Beer is also a huge expense in our household. Around here, a good pint of craft at the bar with friends is usually 6-9 dollars, and the places where we go to drink general don't serve the mega-brew stuff. Absolutely do drink it for the taste and the varieties. Absolutely no drinking of crap beer around here. If you're going to drink, it's either something of known quality, or we're trying out a new microbrew we didn't know about. We're also in SoCal, so lots of awesome breweries to support, and we also get great stuff shipped here.
Wine, on the other hand, is usually kept at $7-$20 a bottle, bought for home. Or about $10-15 a glass going out. Craft cocktails verge on the ridiculous.