9 Aldi Beers That Customers Highly Recommend

Being a German supermarket chain, Aldi has a lot to live up to in the beer department. And like most of its products — from meat to cheese to bread — it meets those lofty expectations. Aldi works with contract brewers to create its version of popular beer brands and styles, offering a tight but well-curated selection of lagers, ales, and stouts. And like most Aldi-brand products, these brews manage to deliver on taste and in many instances, outperform the name-brand beers being emulated.

To find customer favorites, we dug through message boards, social media posts, YouTube video reviews, and any other online forum occupied by passionate folks who like to discuss the different brews. we looked for both a general consensus as well as specific comments that detailed why some of these beers are better than others. We also referenced popular beer-review platforms, like BeerAdvocate and Untappd, to confirm that these beverages also pass the more analytical palates of beer connoisseurs. This list includes a range of beer styles — some seasonal, some old stalwarts — that customers generally enjoy and look forward to buying again.

A good pilsner is, in many ways, the model beer. Its pale-gold color and clear, snappy flavor make it ideal for enjoying alongside a hamburger or goulash, or for sipping à la carte at the bar. Now, there are a handful of different pilsner styles — all some deviation from the original Czech pilsner — but given Aldi's German roots, the supermarket unsurprisingly stocks one made in the German style. The Wernesgruner Pils Legende Beer is arguably one of the store's most reliable beers. While nearly every Aldi beer has at least a handful of less-than-shining reviews, the Wernesgruner Pils has a near-immaculate report card, with one Redditor saying that it was the only beer worth buying.

Customers consider this an all-season beer with a chorus of comments — somewhat jokingly — saying that it's a great warm-weather, medium-temperature, and cold-weather brew. While other beers get criticized for their skunky flavor, this one manages to dodge those complaints — maybe because they don't stay on the shelves long enough. "One of the best pilsners I have had. Too bad my [Aldi] keeps running out," lamented another shopper. According to one BeerAdvocate user, this beer's premium taste comes from complying with German purity laws, resulting in a beverage that's smooth and pleasantly grassy, with a burst of carbonation and a lingering head of foam.

Beer preferences change with the weather. Dark stouts and heavy IPAs are best for cold-weather sipping, while lighter lagers and hoppy sessions are better suited for those glorious, sunshine-drenched afternoons on the beach. Aldi's Falling Tide Light Citrus Wheat Beer falls somewhere in between, ideal for both spring and fall. As a wheat beer, it has a slightly fuller mouthfeel, with a lovely hint of tangerine and warm spice to round out the malt.

Aldi customers online have widely accepted this as a less-expensive alternative to Blue Moon. On Instagram, one reviewer only had positive things to say, calling it a "refreshing light citrus wheat that hit the spot on a very hot day." One Redditor suggested pairing the beverage's natural citrus flavor with a splash of orange juice to create a brunch beer. But the most in-depth analysis of this brew came from BeerAdvocate, where one aficionado praised its fluffy head, carbonation, and multi-layered flavor. " Very flavorful and not too watery for 4%. Amazing summer beer, I am buying another 6 pack," they said.

Mexican-style lagers pack more flavor than your typical light beer. This category of beer actually incorporates a percentage of corn in its grain bill, giving the final product a toasty finish with a hint of bitterness. These beers are typically clean, drinkable, and not too effervescent, which helps with the aforementioned drinkability. It's easy to see that Aldi's Carista Mexican-Style Lager is modeled after another very popular Mexican-style lager, but shoppers are standing by the store brand, with one person posting on Facebook that "as an avid consumer of the brand name...these are amazing!" Another user responded to the comment, "They [are]!!! We were shocked how good — and less bitter!"

And this seems to be the trend. One shopper said that "Carista is better than Corona and kinda close to Modelo." A beer reviewer on Instagram says the Carista tasted sweet with a faint tortilla note and said it was, overall, "crisp, crushable, and refreshing." These beers are well-suited for a range of food pairings, from guac and salsa to ceviche. If you're in the mood for something with a bit more booze, they're also a terrific base for a refreshing spin on a margarita.

Aldi is well known for fashioning its beer selection after popular mainstream styles and varieties. But every once in a while, it'll slip in something unexpected, a flavor or variation that can't easily be pinned down. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter falls into this category. Porters get their signature deep, roasted color from roasted malted barley, but despite their brooding appearance, this style of beer is generally on the sweeter side, or as one Aldi shopper put it, "like dessert in beer form." Despite its unusual flavor combination, people are generally fond of this beer. "Bought this. Drank it. Enjoyed every drop!!" said one Facebook user.

While some consider this beer sweet, others find it to be well-balanced. "Wow!! These are amazing. Not sweet — just buttery," said one Reddit poster. Apparently, the twinkle of bitterness gleaming through is enough to counteract the lingering sugar, so much so that a person commented that they pair the beer with chocolate-covered peppermint Oreos. On the other end of the taste spectrum, one Facebook user noted that, in the past, they enjoyed a peanut butter porter with their burger and fries. Considering that peanut butter makes burgers unbelievably juicy, drinking this beer with your next burger isn't as odd as it sounds. 

Stout is a dynamic beer. Depending on the brewing style, this variety of ale can be dark and malty or sweet and toasty, with tasting notes of caramel, coffee, nuts, and stone fruits. Some varieties are thin, snappy, and faintly bitter, while others are thick and heavy — syrupy almost — and very boozy. Aldi's Chocolate Lava Cake Stout is more of the latter, coming in at 8% ABV, nearly double the alcohol of your typical light beer. It's smooth, with a big burst of cocoa, making it reminiscent of chocolate milk in both flavor and mouthfeel.

On Reddit, a customer warned that this one is for drinkers who appreciate a more robust beer. "I want to emphasize that this is a very 'thick and heavy' brew, be forewarned. If your favorites are mass market, light beers or IPAs you may want to skip this one," they said. But for drinkers who appreciate this style, the Chocolate Lava Cake Stout is a solid interpretation. "Everything I want in a chocolate stout," said another Redditor. The BeerAdvocate community also gave this budget-friendly stout a solid report card. "Smells like a fresh Chocolate Lava Cake. Exactly what it says on the tin ... Overall, an interesting combination of flavors and a bargain at Aldi," said one user. Although you can enjoy this one with dinner, one Facebook comment suggests pairing the stout with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to create a boozy version of your typical root beer float.

This juicy wheat beer is ideal for people who want to sip something sweet and tropical without too much malt or bitterness. Aldi's Mango Ride Wheat Ale is a blatant copy of the popular Mango Cart, produced by Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles. But just because it's a knock-off doesn't mean that the quality takes a hit. A Facebook user posted on an Aldi fan page: "I'm a big [Mango Cart] fan and I buy this every week! Mostly for convenience, but also because it tastes close enough for me." Another said that Aldi's version of Mango Cart is "just as good as the real one."

On Reddit, one shopper took it one step further, saying that the Mango Ride is "better than the real thing." On BeerAdvocate, a reviewer described the tasting notes as "orange rind and a hint of vanilla" with "mild, grassy hop flavors." With its tropical flavor profile and low ABV — it clocks in at around 4% — this is a good option for casual drinking around the picnic table. If you're looking for a pairing, the sweet, peachy, apricot-y flavors go well with the herbs and heat of a Thai green curry or the freshness of a grilled fish taco.

A Kölsch may look like your typical helles or pilsner, but unlike a traditional lager, it's brewed with top-fermenting yeast — typically reserved for ales — giving it a faint fruity accent and a clean, refreshing finish. Now, to qualify as a true Kölsch, the beer must be brewed in Cologne (Köln), Germany, which is why you typically see these beers labeled "Kölsch-style." But what's made by brewers around the rest of the world can be just as crisp and delicately bitter as anything you'd find in Germany.

Aldi's Locken's Tropical Pineapple Kölsch-Style Beer is fruitier and more tropical than your traditional Kölsch, with one shopper comparing it to a summer shandy. Another said it's "super refreshing while not being overly sweet." Its saving grace is that it doesn't actually taste that sweet. On YouTube, one dedicated beer reviewer said that although you get that initial hit of pineapple on the nose, the aroma and flavor dissipate quickly, leaving a slightly bitter, slightly biscuity or cracker quality synonymous with the Kölsch style of brewing. The discerning beer tasters on Untappd also gave it a positive rating, with reviewers saying it was refreshing, had a nice aftertaste, and was good to sip on while washing the car. Who doesn't love a multi-purpose beverage?

Aldi is trying to do the unthinkable with its Maguires Draught Stout: Create an alternative to Guinness. This is a lofty challenge, not only because of Guinness's loyal brand following but also because the beer's taste is so well-balanced and recognizable. Still, for the most part, customers appreciate Aldi's attempt, with many impressed with the price point and drinkability. Still, not everyone is convinced. On Reddit, the tone is more critical, with one person writing, "[This is] nothing like Guinness Stout. The head is slightly creamy. The color is dark. Other than that it just tastes like regular beer."

The BeerAdvocate community has a different view altogether. Despite a reputation of being particular about their beer, they give this beer a better-than-average score. "While it isn't quite as good as Guinness, it comes very close. At around 7-8 bucks a six-pack, I'm okay with that. I would gladly repurchase this beer," said one reviewer. Others had similar feelings, appreciating the beer's notes of cocoa, coffee, toffee, caramel, and dark bread. A drink of this nature also has its culinary applications, with people on Facebook saying they use it in chili or to make a dark, toasty chocolate stout cake.

In the U.S., people associate the German festival of Oktoberfest with oversized Bavarian pretzels, snappy sausages, and giant tankards of fresh, malty beer. Now, there are a handful of beer varieties featured during Oktoberfest, but two of the most common are festbier and märzen. Aldi's Festlich Haus Oktoberfest is made in the festbier style. It has a true golden-hour color, crisp bite, and murmuring bitterness that makes it such a natural accompaniment to the rich, salty Oktoberfest fare.

This is a seasonal beer, which means a lot of Aldi shoppers don't even get an opportunity to try it. But the ones that do only have good things to say. One Redditor provided a thorough analysis of the beer, highlighting its distinguished pour, malty sweetness, bready undertones, and, of course, its excellent price point ($7.99 for a six-pack). "[It] pairs really well with those tasty Aldi brats, spicy foods like tacos or wings, and even isn't bad with the peanut butter cups," they said. A Facebook post dedicated to the beer complimented its appearance, aroma, and taste, concluding the review with the line "absolutely delicious and enjoyable." Most reviews, whether on YouTube or BeerAdvocate, felt similarly. If you see a pack on the shelves, pick it up while you have the chance.

Hard ciders aren't beers, but they've become a common fixture in most breweries, so we felt it was appropriate to add them to the list. Ciders are generally sweeter than your typical ale or lager, but they can also be tart, juicy, or dry. And while a bubbly cider feels most appropriate sipped with a view of the foliage, it can be a welcome beer alternative any season of the year, which is why it's such a popular choice with Aldi regulars.

Online, customers compare Wicked Grove to other mainstream cider brands, calling it Aldi's version of Angry Orchard. Some prefer the flavor, saying that it's "more crisp and less heavy" than other popular options. Wicked Grove comes in an array of traditional and seasonal options, each with its own profile and tasting notes. The Wicked Grove Campfire Pack, a limited-time release that includes flavors like green apple, cinnamon apple, and apple pie, is a fan favorite. On Facebook, one Aldi customer posted a picture of the Wicked Grove Bunch, calling it the "best cider pack I've had so far," and concluding the post with the parting words, "will definitely get a few more before they're gone" — words that we consider an unquestionable endorsement.

We referenced different message boards, Reddit threads, Facebook groups, YouTube pages, and Instagram accounts to find the Aldi beers that customers appreciate, enjoy, and would buy again. For an extra layer of confirmation, we looked into specialty beer-review platforms, like Untappd and BeerAdvocate, to better understand the nuances, appearance, tasting notes, and overall character of the beers.