A guide to learning more about English beers

Whether you’ve travelled to the United Kingdom or visited pubs closer to home, you’ve no doubt come across English, Scottish, or Welsh beers. This guide introduces you to some of the most famous British brews while also providing insights into the UK beer market.

Figures and trends in England

Brewing in the British Isles dates back to prehistoric times. Much like the Gauls, the Celts flavoured their beers with ingredients such as chilli, rosemary, and honey. By the Middle Ages, a distinction was already made between beers (with hops) and ales (without hops).

Britain has given the world some legendary styles: porter and stout, first brewed in the 18th century; India Pale Ale (IPA), developed in Scotland between 1821 and 1840; and lagers, which began to appear at the end of the 19th century. These styles remain central to British beer culture today.

Beer is deeply woven into UK culture, evidenced by the thousands of pubs scattered across big cities and rural villages. In 2012, per capita beer consumption stood at 68.5 litres annually. Beyond statistics, beer remains a social cornerstone of British life, enjoyed both locally and abroad.

Some examples of English beers available in our online shop

Looking for authentic British craft beers? Here are a few highlights from our PerfectDraft selection:

  • Tempest Brewery (on the Scotland–England border) – Discover Long White Cloud, a pale ale brewed with hops from the US, New Zealand, and England, offering vibrant citrus aromas. For something bolder, try Marmalade On Rye, an IPA packed with tropical fruit flavours, rye, ginger, and orange zest.
  • Thornbridge Brewery – Known for innovation, Thornbridge offers Florida Weisse, a fruity sour beer with refreshing raspberry aromas.
  • Tempest Drop Kick – A non-alcoholic (0.5% ABV) sour beer with tangy, refreshing flavours. Perfect if you want to enjoy a beer without the alcohol.
  • Magic Rock Brewing (Yorkshire, founded in 2011) – Famous for hop-forward IPAs. Cannonball delivers resinous, fruity aromas balanced with malt sweetness and caramelised notes.
  • Tiny Rebel (South Wales, founded in 2012) – Fun and creative beers like Cali Pale (resinous and caramelised) and Cwtch (Welsh for “hug”), a hoppy amber ale.

Of course, the British beer scene is incredibly diverse, from roasted stouts to crisp pale ales and refreshing sours. Thanks to the detailed product pages in our shop, you can easily compare styles, aromas, alcohol content, and flavour notes to find the best English or British beer for you.

ALCOHOL ABUSE IS DANGEROUS FOR YOUR HEALTH, PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

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