The term '''Premium Beer''' (also referred to as "Premium Ale" or "Premium Lager") describes a category of [[beer]], ale, or lager distinguishable by flavor profile, quality, alcohol by volume, rarity, and/or production process.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Bart |date=2016-12-07 |title=Premiumization, Prices, and Positioning |url=https://www.brewersassociation.org/insights/premiumization-prices-and-positioning/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Brewers Association |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-06 |title=The Different Meanings Of Premium When It Comes To Beer - BlackTailNYC.com |url=https://blacktailnyc.com/what-does-premium-beer-mean/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Visser |first=Jan |date=August 13, 2022 |title=Path to Premium for Beer |url=https://www.dsm.com/food-beverage/en_US/insights/insights/beverage/path-to-premium-for-beer.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=@food-beverage |language=en}}</ref>

The concept of "premium" differs from the concepts of [[Craft beer|craft]] beer (which describes various styles of beer brewing and production); or [[Draught beer|draught]] ("draft") beer (which describes a style of serving, i.e. ''"served on draft"''), as the concept of "premium" beer also encompasses various social elements of consumption.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=What is Premium Beer? |url=https://www.oculyze.net/what-is-premium-draft-beer/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=Oculyze |publisher=Oculyze}}</ref>

Two definitions of the "premium" classification are most common.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Pete |date=2016-08-29 |title=Defining the difference between craft and premium beer |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2016/08/30/Defining-the-difference-between-craft-and-premium-beer |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=morningadvertiser.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> In colloquial settings, the definition of "premium" typically revolves around elements symbolic of quality and/or status, such as price, flavor, and/or brand value.<ref name=":2" /> In this definition, even a beverage with low alcohol content may be "premium" if socially viewed as such.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=1C. Premium American Lager – Beer Judge Certification Program |url=https://www.bjcp.org/beer-styles/1c-premium-american-lager/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.bjcp.org}}</ref>

Within the beer industry, however, a more formal rule of thumb has emerged, which focuses on alcohol by volume.<ref name=":2" /> Any beer above 5.0%; any lager above 4.5%; and any ale above 4.2% can be deemed "premium."<ref name=":3" /> In this definition, a beverage may be low-priced and lack flavor, yet still be premium due to AbV composition.<ref name=":3" />

== Super Premium Beer ==

Within the beer industry, many have gone on to use terms such as "'''super premium"''' and other similar terms, modeled after the premium liquor industry, in which the [[Distilled Spirits Council of the United States|Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS)]] classifies spirits by four categories: Standard, Premium, High-End Premium, and Super Premium. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Your Guide to Premium Spirits: How and When to Buy |url=https://tastersclub.com/blogs/articles/premium-spirits |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Taster's Club |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Are Top Shelf Liquors—And Does it Matter {{!}} Wine Enthusiast |url=https://www.wineenthusiast.com/basics/top-shelf-liquor-explained/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=www.wineenthusiast.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Highland |first=Carol |date=2021-11-04 |title=The Difference Between Well, Premium And Top Shelf Liquor {{!}} Luxury Activist |url=https://luxuryactivist.com/lifestyle/the-difference-between-well-premium-and-top-shelf-liquor/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the beer and lager industry these classifications are routinely used as marketing efforts, rather than official classifications, due to the informal definition of "premium" status within the industry.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

Generally, however, brands which possess all three elements of high alcohol by volume (typically ≥5%), above average pricing, and strong brand value and reputation, are considered to be consensus premium, with the status of "super" or even "ultra" premium being used as brands trend further above the mean in these three criteria.

Examples of brands frequently included in the premium, super-premium, and/or ultra-premium categories on various bases include: Heineken,<ref name=":2" /> Sierra Nevada,<ref name=":2" /> Samuel Adams,<ref name=":2" /> Red Stripe,<ref name=":5" /> Corona Extra,<ref name=":5" /> Miller Genuine Draft,<ref name=":5" /> Michelob,<ref name=":5" /> and others.

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Alcoholic beverages}}

{{Lists of beverages}}

{{Bartending}}

[[Category:Bartending]]

[[Category:Beer]]

[[Category:Drinks]]

[[Category:Alcohol]]