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Which beers sold as foreign are brewed in Britain, and what to buy instead

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Where is John Smith's Extra Smooth brewed?

British, brewed in Britain Verified Last checked 5 September 2026

John Smith's Extra Smooth is brewed in Britain, at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, and sold as British.

Listed by Tesco when last checked. The product pages are among the sources below.

Brewed for the UK in Brewed in Britain
Sold as a beer from Yorkshire brewing heritage, Tadcaster, 'no nonsense' English advertising
Brewed in (country)
United Kingdom
Brand owner HQ: Amsterdam, Netherlands
UK strength
3.6%
Strength at home (United Kingdom)
Not established
Canned Extra Smooth is 3.6% ABV. No non-UK version exists.
What the UK label says
“Country of origin United Kingdom; brewed at the John Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire; brewed by Heineken UK Limited”
Source: www.tesco.com
More about the brand: rights, style, when it was created, where it is brewed at home
UK rights held by
Heineken UK Limited (owned)
Style
Smooth ale (bitter)
Brand created
1758, United Kingdom
Brewed at home in
None: UK brand

In short

John Smith's Extra Smooth is a British beer brewed in Britain, at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, and the packaging does not pretend otherwise. The brand belongs to Heineken N.V., which also owns Amstel and Heineken in the UK. It is 3.6%. The label says: "Country of origin United Kingdom; brewed at the John Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire; brewed by Heineken UK Limited."

Who has brewed it here

YearsBrewerSiteSource
1758 to nowJohn Smith's Brewery, Tadcaster (owned successively by Courage, Scottish Courage, Scottish & Newcastle and, since 2008, Heineken UK)Tadcaster, North Yorkshiremorningadvertiser.co.uk

Questions people ask

Where is John Smith's Extra Smooth brewed?

The beer sold in the UK is brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire by Heineken UK.

Is John Smith's Extra Smooth brewed in the UK?

Yes. It is brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

Who owns John Smith's Extra Smooth?

John Smith's Extra Smooth is owned by Heineken N.V., headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In the UK the brand is handled by Heineken UK Limited.

What strength is John Smith's Extra Smooth in the UK?

John Smith's Extra Smooth is 3.6% ABV in the UK.

What does the John Smith's Extra Smooth label say about where it is brewed?

The UK label text on record reads: "Country of origin United Kingdom; brewed at the John Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire; brewed by Heineken UK Limited".

Which beers are similar to John Smith's Extra Smooth?

Beers with a similar story include Banks's Amber Bitter, Bass and Boddingtons Draught Bitter.

See also

Every beer sold as United Kingdom · What else is brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire · Every brand owned by Heineken N.V.

Sources

  1. Tesco (tesco.com), 5 September 2026: 3.6% vol; brewed at the John Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire; brewed by Heineken UK Limited; country of origin United Kingdom
  2. Morning Advertiser (morningadvertiser.co.uk), 12 June 2026: Tadcaster John Smith's Brewery produces John Smith's Extra Smooth

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