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|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|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"'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobsen |first=Jessica |title=2023 Beer Report {{!}} Super-premium domestics bright spot among domestic beers {{!}} Beverage Industry |url=https://www.bevindustry.com/articles/95649-2023-beer-report-super-premium-domestics-bright-spot-among-domestic-beers |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.bevindustry.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-11 |title=Super Premium Beers Top Crafts |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/center-store/super-premium-beers-top-crafts |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Supermarket News |language=en}}</ref> (and other similar [[Neologism|neologisms]]), modeled after the [[Top-shelf Liquor|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: [[Well drink|Standard]], [[Top-shelf Liquor|Premium]], [[Top-shelf Liquor|High-End Premium]], and [[Top-shelf Liquor|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|marketing efforts]],<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=70% of beer sold to be premium or super-premium by 2025 - Asian Trader - Business & Industry {{!}} News {{!}} Analysis {{!}} Magazines- Asian Trader |url=https://www.asiantrader.biz/70-of-beer-sold-to-be-premium-or-super-premium-by-2025/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> rather than official classifications, due to the informal definition of "premium" status within the industry.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-04-20 |title=Power Of Premium: Premium and Super-Premium Now Biggest In Absolute Volume Within Draft Beer |url=https://catererlicensee.com/power-of-premium-premium-and-super-premium-now-biggest-in-absolute-volume-within-draft-beer/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=CLH News: Caterer, Licensee and Hotelier News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

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"<ref>{{Cite web |last=morningadvertiser.co.uk |date=2016-05-18 |title=Earn more from super-premium beers – here’s how |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2016/05/19/What-is-a-super-premium-beer |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=morningadvertiser.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> or even "ultra" premium being used for brands that trend further above the mean in these three criteria.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-11 |title=Super Premium Beers Top Crafts |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/center-store/super-premium-beers-top-crafts |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Supermarket News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=morningadvertiser.co.uk |date=2016-05-18 |title=Earn more from super-premium beers – here’s how |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2016/05/19/What-is-a-super-premium-beer |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=morningadvertiser.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

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 (beer)|Samuel Adams]],<ref name=":2" /> [[Red Stripe]],<ref name=":5" /> [[Corona (beer)|Corona Extra]],<ref name=":5" /> [[Miller Brewing Company|Miller Genuine Draft]],<ref name=":5" /> [[Anheuser-Busch brands|Michelob]],<ref name=":5" /> and others.

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Alcoholic beverages}}

{{Lists of beverages}}

{{Bartending}}

[[Category:Bartending]]

[[Category:Beer]]

[[Category:Drinks]]

[[Category:Alcohol]]