I would like to begin by saying I don’t condone beer snobbery. Judging someone by what they choose to drink is shallow and pathetic. Really, you should judge people by what the clothes they wear, their job, their ability to do calculus, what teams they root for, their general level of fitness, and their hair color—you know, the important things. Taste in beer is subjective; some people just prefer Coors to an IPA. That’s okay; last I checked this was a free country.

That said, I see no reason to eschew buying microbrew six-packs if they are reasonably priced. Spending an extra dollar to upgrade from swill to elixir is just logical. There is this unfounded perception that microbrews are entirely overpriced, outside the budget of your average beer drinker. That’s ridiculous. Only certain six-packs fall into that category of unaffordable; there are plenty of options available to those looking for a nice beer that won’t mortally wound their piggy bank.

Of course, the availability of these beers may vary depending on where you live. The prices may also differ in your area from the three stores I went to while on my weekend-long bender researching this article. Honestly, this list may not be applicable to you at all, sorry (in which case you should check out Blake Hurtik’s quality breakdown of affordable domestic beers).

My only criteria are that the beers must cost less than $8.00 for a six-pack and they must have an alcohol-by-volume content of at least 6% (for reference, most “cheap” beers fall in the 4-5% range). Oh, and the beers must be delicious.

5) Obsidian Stout (Deschutes Brewery)

This beer was my introduction to stouts and, sort of like the first girl you kiss or the first felony you commit, it’ll always have a special spot in my heart. If you like dark beers that are fairly strong (6.4% ABV) and pretty filling, the Obsidian Stout is perfect. It’s received loads of critical acclaim the past few years (“World’s Best Dry Stout” at the 2012 World Beer Awards and “Champion Dark Beer” at the 2013 International Brewing Awards), whereas something the Pabst hasn’t won anything since that 1893 World’s Fair where that doctor murdered all those women.

4) Kingpin Double Red Ale (Bridgeport)

I’m not really a huge fan of red ales because I associate the color red with a pretty disappointing album from The Game. The Kingpin, however, is an awesome beer. While it doesn’t have the same accolades as the Obsidian Stout, it does sport a 7.5% ABV. I also have it on good authority that this is Redhead Kingpin’s favorite beer, in case that influences you at all (which it should, because “Pump it Hottie” is a great song).

3) Night Train (The Pits of Hell)

I just wanted to include a cheap wine to make this list ooze even more hipster.

2) Outburst Imperial IPA (Pyramid)

8.5% ABV. 8.5% ABV! This beer is basically a WMD. It isn’t the tastiest beer on this list, but it is a phenomenal value by if you’re looking to get absolutely hammered. The name comes from the impulse towards violent outbursts that you’ll succumb to after drinking an entire six-pack. When raving and rampaging, try to only pick on people your own size, though. Nobody likes a bully.

1) Hop Czar (Bridgeport)

They say Budweiser is the “King of Beers.” Fine. Czars are far more intimidating and noble than kings, anyway. The Hop Czar is undeniably the best bang-for-your-buck value if you fancy yourself an IPA aficionado. If you don’t like hops, stay away; this beer is not for you. If aliens landed on Earth today, I’d try and trade them Hop Czars for access to their technology. At 7.5% ABV, there’s a chance the aliens may not be able to handle the power of the Czar and thus die from deliciousness-poisoning, which means I’d get the technology for free. That’s beside the point, though. There are few beers I’ve ever encountered that are as reasonably priced and overwhelmingly tasty as the Hop Czar. People should bow before it in advance of cracking a bottle; it’s a beer that demands reverence.