British beer
Encyclopedia
Beer in the United Kingdom has a long history, and has quite distinct traditions.
The United Kingdom has a rich history of brewing. Historically Bitters, Porters, Stouts and Milds have been the main styles brewed, rather than Lagers or Pilsners. In addition cask conditioned beer is still common, with the beer finishing its maturing in casks in the cellar of the pub rather than at the brewery.
grows. Despite an overall drop in beer sales, real ale has increased its market share . 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 Zywiec have also gained a foothold in some areas, especially amongst young Polish migrant workers.
The United Kingdom has a rich history of brewing. Historically Bitters, Porters, Stouts and Milds have been the main styles brewed, rather than Lagers or Pilsners. In addition cask conditioned beer is still common, with the beer finishing its maturing in casks in the cellar of the pub rather than at the brewery.
Economy
Production of beer in the UK faces a challenge from the rising cost of raw materials and the annual rise in Duty by the government. The regional breweries are developing contract brewing to keep up production, while the production of ale by the newer, smaller breweriesMicrobrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
grows. Despite an overall drop in beer sales, real ale has increased its market share . Brewers such as Shepherd Neame
Shepherd Neame
Shepherd Neame is an English regional brewery founded in 1698 by Richard Marsh in Faversham, Kent. It is a family owned brewery that produces a range of cask ales and filtered beers. Production is around 230,000 barrels a year...
, Greene King and Marston's
Marston's
Marston's is the colloquial name for the brewer and pub operator Marston's plc . The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
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 Zywiec have also gained a foothold in some areas, especially amongst young Polish migrant workers.
Traditional beer styles originating in the United Kingdom
- Brown AleBrown aleBrown ale is a style of beer with a dark amber or brown colour. The term was first used by London brewers in the late 17th century to describe their products, such as mild ale, though the term had a rather different meaning than it does today...
- Mild aleMild aleMild ale is a low-gravity beer, or beer with a predominantly malty palate, that originated in Britain in the 17th century or earlier. Modern mild ales are mainly dark coloured with an abv of 3% to 3.6%, though there are lighter hued examples, as well as stronger examples reaching 6% abv and...
- Pale AlePale alePale ale is a beer which uses a warm fermentation and predominantly pale malt. It is one of the world's major beer styles.The higher proportion of pale malts results in a lighter colour. The term "pale ale" was being applied around 1703 for beers made from malts dried with coke, which resulted in a...
- PorterPorter (beer)Porter is a dark-coloured style of beer. The history and development of stout and porter are intertwined. The name was first used in the 18th century from its popularity with the street and river porters of London. It is generally brewed with dark malts...