Right now, lots of us are enjoying a wide range of exotic beers to accompany England winning the World Cup.*
*Terms and conditions apply. England may not win the World Cup.
We’re having a heatwave
And, despite medical advice to the contrary, we’re also guzzling down pints of the stuff to cope with a debilitating succession of heatwaves. There’s a bewildering choice of world beers available at the pub and the supermarket, but many of them haven’t travelled as far as the salespeople would have us believe.
Around the World
The big breweries are on to something big with world beers. With a bit of clever marketing, they can charge a premium for exotic international brands. But many of these exotic-sounding brews come from very unexotic places. Are big breweries cynically exploiting gullible punters, or saving the planet by reducing their carbon footprint? While we ponder this, let’s have a look at Britain’s Top 20 Bogus World Beers:
Beer #1: Madrí
Madrí was invented in the UK in 2020. A supposedly Spanish beer, it’s almost unknown there. Madrí Excepcional is essentially a marketing gimmick, brewed at the former John Smith’s brewery in Tadcaster, Yorkshire. The brewery is now owned by Molson Coors.
Beer #2: San Miguel
For some reason, San Miguel is marketed as a Spanish beer, but it originates in Manila in the Philippines. The UK version is made by AB-InBev at their Magor Brewery in Newport, South Wales.
Beer #3: Cruzcampo
It says Sevilla, España on the label, but this is made at Heineken’s Royal Brewery in Moss Side, Manchester
Beer #4: Estrella Damm
All the way from Barcelona. Not really; the UK version is made at the Eagle Brewery in Bedford.
Beer #5: Birra Moretti
This one comes all the way from Udine in Northern Italy. Unless you buy it in the UK, in which case it’s another one brewed by Heineken at Moss Side
Beer #6: Staropramen
A famous Czech brand, but your pint is almost certainly brewed by Molson Coors in Burton-on-Trent.
Beer #7: Carlsberg
A great Danish beer, brewed in the Viking stronghold of Northampton.
Beer #8 Heineken
A Dutch favourite, it refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach. Allegedly. Heineken’s most famous brewery is in Amsterdam, but the company makes its British version, along with a host of other brands, in Moss Side.
Beer #9: Amstel
Another famous import from Amsterdam. Not really, Amstel is owned by Heineken, and its UK beer is brewed alongside its sister product in Moss Side.
Beer #10: Becks
Becks Bier used to proudly proclaim that it was only ever brewed in Bremen, Germany. But that changed when the company was taken over by AB-InBev in 2008. The UK version is now brewed at Magor, in Newport, South Wales.
Beer #11: Bière 1664
Bière 1664, aka Kronenbourg 1664, can trace its history back to Strasbourg on the border between France and Germany. Its chief brewery is in Obernai in Alsace. But Bière 1664 bought in the UK is made at that giant Heineken brewery in Moss Side.
Beer #12: Stella Artois
Your’e paying top dollar for a premium Belgian brew that originated in Leuven, but the UK version is another AB-InBev product made at the Magor Brewery in Newport.
Beer #13: Leffe Blonde
Another Belgian brew, and this one really packs a punch. However, the slightly weaker UK version is brewed by AB-InBev at Samlesbury in Lancashire.
Beer #14: Cobra
Fancy an Indian beer with your Indian curry? Don’t choose this one then. It’s brewed by Molson Coors in Burton-on-Trent.
Beer #15: Carling
This beer started life in Canada way back in 1818. Carling is owned by Molson Coors, and its British lager is another Burton-on-Trent product.
Beer #16: Corona
A cool Mexican classic. But with a Welsh twist. It’s another one brewed by AB-InBev in Magor, Newport.
Beer #17: Budweiser
Possibly the most famous American beer. But the stuff you drink will have been brewed by AB-InBev in Magor. Not to be confused with the original Budweiser Budvar Brewery in Czechia, which makes good beer, and doesn’t brew it anywhere else.
Beer #18: Asahi
Japanese ‘super dry’ beer made at Fuller’s Brewery in Chiswick, south west London. Well, at least the smaller British breweries are getting some of the ‘world beer’ action.
Beer #19: Singha
The advertising and labelling hint of a glamorous concoction from Thailand. But your pint hasn’t come from that far south. It’s been brewed by Shepherd Neame, at Faversham in Kent.
Beer #20: Foster’s Lager
It’s Australian for Lager. Well, that’s what the adverts say, but this brew doesn’t come from the other side of the world. Yes, that famous Heineken brewery in Moss Side strikes again.
Is there a map for this?
This handy map shows the locations of the breweries that make Britain’s Top 20 bogus world beers. You’ll notice that Heineken’s Royal Brewery in Moss Side makes six of them. It could be tempting to make the same brew and stick different labels on it, in the style of Duff Beer, although I’m certain that this never happens.
