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 Ocado, and what to check first

34 of the beers on this site have an Ocado product page on record, read for the producer address and the strength on the pack. 15 are imported from the country on the label, 3 are British and say so and 7 are sold as foreign and brewed in Britain. The most searched-for names in the last group are Madrí Excepcional 0.0%, Cruzcampo Sevilla, Staropramen Premium Czech Lager and Tiger.

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 Ocado'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 15

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 0.0
    Imported from Ireland · 0.0% · sold as Irish
    Verified

    Brewed at St James's Gate, Dublin in Ireland. 0.0% here, the same as at home.

  2. 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.

  3. Guinness Draught
    Imported from Ireland · 4.1% · sold as Irish
    Verified

    Brewed at St James's Gate, Dublin in Ireland. 4.1% here, against 4.2% at home.

  4. Peroni Nastro Azzurro
    Imported from Italy · 5.1% · sold as Italian
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Rome, Padua and Bari in Italy. 5.1% here, the same as at home.

  5. Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0
    Imported from Italy · 0.0% · sold as Italian
    Verified

    Brewed in Italy. 0.0% here, the same as at home.

  6. Damm Daura
    Imported from Spain · sold as Spanish
    Partly verified

    Brewed in Spain. Strength here not established.

  7. Pilsner Urquell
    Imported from Czech Republic · 4.4% · sold as Czech
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Plzen in the Czech Republic. 4.4% here, the same as at home.

  8. Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrub
    Imported from Germany · 5.5% · sold as German
    Genuine import Partly verified

    Brewed at Munich in Germany. 5.5% here, the same as at home.

  9. Hoegaarden
    Imported from Belgium · 4.9% · sold as Belgian
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Hoegaarden in Belgium. 4.9% here, the same as at home.

  10. Warsteiner Premium Verum
    Imported from Germany · 4.8% · sold as German
    Partly verified

    Brewed at Warstein in Germany. 4.8% here, the same as at home.

  11. Alhambra Reserva 1925
    Imported from Spain · 6.4% · sold as Spanish
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Granada in Spain. 6.4% here, the same as at home.

  12. Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier
    Imported from Germany · 5.0% · sold as German
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Munich in Germany. 5.0% here, the same as at home.

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

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

  14. Birra Menabrea Bionda
    Imported from Italy · 4.8% · sold as Italian
    Genuine import Verified

    Brewed at Biella, Piedmont in Italy. 4.8% here, the same as at home.

  15. M&S Spanish Lager
    Imported from Spain · 4.5% · sold as Spanish
    Genuine import Partly verified

    Brewed in Spain. 4.5% here.

British, brewed in Britain, and says so 3

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

  1. Carling Original Lager
    Burton upon Trent · 4.0% · sold as British
    Honest British Verified

    British, brewed at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. 4.0% here.

  2. Carling Black Label Premium Lager
    Burton upon Trent · 4.7% · sold as British
    Honest British Verified

    British, brewed at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. 4.7% here.

  3. Fuller's London Pride
    Chiswick · 4.7% · sold as British
    Honest British Partly verified

    British, brewed at Griffin Brewery, Chiswick, London. 4.7% here.

Split supply: check the can 4

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

  1. Amstel
    Mixed supply · 3.4% · sold as Dutch
    Partly verified

    Some packs imported, some brewed here, 3.4% 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. Leffe Blonde
    Mixed supply · 6.0% · sold as Belgian
    Partly verified

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

  4. Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn Lager
    Mixed supply · 5.2% · sold as American
    Partly verified

    Some packs imported, some brewed here, 5.2% here. The pack says which.

Imported, but not from the country on the label 4

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

  1. Asahi Super Dry
    Imported from Italy · 5.0% · sold as Japanese
    Genuine import Verified

    Imported from Italy, 5.0% here.

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

    Imported from Italy, 0.0% here.

  3. Birra Moretti Zero
    Imported from Netherlands · 0.05% · sold as Italian
    Verified

    Imported from the Netherlands, 0.05% here.

  4. Cobra Zero
    Imported from Serbia · 0.0% · sold as Indian
    Partly verified

    Imported from Serbia, 0.0% here.

Sold as foreign, brewed in Britain 7

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

    Brewed at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, 0.0% here.

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

    Brewed at Manchester, 4.4% here.

  3. Staropramen Premium Czech Lager
    Burton upon Trent · 5.0% · sold as Czech
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, 5.0% here.

  4. Tiger
    Brewed in Britain · 4.8% · sold as Singaporean
    Brewed here Partly verified

    Brewed in Britain, 4.8% here.

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

    Brewed at Bedford, Bedfordshire, 4.6% here.

  6. Birrificio Angelo Poretti 4 Luppoli
    Northampton · 4.8% · sold as Italian
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Northampton, Northamptonshire, 4.8% here.

  7. Beck's
    Magor · 4.0% · sold as German
    Brewed here Verified

    Brewed at Magor, Monmouthshire, South Wales and Samlesbury, Lancashire, 4.0% 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 · Morrisons · 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]