the list of the “worst beers in the world” on Beer Advocate.³

Red Dog by Miller Brewing Co.

Red Dog from Miller Brewing Co. is one such beer. It’s considered bad by many. Despite this, it’s seen as better than several ice beers. It targets young and budget-minded drinkers. However, it’s still not a top choice for beer fans.³

Keystone Premium by Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors)

Keystone Premium from Coors Brewing Company is another criticized beer. It’s known for its metallic and hard water flavor. Many wonder if its low price is justified.³

These inexpensive beers don’t always win over even the thrifty. Beer Advocate’s tough feedback highlights a key point. In the beer world, quality often matches the price.

Light Beers: Sacrificing Flavor for Fewer Calories

light beers

The American beer scene is changing, and light beers are a big part of it. They are low in calories and very popular.⁴ About half of all beer sold in the U.S. is light beer.⁴ Almost 30% of beer sold in 1990 was low-calorie.⁴ While people like these light beers for having fewer calories, some beer fans say they lack taste.

Coors Light by Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors)

Coors Brewing Company’s Coors Light is a big target for criticism. It’s known for a taste that’s like metal and not very satisfying.⁵ The top light beers in the U.S. make a lot of money, but Coors Light falls short for many.

Bud Light by Anheuser-Busch

Beer giant Anheuser-Busch makes Bud Light, which also gets negative reviews. People have said it tastes like cereal, with a hint of minerals, not like high-quality beer should.⁵ Anheuser-Busch InBev launched Bud Light NEXT recently. It has 80 calories and 4% ABV, while original Bud Light has more calories and carbs.⁵ The lower-calorie pursuit in Bud Light means less rich taste, disappointing those who want full flavor.

Miller64 by Miller Brewing Co.

Miller Brewing Co.’s low-cal beer, Miller64, is also under fire. Drinkers on Beer Advocate say it’s as satisfying as water, with little flavor.⁴ The low-cal light beer market is worth a lot of money, but beers like Miller64 might not be what certain drinkers are looking for.

The call for low-cal, low-carb beers has made an impact. Now, many major beer brands are producing light beers.⁴ Though the sales dipped recently, light beers are still in big demand.⁴ Unfortunately, the move to fewer calories often means less taste for people who prefer rich, bold beers.

Distasteful Brews: Beers with Unconventional Flavors

Unconventional beer flavors

Beer is changing all the time. Brewmasters are exploring new flavors that some love, and some hate. The Bud Light & Clamato Chelada by Anheuser-Busch is a good example.⁶

This drink mixes Bud Light with Clamato, a tomato-clam juice. It’s not a hit with many Beer Advocate users. They think the Clamato makes it taste strange, moving away from the usual beer they enjoy.⁶

People find this beer really off-putting. They say it’s more like fizzy V8 juice than a beer. The mix of Clamato and beer is really dividing people’s opinions.

The craft beer world likes to try new things. But, not every mix or idea wins over beer lovers. The Bud Light & Clamato Chelada is a bold move in brewing. It makes us wonder if some tastes should stay untested.⁶

Ice Beers: Higher Alcohol, Questionable Taste

This article looks at two “ice beers” known as the worst: Bud Ice and Busch Ice, made by Anheuser-Busch.⁷ These ice beers are crafted at colder temps to up the alcohol. They aim at the younger or budget-minded drinkers.⁷ Yet, critics on Beer Advocate slam them for tasting “sweet” and “sugary,” and not being enjoyable overall, despite their high alcohol content.¹ It points out that the drive for more alcohol in these ice beers doesn’t make them better liked by many.

Bud Ice by Anheuser-Busch

Bud Ice from Anheuser-Busch boasts a 5.50% Alcohol By Volume (ABV).⁷ But, this ice beer with more alcohol is doubted for its flavor, being labeled as “sweet” and “sugary” by critics.¹

Busch Ice by Anheuser-Busch

Busch Ice, another from Anheuser-Busch, has a 5.90% Alcohol By Volume (ABV).⁷ However, just like Bud Ice, it’s criticized for its “grainy” taste. People are not a fan, even with more alcohol.¹

The stories about these high-alcohol ice beers underline something. Trying to make affordable, strong beers for college drinkers doesn’t often lead to a good time. There’s still a big debate over whether the flavor trade-off for more alcohol is worth it for ice beer fans.

“worst beers in the world”: The Bottom Barrel

Let’s explore the worst beers that many avoid. Among them, Natural Light by Anheuser-Busch and Keystone Light by Coors Brewing Company are famous for being the worst. Both are known as the “bottom-barrel” beers.⁸

Natural Light is shown as the second worst in the global scene. Beer Advocate users compare its taste to “sparkling water but smells like beer.” This light lager gained fame for being poorly brewed, marking itself as one of the least desirable beers in the market.

Keystone Light is close to the bottom, mainly for its taste of “metallic and hard water.” It lacks flavor, making it a top contender for the worst beers. These beverages symbolize the bad end of the spectrum, causing many to look for better options.

The fame of tasting watered-down or having metallic hints shows how low-rated these beers are. They are known as the worst the beer world has to offer, warning consumers to stay away from them.⁸

Non-Alcoholic Options: Disappointing Alternatives

In 2020, sales of non-alcoholic beers rose by 38%.⁹ Many tried brands like O’Doul’s by Anheuser-Busch. Yet, drinkers found them lacking. On Beer Advocate, O’Doul’s was noted for its “balanced” but “simple and straightforward” taste.⁹

The prices for non-alcoholic beers vary, from $6.79 to $12.99 per six-pack.⁹ Some kinds earned high scores, but O’Doul’s didn’t win everyone over.⁹

About 30% of 1,906 U.S. adults tried non-alcoholic drinks last year.¹⁰ Despite this, not everyone likes the taste.

Even though the sales of these drinks go up by 20% each year,¹⁰ some people think they could taste better.

International Offenders: Beers from Around the Globe

The United States makes some unpopular beers, but the world has its share too. Many global beers don’t stand up to the high standards of beer fans. For example, Beer Advocate users haven’t liked Carlton Cold from Australia and Corona Light from Mexico.

Carlton Cold by Carlton & United Breweries, Ltd.

Carlton Cold comes from Australia. Beer Advocate users call it “bland” and say it has “very little flavor.”¹¹ This light lager tries to be refreshing, but it’s not what serious beer drinkers look for. They want more complexity and taste in their drinks.

Corona Light by Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V.

Corona Light, made by Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. in Mexico, faces mixed reviews. Some Beer Advocate users think it’s okay for a light beer. But its quality is measured against other light beers, not craft beers.¹¹ Even well-known brands like Corona sometimes miss the mark with serious beer fans,¹² showing the tough competition in the¹³ global beer scene.

Conclusion

This article has explored the “worst beers in the world” according to Beer Advocate. It covers beers like Miller Genuine Draft 64¹⁴ and overly sweet malt drinks. These beers often disappoint even the most lenient beer fans.

The piece showed how tastes in beer can vary a lot. What one person dislikes, another enjoys.¹⁵ It also discussed how Beer Advocate and similar sites can influence what people think of certain beers. For instance, Natty Light and Budweiser Select 55 are known as some of the “worst beers” because they lack in flavor and are not popular.¹⁵

This article is a warning for those who love beer. It tells them to look beyond the worst choices and find better drinks. The beer world is changing a lot. Craft and new types of beers are becoming more liked. So, it’s good for beer fans to be curious and try different flavors and kinds of beer.¹⁵ This way, they might find excellent beers that go against the idea of the “worst beers in the world.”¹⁴¹⁶