With the cost of living crisis on everyone's minds and the prices of everyday items on the rise, one reporter took it upon themselves to try something that's apart of many people's lives... lager.
As food bills are higher than ever, forcing households to look at cheaper options in their weekly shop, items such as premium lagers could be the first to be axed.
While a four-pack of beer can set you back around a fiver, many supermarkets now stock their own, cheaper, alternative.
After putting themselves to the test of trying the budget lager from the UK's six most popular supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl and Asda - here were the result.
Tesco's Ashfield lager set a reporter from the Manchester Evening News back £2.37 for four cans and was described as "flat and bitter".
The reporter said: "I'm not one to judge a book by its cover, but the branding of this lager struck me as fairly uninspired. Still, it is what is inside the can that counts, right?
"Flavour-wise, this was not good. With each gulp came a flat, bitter taste that made it extremely difficult to drink.
"I managed to soldier on and finish the majority of the can's insipid contents but I can't say I enjoyed the experience. Surely things can only improve from here on in."
Reporter's rating: 4/10
Morrisons's Continental lager was next on the list, with four cans costing the interested reporter £2.25.
It is the weakest of the six lagers on offer at a "very un-European" low of 3.5% ABV.
Described as having a striking similarity to Carling in terms of presentation with its black, white and red branding, it had a "metallic taste" but was "relatively smooth".
Reporter's rating: 5/10
Sainsbury’s Original Crown lager set this reporter back £2.35 for a pack of four and was described as "flavourless but inoffensive".
They said: "Sainsbury's foray into the own-brand lager game is certainly not one for the lager connoisseurs out there.
"It does the job though which, at this price, is perhaps the best you can hope for. I'd certainly be willing to drink it again.
"The can design is also relatively eye-catching. It could easily pass as a real brand so is perhaps a sensible choice for anyone self-conscious about being caught drinking supermarket own-brand lager."
Report's rating: 6/10
Asda's fancy named Biere de Luxe was the most expensive of the cheap lagers, costing a - not so massive - £3.10 for four cans.
The lager guzzling guinea pig explained how after graduating from university a stint working as a shelf stacker in Asda led to hearing negative reviews from customers about the low cost alternative.
But, nevertheless, it left a surprisingly positive impression on the reporter, who said: "Maybe it says more about the other lagers I tasted, but this one was not bad at all. Both crisp and refreshing, it offered everything you could want from a budget lager.
"It may not leave much in the way of an aftertaste, but Biere de Luxe is perfectly pleasant and you could certainly do a lot worse.
"Brewed for Asda by the French brewery Brasserie de Saint-Omer, its colourful branding could easily be mistaken for a lager from a continental brewery."
Reporter's rating: 7/10
There was high expectations for Aldi - the supermarket that is always good for a budget take on a well-known branded good - with its Galahad beer coming in at £2.49 for four cans.
However, it was the least impressive of the bunch and described as "the supermarket's answer to Fosters".
One reporter said: "This was by far the most underwhelming of the six lagers that I tried. In fact, it's not a stretch to say I've enjoyed dirty pints more than this.
"At £2.49, it was also the second most expensive.
"Although it was the cheapest lager on offer at Aldi, there are several alternatives that cost only slightly more, including four cans of Saint Etienne for £2.99. Unless you have no choice, you would be wise to fork out the extra 50p."
Reporter's rating: 2/10
Last on the list was Lidl's Excelsior lager - 4 cans for £2.35.
It was described by the reporter as: "A thoroughly forgettable lager with no discernible taste. There's not much to say about Excelsior that has not already been said about the other five lagers.
"Like Galahad, the branding suggests a cheaper take on Foster's. There certainly is not much different in taste which I suppose makes it a potential alternative for anyone looking to save a couple of quid."
Reporter's rating: 5/10
Concluding his trial of knock-off lagers and cheap booze, the reporter wrote: "Most of the lagers I tried were drinkable and relatively inoffensive. Yet I'd be lying if I said I was not judging this based on which was the least mediocre.
"By that measure, Asda's Biere de Luxe is the clear winner and a lager I'd happily drink again.
"None of the lagers are likely to become anyone's new favourite but that is not really the point of this exercise. As more and more people feel the pinch, it is useful to know what alternatives are out there."
