PretendPint

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

Work in progress. We are still reading cans and settling where listings disagree. Seen a beer whose small print contradicts its label? Tell us.

What to buy at Morrisons, and what to check first

32 of the beers on this site have a Morrisons product page on record, read for the producer address and the strength on the pack. 6 are imported from the country on the label, 4 are British and say so and 15 are sold as foreign and brewed in Britain. The most searched-for names in the last group are Bud Light, Budweiser, Madrí Excepcional and Madrí Excepcional 0.0%.

Read this first. A product page on record means the listing existed on the date shown; it does not mean the beer is in stock today. Prices are not recorded here, because they change weekly and differ by store and by pack: the link on each entry goes to Morrisons's own page, which shows the price on the day. Nothing on this page is chosen on taste, and no beer pays to appear. How to read the can itself.

Imported from the country on the label 6

The beer sold in Britain is brewed where the branding says. Where the version sold at home is stronger, the line under the card says so.

  1. Guinness Extra Stout
    Imported from Ireland · 4.2% · sold as Irish
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at St James's Gate, Dublin in Ireland. 4.2% here, the same as at home.

  2. Erdinger Weissbier
    Imported from Germany · 5.3% · sold as German
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Erding, Bavaria in Germany. 5.3% here, the same as at home.

  3. Spaten Munchner Hell
    Imported from Germany · 5.2% · sold as German
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Munich in Germany. 5.2% here, the same as at home.

  4. Rosa Blanca
    Imported from Spain · 3.4% · sold as Spanish
    Verified

    Brewed at Barcelona in Spain. 3.4% here, against 4.8% at home.

  5. Beck's Blue
    Imported from Germany · 0.05% · sold as German
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Bremen in Germany. 0.05% here, the same as at home.

  6. Smithwick's
    Imported from Ireland · 3.8% · sold as Irish
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Newbridge, Co Kildare in Ireland. 3.8% here, the same as at home.

British, brewed in Britain, and says so 4

A British brand, brewed here and sold as British, whoever owns it.

  1. Boddingtons Draught Bitter
    Samlesbury · 3.4% · sold as British
    Honest British Verified

    British, brewed at Samlesbury, Lancashire and Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales. 3.4% here.

  2. Bass
    Burton upon Trent · 3.4% · sold as British
    Honest British Partly verified

    British, brewed at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. 3.4% here.

  3. Black Sheep Best Bitter
    Masham · 3.8% · sold as English
    Verified

    British, brewed at Masham, North Yorkshire. 3.8% here.

  4. Tennent's Lager
    Glasgow · 4.0% · sold as Scottish
    Honest British Verified

    British, brewed at Wellpark Brewery, 161 Duke Street, Glasgow. 4.0% here.

Split supply: check the can 5

Some packs are imported and some are brewed here. The producer address on the pack says which one you are holding.

  1. Heineken Original 5%
    Mixed supply · 5.0% · sold as Dutch
    Verified

    Some packs imported, some brewed here, 5.0% here. The pack says which.

  2. Mahou Cinco Estrellas
    Mixed supply · 4.8% · sold as Spanish
    Verified

    Some packs imported, some brewed here, 4.8% here. The pack says which.

  3. Modelo Especial
    Mixed supply · 4.5% · sold as Mexican
    Partly verified

    Some packs imported, some brewed here, 4.5% here. The pack says which.

  4. Leffe Blonde
    Mixed supply · 6.0% · sold as Belgian
    Partly verified

    Some packs imported, some brewed here, 6.0% here. The pack says which.

  5. Desperados
    Mixed supply · 5.9% · sold as Mexican
    Verified

    Some packs imported, some brewed here, 5.9% here. The pack says which.

Imported, but not from the country on the label 1

Genuinely imported, but from a third country rather than the one the branding points at.

  1. Asahi Super Dry 0.0
    Imported from Italy · 0.0% · sold as Japanese
    Verified

    Imported from Italy, 0.0% here.

Sold as foreign, brewed in Britain 15

The branding points at another country and the beer is brewed in Britain. Where the rules find enough beers that are what they say, there is a page of what to drink instead.

  1. Bud Light
    Magor · 3.4% · sold as American
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire, 3.4% here.

  2. Budweiser
    Magor · 4.5% · sold as American
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire, 4.5% here.

  3. Madrí Excepcional
    Tadcaster · 4.6% · sold as Spanish
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire and Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, 4.6% here.

  4. Madrí Excepcional 0.0%
    Tadcaster · 0.0% · sold as Spanish
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, 0.0% here.

  5. Stella Artois Unfiltered
    Magor · 5.0% · sold as Belgian
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire, 5.0% here.

  6. Stella Artois 0.0
    Magor · 0.0% · sold as Belgian
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales, 0.0% here.

  7. Cruzcampo Sevilla
    Manchester · 4.4% · sold as Spanish
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Manchester, 4.4% here.

  8. Stella Artois
    Magor · 4.6% · sold as Belgian
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire, 4.6% here.

  9. San Miguel Especial
    Magor · 5.0% · sold as Spanish
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire, 5.0% here.

  10. Corona Extra
    Magor · 4.5% · sold as Mexican
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales, 4.5% here.

  11. Corona Cero
    Magor · 0.0% · sold as Mexican
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales, 0.0% here.

  12. Coors Lager
    Burton upon Trent · 3.4% · sold as American
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, 3.4% here.

  13. Kingfisher Premium Lager
    Hartlepool · 4.5% · sold as Indian
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Hartlepool, County Durham, 4.5% here.

  14. Singha
    Faversham · 4.8% · sold as Thai
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Faversham, Kent, 4.8% here.

  15. Kirin Ichiban
    Bedford · 4.6% · sold as Japanese
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Bedford, Bedfordshire, 4.6% here.

Where it is brewed is not established 1

No source yet says where the UK product is brewed. Mostly own-label lagers whose producer is not published.

  1. Estrella Damm
    Imported from Spain · 4.6% · sold as Spanish
    Partly verified

    Sources disagree about where the UK product is brewed. The beer's page shows both sides.

Other supermarkets: Tesco · Ocado · Asda · Sainsbury's. What to look for on any shelf · The full list of what to buy instead

Spotted an error?Seen a listing or a pack that says something different? Send it and we will check. [email protected]