British Beer Choices: What's On Tap?

Beer has been brewed in England for thousands of years, and it is deeply ingrained in the country's culture and history. British beer lovers can choose from a wide variety of options, from traditional ales to modern craft beers. While classic British beers like porters and brown ales remain popular, mass-produced lagers are currently the most favoured style in the United Kingdom.

According to a 2020 survey, 71% of British respondents said their beer of choice was a lager. This preference for lager is reflected in the top-selling beers in the UK, with Carling, Foster's, Carlsberg, Coors Light, and Stella Artois being the top five. However, Guinness, an Irish stout, is also widely consumed and can be found in most pubs.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of traditional cask ales, often referred to as real ales, thanks to organisations like CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale). These ales, which include bitter, mild, brown ale, and old ale, are usually served from a hand pump or cask and are characterised by their natural carbonation and subtle flavours.

Craft beer has also gained popularity in the UK, with breweries like BrewDog, Vocation Brewery, and Beavertown leading the way. British craft beers tend to favour Belgian-style ales and German-brewed lagers, which align with the traditional real ale culture.

Whether it's a crisp lager or a flavourful ale, the British beer scene offers a diverse range of options to cater to every taste and occasion.

Lager is the most popular beer in the UK

Lager is a light, refreshing beer characterised by its crisp taste and clean finish. It is made from malted barley, hops, and yeast and is fermented at low temperatures, resulting in its distinctive taste and texture.

The popularity of lager in the UK can be traced back to the mid-20th century when it began to gain traction alongside traditional cask beers. Over time, lager has become increasingly favoured by British drinkers, with mass-produced lagers now being the top sellers.

Some of the most popular lager brands in the UK include Carling, Foster's, Carlsberg, Coors Light, Stella Artois, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, and Birra Moretti. These lagers are widely available in pubs and supermarkets across the country.

While lager is the most popular in terms of sales, when it comes to the number of pubs a beer is stocked in, Guinness takes the lead. As of early 2023, Guinness was the number one beer in British pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs, with a 9.4% increase in sales values.

In conclusion, while the UK has a diverse range of beers, including traditional ales and modern craft beers, lager holds a strong position as the most popular choice among British drinkers.

The top-selling lager brands in the UK

The UK's lager market is dominated by international brands, with nine out of the ten best-selling beers in 2022 originating from outside the country. However, they are all brewed in the UK. Here is a list of the top-selling lager brands in the UK:

Carling

Carling is the leading lager brand in the UK, with sales of 1.2 billion British pounds in 2023. It originated in Canada and is now owned by the American/Canadian brewing giant Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is mainly brewed in Burton-upon-Trent. Carling has a positive opinion among Brits, but it has failed to crack the top 10 favourite beer brands in the UK.

Birra Moretti

Birra Moretti is the second-best-selling lager brand in the UK, with just over one billion British pounds in sales in 2023. It is owned by Heineken N.V. and is an Italian beer.

San Miguel

San Miguel is the most approved-of beer brand in the UK as of 2022, with a 53% approval rating. It originated in the Philippines and is now owned by Heineken N.V. It is often associated with sun-drenched evenings on the Amalfi Coast or watching football in a pub.

Stella Artois

Stella Artois is another popular lager brand in the UK, with a 45% approval rating in 2022. It has been rebranded in recent times to shake off its previous reputation as a strong lager for men. It is owned by AB InBev and brewed at Samlesbury, near Preston.

Kronenbourg 1664

Kronenbourg 1664 is the fifth-most-popular beer brand in the UK, with a 43% approval rating. It is owned by Carlsberg and has received significant investment in recent years.

Carlsberg

Carlsberg rounds off the list of the top-selling lager brands in the UK, with a 41% approval rating. It is known for its creative and humorous advertising campaigns, featuring the Danish star Mads Mikkelsen. The brand is set to introduce fibre bottles as a more sustainable packaging option.

Where do British people drink beer?

British people have been drinking beer for thousands of years, and it remains a popular pastime in the present day. The pub is an iconic part of British culture, and it is common for Brits to go for a drink with their friends or colleagues after work. Pubs are often owned and operated by breweries, and most will offer a selection of beers produced by that brewery, as well as a few guest taps. A "free house" is a pub that is independent and can sell any variety of beer.

In recent years, pub chains such as Wetherspoons have been taking over former shops and banks, bringing a corporate uniformity to the pub experience, but also offering a wider range of beers. Pubs tend to have around 5-10 taps, with a selection of domestic and imported bottled beers also available. While most pubs only offer snacks such as crisps, there has been a rise in "gastropubs" which offer more substantial food.

Outside of pubs, British people can also drink beer at home, as home brewing is a fairly popular hobby. It is legal to brew any amount of beer at home without a licence, as long as it is not sold.

Beer can also be purchased from off licences (liquor stores), which usually sell at least a dozen bottled beers, and sometimes also offer cask ales to be dispensed into containers and taken home.

The most popular beer in pubs

British beer drinkers are spoilt for choice. From high-volume convenience beers to real ales and craft brews, there's something for every taste. But what are the most popular beers in pubs?

Lager is king

Mass-produced lagers are the most popular beer style in the UK. Carling, which originated in Canada, is the best-selling beer in Britain and can be found in more pubs than any other lager. It enjoys a 20% share of the British beer market. However, it's worth noting that some drinkers describe it as tasting like a "bubbly ashtray".

Other popular lagers include Foster's, Carlsberg, Coors Light, Stella Artois, Peroni, Birra Moretti, San Miguel, Tennents, Amstel, and Guinness.

Ales and stouts

Although lager is the most popular, traditional ales and stouts are also widely consumed. English-style cask-conditioned ales, known as bitters, enjoyed a resurgence in the late 20th century thanks to organisations like the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Guinness is the most widely stocked stout in UK pubs, and in early 2023, its maker, Diageo, boasted that it was the number one beer in British pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Other popular traditional ales include Greene King IPA, Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Fuller's London Pride, Morland's Old Speckled Hen, and Sharp's Doombar.

Craft beer

In recent years, craft beer has become increasingly popular in the UK, with breweries like BrewDog, Vocation Brewery, Magic Rock, Cloudwater Brew Co., and Beavertown leading the way. Popular craft beers include BrewDog's Punk IPA, Camden Hells Lager, and Beavertown's Gamma Ray.

So, what's the verdict?

If we're looking at sales volume, Carling is the most popular beer in pubs. However, if we consider the cash value of sales and the number of pubs stocking a beer, then Guinness takes the top spot.

Do the British drink real beer?

The UK produces and consumes a wide variety of beers, from traditional ales to modern craft beers. While mass-produced lagers are the most favoured style in the UK, British drinkers also enjoy classic beers like porters, stouts, and bitters.

According to a 2020 survey by the Society of Independent Brewers, 71% of respondents said their beer of choice was a lager. However, modern craft beers like IPAs and pale ales are also quite popular. In fact, the American craft beer scene may not exist without British influence, as many popular styles (pale ales, Scotch ales, stouts, and porters) originated in Great Britain.

The British also consume a variety of imported beers, including those from Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, and the United States.

While the most popular beers in the UK are mass-produced lagers, traditional cask beers, produced by regional microbrewers, are also consumed and enjoyed. These beers are brewed using traditional methods and often have a strong, distinctive flavour. Some popular traditional ales in the UK include Greene King IPA, Timothy Taylor's Landlord, and Fuller's London Pride.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has worked to make real ales fashionable again, especially with the hipster community of craft beer lovers. As a result, real ales like Morland's Old Speckled Hen, Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Fuller's London Pride, and Sharp's Doombar have become more popular in recent years.

So, do the British drink "real beer"? The answer is yes! While mass-produced lagers may be the top sellers, the UK also has a strong culture of consuming traditional cask beers and modern craft beers, offering a diverse range of options for beer lovers.

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