What to drink instead of Caffrey's Irish Ale
Caffrey's Irish Ale is sold as Irish and brewed in Britain, at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, at 3.8%.
By Mark Porter. Last checked 9 September 2026. Where Caffrey's Irish Ale is really brewed, with the pack wording and the sources.
Where it is brewed, against where the brand comes from
| The brand comes from | Ireland, from 1994 |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Molson Coors Beverage Company, headquartered in United States / Canada |
| Brewed for the UK at | Tadcaster, North Yorkshire (Molson Coors) |
Instead of Caffrey's Irish Ale
| Beer | Why it is on the list | Strength here |
|---|---|---|
| Smithwick'sFrom the country on the label | Brewed at Newbridge, Co Kildare in Ireland. 3.8% here, the same strength as Caffrey's Irish Ale. | 3.8% |
| John Smith's Extra SmoothBritish, and honest about it | British, brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. 3.6% here, 0.2 percentage points weaker than Caffrey's Irish Ale. | 3.6% |
| Greene King IPABritish, and honest about it | British, brewed at Westgate Brewery, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. 3.4% here, 0.4 percentage points weaker than Caffrey's Irish Ale. | 3.4% |
| Boddingtons Draught BitterBritish, and honest about it | British, brewed at Samlesbury, Lancashire and Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales. 3.4% here, 0.4 percentage points weaker than Caffrey's Irish Ale. | 3.4% |
| Hobgoblin RubyBritish, and honest about it | British, brewed at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. 4.5% here, 0.7 percentage points stronger than Caffrey's Irish Ale. | 4.5% |
| Black Sheep Best BitterBritish, and honest about it | British, brewed at Masham, North Yorkshire. 3.8% here, the same strength as Caffrey's Irish Ale. | 3.8% |
Chosen by rule, not by taste, and no beer pays to appear: how the list is made.
Every beer sold as Irish · What to buy instead, beer by beer