Additional Coverage:
- 15 Popular Beers with the Biggest Price Increases (cheapism.com)
Bottoms Up! The Rising Cost of Your Favorite Beers Over the Last Decade
Ever feel like your happy hour tab is getting a little less “happy” and a lot more “ouch”? You’re not alone.
It seems even our beloved brews aren’t immune to the relentless march of inflation. We’re all wondering: how much more are we really paying for a six-pack these days?
A recent deep dive by FinanceBuzz, using data from retailers like Total Wine and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, has shed some light on just how much more we’re shelling out for popular beers compared to a decade ago.
The good news? Beer prices aren’t astronomically higher across the board.
The slightly less good news? The increases have really picked up steam in recent years.
While prices saw a modest 11% bump between 2015 and 2020, the last five years have hit our wallets harder, with a nearly 29% increase.
So, grab a cold one (maybe not your absolute favorite if it’s on this list!), and let’s see which popular beers have seen the biggest price hikes over the past ten years.
The Top 15 Beers with the Biggest Price Increases
1. Sam Adams Summer Ale
- 2015 Average Price: $13.99
- 2025 Average Price: $23.99
- Change: 71%
Who knew summer vibes would come with such a steep price tag? This seasonal favorite took the top spot for increases, jumping a full $10 over the decade. We’ll be watching to see if this trend continues to warm up our wallets in the years to come.
2. Dos Equis
- 2015 Average Price: $11.99
- 2025 Average Price: $18.99
- Change: 58%
Even “The Most Interesting Man in the World” couldn’t keep this price from rising, though a $7 jump over a decade might still feel like a relative bargain for this Mexican-brewed, German-founded, Dutch-owned favorite. Stay thirsty, my friends, but be prepared to pay a bit more.
3. Miller High Life
- 2015 Average Price: $8.99
- 2025 Average Price: $12.99
- Change: 44%
4. PBR
- 2015 Average Price: $8.99
- 2025 Average Price: $12.99
- Change: 44%
5. Guinness
- 2015 Average Price: $12.99
- 2025 Average Price: $18.49
- Change: 42%
6. Michelob Ultra
- 2015 Average Price: $10.99
- 2025 Average Price: $15.99
- Change: 41%
7. Yuengling
- 2015 Average Price: $10.49
- 2025 Average Price: $14.49
- Change: 38%
8. Bud Light
- 2015 Average Price: $10.99
- 2025 Average Price: $14.99
- Change: 36%
9. Budweiser
- 2015 Average Price: $10.99
- 2025 Average Price: $14.99
- Change: 36%
10. Coors Light
- 2015 Average Price: $10.99
- 2025 Average Price: $14.99
- Change: 36%
11. Miller Lite
- 2015 Average Price: $10.99
- 2025 Average Price: $14.99
- Change: 36%
12. Corona Extra
- 2015 Average Price: $12.99
- 2025 Average Price: $17.49
- Change: 35%
13. Modelo Especial
- 2015 Average Price: $12.99
- 2025 Average Price: $17.49
- Change: 35%
14. Heineken
- 2015 Average Price: $12.99
- 2025 Average Price: $16.99
- Change: 31%
Heineken seems to be a friend to the wallet, joining Dos Equis in offering one of the more “palatable” price hikes. A $4 increase over ten years feels a lot easier to swallow than some of the steeper jumps we’ve seen. Cheers to smaller increases!
15. Blue Moon
- 2015 Average Price: $12.99
- 2025 Average Price: $16.49
- Change: 41%
Kudos to Blue Moon (and parent company Coors) for keeping its price climb relatively mild. Not even four full bucks in 10 years? Still a beer for the people, especially if those people love a citrusy twist with their brew.
Whether your go-to beer made the list or not, it’s clear that enjoying a cold one is becoming a slightly more expensive pastime. Perhaps it’s time to explore some new local craft breweries, or maybe just savor each sip a little more!
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- 15 Popular Beers with the Biggest Price Increases (cheapism.com)