Beer in the United Kingdom

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Hardcore IPA from BrewDog, the UK's largest craft brewer Brewdog-hardcore-ipa (cropped).jpg
Hardcore IPA from BrewDog, the UK's largest craft brewer

Beer in the United Kingdom has a long history, and has quite distinct traditions. Historically the main styles were top-fermented Bitters, Porters, Stouts and Milds, but after World War II lagers took over half the market by volume. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was founded in 1971 and has encouraged the preservation and revival of traditional styles of ale. In particular CAMRA has promoted cask conditioned beer, which completes its maturation in casks in the cellar of the pub rather than at the brewery. As of 2014 the UK drank 634 million imperial pints (360 million litres) of cask ale, representing 60% of ale in pubs and restaurants and 17% of all beer in pubs. [2] In total 42.42 million hectolitres of beer were produced in 2013 [3] of which 48% was sold in the off-trade (retail shops). [4]

Contents

History

In the Middle Ages beer was brewed by abbeys and independent alehouses, but the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century meant British brewing lost its connection with religious houses earlier than in other European countries. As a result, the industry has some of the oldest names in British corporate history – Shepherd Neame were incorporated in 1698, and the Bass Red Triangle and Diamond were the first trademarks to be registered. Family companies became national brands during the 19th century, many based in Burton-on-Trent which had particularly good water for brewing. By the 1970s brewing became concentrated in a handful of large national companies, which became building blocks of major multinationals such as AB InBev. A tax cut for small breweries in 2002 has seen an explosion of new breweries – as of September 2014 there were over 1472 [2] breweries in the UK, with three [2] new breweries starting every week. This is the most breweries per capita in the world; [5] they produce over 8,000 regular beers and thousands more seasonal and one-off brews. [5]

The first tax on beer in the United Kingdom was the Saladin tithe, introduced in 1188 by Henry II to raise money for the crusades [6]

982 ha (2,430 acres) of hops were grown in 2014, [7] down from a peak of 31,161 ha (77,000 acres) in 1878. [7] British varieties and their offspring have come to dominate world hop production, both landraces such as Fuggles or Goldings and products of the breeding programme at Wye College such as Challenger and Target. The cool maritime climate means that British-grown hops have less myrcene than the same varieties grown elsewhere, allowing more delicate, complex aromas to come through. [8] British ales tend to reflect these characteristics and have more of a balance between bitterness and aroma compared to New World craft ales, although in the 2010s many British breweries added an American Pale Ale to their range with very citrussy, hoppy aromas.

Economy

Production of beer in the UK faces a challenge from the rising cost of raw materials. The regional breweries are developing contract brewing to keep up production, while the production of ale by the newer, smaller breweries grows. Despite an overall drop in beer sales, real ale has increased its market share. [9] Brewers such as Shepherd Neame, Greene King and Marston's have invested in cheaper, faster and more efficient production facilities which increase capacity.

Imported beers are increasingly popular. Brewers from Eastern Europe are introducing their brands to the UK. Polish brands Okocim, Lech, Tyskie and Żywiec have also gained a foothold in some areas, especially amongst young Polish migrant workers. [10]

The growth in microbreweries in the UK led CAMRA to announce in September 2014 that 'Britain now has more breweries per person than anywhere in the World after two years of continued growth'. [11] A year later CAMRA announced that 'Micropubs leading the way for better beer as new research shows 70% of pubs now serve real ale'. There being 53,444 pubs in the UK, of which 37,356 serve real ale. [12]

Much of the growth in microbreweries can be put down to reductions in Excise Duty, an idea which began in 2002. Currently, a single producer of less than 5,000 hectolitres per annum receives a 50% reduction in the duty payable and tapered relief for production from 5,000 to 60,000 hectolitres. [13]

In 2016 a study showed around 1,700 breweries now operate in the UK, an increase of 8% on the previous year. [14]

An increase in the popularity of low-alcohol beers has resulted in the emergence of new brands including Lucky Saint, a pale lager with 0.5% ABV introduced in 2018 which is now one of the most popular low-alcohol beers in the UK. [15]

Consumption statistics

Beer consumption Beer consumption per person in the UK.svg
Beer consumption
Beer consumption, England and Wales;

1800 - 1914 [16]

YearsConsumption
1800 - 0433.9
1805 - 932.8
1810 - 1430.2
1815 - 1928
1820 - 2429
1825 - 2928.4
1830 - 3433.8
1835 - 3935.4
1840 - 4430.5
1845 - 4929.2
1850 - 5429.5
1855 - 5929.3
1860 - 6431.6
1865 - 6935.9
1870 - 7438.2
1875 - 7940.5
1880 - 8433.6
1885 - 8932.5
1890 - 9433.4
1895 - 9934.5
1900 - 0434.3
1905 - 930.9
1910 - 1329.4
Beer consumption in the UK based on standard barrels

(excluding the Republic of Ireland); 1919 - 1938 [16]

YearConsumption
191919.34
192020.66
192118.05
192214.87
192316.99
192417.82
192517.78
192616.57
192716.68
192815.92
192916.28
193015.47
193112.93
193210.73
193312.42
193412.84
193513.44
193613.74
193714.37
193814.32
193914.6
Beer consumption of the UK (based on bulk barrelage);

1945 - 1995 [16]

YearConsumption
194522.3
195018.4
195517.8
195817.1
196018.9
196520.1
197022.6
197525.5
197927.1
198026
198524.2
199024.3
199322.4
199521.9


Traditional beer styles originating in the United Kingdom

Nations of the UK

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beer</span> Alcoholic drink made from fermented cereal grains

Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in the world, the most widely consumed, and the third most popular drink after water and tea. Beer is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grains—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The fermentation of the starch sugars in the wort produces ethanol and carbonation in the beer. Most modern beer is brewed with hops, which add bitterness and other flavours and act as a natural preservative and stabilising agent. Other flavouring agents, such as gruit, herbs, or fruits, may be included or used instead of hops. In commercial brewing, natural carbonation is often replaced with forced carbonation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campaign for Real Ale</span> British consumer organisation

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is an independent voluntary consumer organisation headquartered in St Albans, England, which promotes real ale, cider and perry and traditional British pubs and clubs. With just under 150,000 members, it is the largest single-issue consumer group in the UK, and is a founding member of the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real ale</span> Traditionally made and served beer

Real ale is the name coined by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for beer that is "brewed from traditional ingredients, matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed, and served without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marston's Brewery</span> British pub and hotel chain

Marston's plc is a British pub and hotel operator. Founded by John Marston in 1834, it is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Marston's disposed of its brewing operations in 2020, selling the assets to a newly formed joint venture with the Carlsberg Group to create the Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC), in which Marston's plc holds a 40% share.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craft beer</span> Brewery that produces small amounts of beer

Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer, than larger "macro" breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, new flavours, and varied brewing techniques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuller's Brewery</span> Brewery in Chiswick, west London, England

Fuller's Brewery in Chiswick, west London, England, is the former brewing division of Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC. It was a family-run business from its foundation in 1845 until 2019, when it was sold to the Japanese international beverage giant Asahi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beer in England</span> Beer in England

Beer has been brewed in England for thousands of years. As a beer brewing country, it is known for top fermented cask beer which finishes maturing in the cellar of the pub rather than at the brewery and is served with only natural carbonation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beer in Wales</span> Overview of the beer industry in Wales

Beer in Wales can be traced to the 6th century. Since the 2000s, there has been a growing microbrewery industry in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy Taylor Brewery</span> Brewery in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England

Timothy Taylor's is a family-owned regional brewery, founded in 1858 by Timothy Taylor, in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England. Timothy Taylor's moved to larger premises in 1863 at Knowle Spring in Keighley, where they remain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McMullen's Brewery</span> Brewery in Hertfordshire, England

McMullen's, known locally as Mac's, is a regional brewery founded in 1827 in Hertford, England, the United Kingdom. The brewery expanded during the second half of the 19th century by purchasing other breweries and their associated pubs. In 1902 it was the second largest brewery in Hertfordshire. The brewery has occupied several different sites in Hertford and moved to its current location in 1891. There have been several breweries on this site and the current one opened in 2006. As of 2021, members of the 6th generation of the McMullen family are still involved with the business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stones Bitter</span> Beer manufactured by Molson Coors

Stones Bitter is a beer manufactured and distributed in the United Kingdom by the North American brewer Molson Coors. It is a bitter with a straw-golden hue. Stones Bitter was first brewed in 1948 by William Stones Ltd at the Cannon Brewery in Sheffield. It was designed for the local steelworkers and became successful in its local area, becoming one of Sheffield's best known products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennings Brewery</span> Brewery in Cumbria, England

Jennings Brewery was established as a family concern in 1828 in the village of Lorton, between Buttermere and Cockermouth in the Lake District, England. The brewery was started by John Jennings Snr, son of William Jennings. Jennings brewed exclusively in Lorton until 1874 when its present home, the Castle Brewery in Cockermouth, was purchased. The Lorton brewery closed some five years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worthington Brewery</span> British brewery founded in 1761

Worthington Brewery, also known as Worthington & Co. and Worthington's, is a British brewer founded by William Worthington in Burton upon Trent in 1761. It is the third oldest continuously brewed British beer brand, after Shepherde Neame and Whitbread. The best known Worthington beers are its Creamflow nitrokeg bitter and White Shield India Pale Ale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetley's Brewery</span> Brewery in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Tetley's Brewery(Joshua Tetley & Son Ltd) was an English regional brewery founded in 1822 by Joshua Tetley in Hunslet, now a suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The beer was originally produced at the Leeds Brewery, which was later renamed the Leeds Tetley Brewery to avoid confusion with a microbrewery of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camerons Brewery</span> Brewery established in County Durham, England

Camerons Brewery is an English brewery established by John William Cameron in Stranton, Hartlepool, County Durham, in 1865. It is the largest independent brewer in the North East of England, with a brewery capacity of 1.5 million hectolitres and a tied estate of 75 houses. It is one of the oldest industrial concerns in Hartlepool, and has historically been one of the largest employers.

Blue Monkey Brewery is a 20 barrel microbrewery located on the border of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Founded in Ilkeston in 2008, the company doubled its capacity and moved to Giltbrook in 2010. It produces beers, including Ape Ale and Guerrilla Porter. It currently has four outlets; The Organ Grinder Nottingham, The Organ Grinder Loughborough, The Organ Grinder Newark and The Coffee Grinder Arnold

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theakston Brewery</span> Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire, England

T&R Theakston is a brewery in the market town of Masham, North Yorkshire, England. The company is the sixteenth largest brewer in the UK by market share, and the second largest brewer under family ownership after Shepherd Neame. Its best known beer is Old Peculier.

The food and drink industry of Wales is the sector of the Welsh economy consisting of food and soft drink companies as well as distilleries and breweries in Wales. The food and drink sector is classed as a priority economic sector in Wales. It involves 170,000 people that contribute to gross sales of £17.3 billion.

References

  1. ↑ Insider.co.uk. Punk IPA remains a winner for BrewDog. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Brown, Pete. "The Cask Report 2014-15" (PDF). Cask Marque. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Barth Report 2012/13" (PDF). Joh. Barth & Sohn GmbH. July 2014. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Capper, Alison (November 2014). "A Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Report" (PDF). Nuffield UK. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 Cabras, Ignazio (March 2015). "British Beer" (PDF). SIBA. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Brown, Pete (2004). Man walks into a pub : a sociable history of beer (2nd ed.). London: Pan. p. 140. ISBN   9780330412209.
  7. 1 2 Capper, Alison (November 2014). "A Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Report" (PDF). Nuffield UK. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  8. ↑ Capper, Alison (November 2014). "A Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Report" (PDF). Nuffield UK. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Bing" (PDF). Wlancscamra.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Beer in the United Kingdom". www.euromonitor.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  11. ↑ "CAMRA Press Release issued 10th September". CAMRA. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Micropubs leading the way for better beer as new research shows 70% of pubs now serve real ale". CAMRA. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Excise Notice 226: Beer Duty". gov.uk.
  14. ↑ "Number of UK breweries rises as craft beer shows no signs of going flat". The Guardian. 3 October 2016.
  15. ↑ Speed, Madeleine (6 January 2024). "UK's alcohol-free beer". ft.com. Financial Times . Retrieved 16 April 2024. Lucky Saint says it is not reliant on teetotallers
  16. 1 2 3 Burnett, Proffessor John; Burnett, John (2012). Liquid Pleasures: A Social History of Drinks in Modern Britain. doi:10.4324/9780203019856. ISBN   9780203019856.
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