London's Favorite Beer: A Local's Guide To Drinking

London has over 3,500 pubs, several large breweries, and many microbreweries. It does not have a standard beer, but Guinness is probably one of the most commonly drunk beers in the city. Other popular beers include Dutch lagers (Amstel, Heineken, Grolsch, etc.), Stella Artois, Pilsner Urquell, and Budvar. Craft beer is also growing in popularity, with Brewdog being a notable example.

London's most popular beers

London has over 3,500 pubs, several large breweries, and many microbreweries. The city also holds one of the biggest beer festivals in the world, as well as several smaller beer festivals. The craft brewing scene is growing, and Londoners will never struggle to get a decent pint.

There is no standard beer in London, but Guinness is probably the most commonly drunk beer. It is available in pretty much every pub. Other popular beers include Dutch lagers (Amstel, Heineken, Grolsch, etc.), Stella Artois, Pilsner Urquell, and Budvar.

Craft beer is also growing in popularity, with Brewdog being a notable example. There is also still quite a demand for English ales, with London Pride by Fuller’s being a perfect example.

• Fuller's London Porter: First brewed in 1996, this porter is the perfect representation of London's traditional beer of choice. It combines traditional brewing with modern expertise, winning several international awards.
• Fuller's London Pride: This is a quintessential pint of English Bitter, almost always served perfectly by Fuller’s pubs.
• Beavertown Neck Oil IPA: A seriously good craft IPA from Beavertown brewery. While London has a historic connection to IPAs, this offering is much more American-influenced.
• Camden Town Hells Lager: A London-based lager is a rare thing, and this excellent take on German and Czech lagers is always enjoyable.
• Five Points Railway Porter: Inspired by the real history of beer in London, this is an excellent porter in its own right.
• Courage Best Bitter: Courage was a massive brewery in London for most of its history, and Courage Best Bitter was first brewed while it was still a London brewery. It is now difficult to find, but you can still grab a bottle in most UK supermarkets.

London's beer culture is diverse, and the city has something to offer every type of beer drinker.

London's lager scene

Today, almost all pubs in London offer a few international commercial lagers on tap, such as Heineken and Carlsberg. However, craft lagers and pilsner imports from mainland Europe, like Camden Hells and Fourpure Pils, are also widely available and worth exploring. These craft lagers are often brewed by local microbreweries that have popped up across the city, offering unique and flavourful alternatives to the mass-produced options.

When it comes to local beers, London has a diverse range. Fuller's London Pride, a classic London bitter, remains an iconic choice and is widely available. For those who enjoy a good stout, Guinness is, of course, the most well-known option, but London also has some excellent local stouts, such as Samuel Smith's Extra Stout and the Kernel brewery's range.

India Pale Ale (IPA), a hoppy and fruity beer, is another popular choice in London. Meantime's London Pale Ale and Beavertown's Gamma Ray are two local IPAs that have become firm city favourites. With the rise of craft brewing, Londoners now have a wide array of unique and innovative beers to choose from, ensuring that there is something for every taste.

London's bitter beer

Although bitter is the name, it is actually far from the sharpest offering on the menu. The term originated to differentiate the punchier beer from 'mild' in the 19th century. Within the bitter family, you'll find standard bitter, best bitter, and extra special bitter. Standard bitter is a session beer with a low alcohol content of 3-4%. Best bitter is a little stronger, and extra special bitter (ESB) is typically around 5-6% ABV and stronger in flavour.

The classic London bitter remains Fuller's London Pride, a city institution.

A Brief History of Bitter Beer

Bitter beer was created in the 18th century when new malting techniques produced paler-coloured malts. These beers became increasingly popular with British drinkers, who began to use the term 'bitter' to refer to the sharper, hoppier versions that contrasted with milder variations.

Other Beers in London

London has over 3,500 pubs and several large and micro-breweries. There is no standard beer in London, but Guinness is probably the most commonly drunk beer, as it is available in pretty much every pub. Dutch lagers (Amstel, Heineken, Grolsch, etc.) are also very popular, as are Stella Artois, Pilsner Urquell, and Budvar.

Craft beer is also growing in popularity, with Brewdog being a common sight in London. There is still quite a demand for English ales, with London Pride by Fuller's being a perfect example.

London's mild beer

London has a diverse drinking scene, with a wide range of beers available. Mild beer is not as popular as it once was, but it can still be found in some traditional pubs and those influenced by the Real Ale movement. Mild beer tends to be dark in colour, with a malty profile and low alcohol content, usually between 3-4%Brown ales are similar but a little stronger.

Historically, mild beer was consumed soon after brewing and was not 'conditioned', resulting in a lighter, fresher flavour than aged ales. The term 'mild' doesn't have a consistent profile, but generally refers to beers that are less bitter and have a more balanced profile.

While mild beer may not be as fashionable as other types of beer, it is worth trying if you want to sample a traditional London brew.

London's stouts and porters

London has a rich history of brewing stouts and porters. The city is credited with the invention of stout and porter, which were originally interchangeable terms. The beer style was first brewed in the early 18th century and was known as "porter" due to its popularity with market porters in the city. "Stout porter" or "stout" referred to porters that were stronger than the norm. Stouts and porters are characterised by their dark colour, which comes from the use of brown or black malt. They also tend to have a high hop content and more complex flavours, ranging from coffee to chocolate.

London has several breweries that specialise in stouts and porters. The Kernel brewery, for example, offers an excellent range of stouts and porters. Meantime Brewery, which opened in Greenwich in 2000, is another notable brewer of stouts and porters, with its Chocolate Porter being a popular choice. Fuller's Brewery, one of the oldest breweries in London, also has a long history of brewing stouts and porters, with their London Porter winning several international awards.

When visiting London, there are many pubs and bars where you can enjoy a wide variety of stouts and porters. The Pretty Decent Beer Co in Walthamstow offers a selection of stouts, while The Guildford Arms in Greenwich serves South London's finest local beer. The Five Points Brewery Taproom & Courtyard in Hackney is another popular spot, known for its top-quality craft beer selection. For those looking to drink where the beer is brewed, the Gipsy Hill Brewery in Battersea offers weekly tours, followed by a tasting of their blends in the taproom.

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