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Curating a dive bar beer list is one of the best things you can do for your clientele. It helps with customer acquisition as you stock your list with fan favorites. You can even create a custom loyalty program around specific beer brands. While upselling is a great sales technique, you don’t need it to excel at dive bar beer sales!
In this BinWise blog, we’ll walk you through the best beers to have at your dive bar. They’ll complement your dive bar wine list and pair with your dive bar foods. The right beers benefit your dive bar aesthetic and cement your place in dive bar history. Read on!
Dive Bar Beer List
These 15 beer brands will make your dive bar beer list irresistible. When you’re planning how to open a dive bar and writing up your dive bar business plan, you’ll run across facts about cheap beer making the business of a dive bar. Your dive bar profits will hinge in part on the beers you have available. So make sure you know when and can beer expire, as well as how many beers are in a keg. Being able to tell the difference between good and expired beer is crucial.
Make sure you have these options on your list to round out your dive bar ideas.
15. Budweiser
Budweiser has been known as the king of beers since 1876, in fact, they own that trademark! Budweiser is a must for every dive bar beer list.
14. PBR
PBR, or Pabst Blue Ribbon, is a winner among cheap, delicious beers. It fits at tailgates, barbecues, and of course, dive bars! It’s a much sought-after beer for a menu of cheap brews.
13. Miller Lite
Miller Lite is one of the three Miller brand beers, and it’s unequivocally the one people seek the most in dive bars. If you want a few options, adding Miller High Life is also a good idea.
12. Corona
The COVID-19 pandemic may have led to a multitude of jokes about Corona brews but it didn’t hamper beer lover’s enjoyment of a Corona. The best way to offer this light beer is with a lime wedge and a salted rim.
11. Heineken
Heineken is a unique cheap beer. It’s cost-effective, that’s for sure, but it has the depth of a beer that belongs on any menu. Have it on your menu for a sure-fire win.
10. Blue Moon
Blue Moon is as much of a treat as the lunar phenomena it’s named after, but in your dive bar, it shouldn’t be as rare! Blue Moon’s line of unique Belgian-style brews are delicious with any meal.
9. Coors Light
Coors Lite is another one of the most budget-friendly options on this list. It’s written about in country songs and praised in dive bars around the country.
8. Guinness
Guinness is known for its smooth flavor and singular prowess in the world of foam on beer. Every bar should have Guinness on tap, from dive bars to cocktail bars to sports bars.
7. Modelo Especial
Modelo Especial is as special as the name suggests. It’s a light beer that suits any meal, from pretzels to snack on to a delicious burger with fries.
6. Stella Artois
Stella Artois is a Belgian pilsner-style beer that fits any occasion. It feels like a fancy treat with from the flavor, but won’t break any banks!
5. Rolling Rock
Rolling Rock is an American lager that’s been holding steady in the cost-effective beer scene since 1939 with no signs of slowing down. When you stock your dive bar, make sure you stock plenty of Rolling Rock.
4. Dos Equis
Dos Equis is another pilsner-style beer that rocks every brew scene. It started out in 1897 under the name Siglo XX, and it’s been a delicious addition to the beer world under both names ever since.
3. Tecate
Tecate is a Mexican beer that’s been around since 1944, and steadily gaining popularity ever since then. It’s an easy-to-drink brew that fits any meal.
2. Busch Light
Busch Light is another one of the famously low-priced options on this list. It’s budget-friendly and famous in dive bars everywhere.
1. Pacifico
Pacifico has been a great beer since 1899, and it’s been rising in popularity through a great social marketing presence. It’ll fit in perfectly among your dive bar beer selections.
Dive Bar Beer and Food Pairings
Beer and food pairings are a staple of dive bar beer lists. You can mix any cool bar food ideas with all the beers on this list to create some tasty pairs. Some killer combos are:
- IPAs and steak fries
- Light brews and tacos
- Dark beers and custom mashed potatoes
You can highlight your dive bar beer and food pairings as a two-for-one in your happy hour deals. Cycling different beers through your happy hour menu is a good way to keep it fresh and make the customer experience even more special. Learning how to make a menu pop for happy hour is one of the best ways to bring customers in every day.
"Key Takeaway: As you prepare your dive bar beer list, make sure at least 70% of your options are cost-effective, light, easy-to-drink brews."
Frequently Asked Questions About Beer at Dive Bars
How do you choose the right dive bar beer? How many beer options should you have on your menu? Should you have a specialty dessert menu with rich beer options? You can and should ask yourself many questions to prepare your dive bar beer selections. Our answers to these frequently asked questions will help you get started.
What Beer Is Most Popular at Dive Bars?
In short, cheap beer is the most popular beer at dive bars! Some of the classics are Budweiser, Corona, PBR, Coors Light, and Miller Lite. As you prepare your dive bar beer list, make sure at least 70% of your options are cost-effective, light, easy-to-drink brews. These will make up the majority of your sales.
What Is the Most Popularly Drank Beer?
The most popularly drank beer, according to the interwebs, is Guinness. That holds true for the United States for this tail end of 2023, but it may change! Guinness is a fan favorite as a rich but digestible beer. The heavy foam on top makes it delicious and aesthetically pleasing when served up fresh as an option for beer on tap.
Which Beer Tastes the Best?
Which beer tastes the best is completely a matter of opinion. Some folks love light beers, finding their favorites in a Corona, a Heineken, or a Bud Light. Others gravitate towards craft brews of IPA or APA. Then there are the beers that mix in unique flavors, like a grapefruit shandy or a chocolate brew. The mix available means there’s a beer that tastes best for every beer lover.
Which States Drink the Most Beer?
The states that are known to drink the most beer are, in order:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- New York
Part of this volume of beer consumption in each state is due to the high populations of these states. The more people there, the more beer can be drunk! Each of these states is also known for their mix of types of bars and restaurants, adding to their available brews. You’ll find different popular beers in each of these states.
Beer at Dive Bars: Cheap and Easy
Stocking your dive bar with the best beer options is an exciting time! The more excellent brews you have on tap, the more customers you’ll draw in through your doors. Keep your beer managed well with inventory and order management software from BinWise and BlueCart.
The BinWise Pro beverage inventory software eases the process of how to do inventory. BlueCart’s order management software streamlines your order management system. Both systems work in tandem to make your dive bar the best it can be.