Best craft beer 2023: The tastiest craft beers in the UK
Why drink generic, corporate lager when you could be enjoying the best craft beers brewed in the UK today?
The best craft beers can add a real touch of class to your beer shelf, not to mention heaps of flavour. While you may love nothing more than cracking open a cold Budweiser on a sunny afternoon, it’s actually a wasted opportunity to try something more original and potentially more delicious. Craft beers come in all varieties, so whether you like lagers, porters or traditional ales, the UK’s finest craft breweries are here to quench your thirst. And by drinking craft beer, you’ll often be supporting the work of a small, hard-working business, rather than the international conglomerates that run most of the alcohol trade.
Admittedly, the craft beer scene can seem a little much at first, with all those fanciful names and cans covered in outlandish artwork. And yes, some people can be snobbish about craft beer, but don’t let that put you off – craft beer is for everyone. You don’t have to know which hop varieties were used in the latest collaboration between two Kickstarted micro-breweries to enjoy a good beer. You can just try new things and see what you like.
If you don’t know where to start or are simply looking for a change from your usual tipples, we’re here to help with this selection of delicious UK beers. There are plenty to be cracking on with, from standard IPAs to coffee-infused porters and non-alcoholic beverages. Before our product roundup, you’ll find a quick buying guide that should answer any questions you might have about craft beer. And of course, please remember to drink responsibly.
Best craft beer: At a glance
- Best IPA: Thornbridge Jaipur
- Best red ale: Tiny Rebel Cwtch
- Best craft lager: Lost and Grounded Keller Pils
- Best alcohol-free IPA: Beavertown Lazer Crush
How to choose the best craft beer for you
What qualifies as a craft beer?
In the UK, there’s still no official definition for “craft” brewing. However, based on the criteria laid out by the Brewer’s Association in America, we can build a loose framework for classifying craft beers made in the UK. First of all, a craft brewery needs to be mostly independent. That means that a multi-national alcohol company should not own a significant share of the company – say 25% or more.
That leads to the second point, which is around distribution. Small breweries don’t have access to the large-scale brewing facilities or advanced supply mechanisms used by global corporations, so the amount of beer they can produce is comparatively small and it isn’t sold in as many places. If you can find it in supermarkets all over the world, it probably isn’t a craft beer. There are some exceptions, like Scottish “punk” brewer BrewDog, but not many.
Does craft beer taste any different?
In terms of the beer itself, there are a few hallmarks that tend to set craft beers apart from corporate brews. One is the use of traditional ingredients, such as malted barley, but you’ll also find that many craft beers use experimental ingredients, giving them unique flavour profiles. Citrus fruits feature heavily in craft IPAs and pale ales, while darker craft beers (porters and stouts) often include soya, lactose and even certain nuts.
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Is craft beer more expensive than regular beer?
As mentioned, craft brewers don’t benefit from the scale of production and global distribution networks employed by multinational brewing corporations, so they can’t sell beer as cheaply. However, beer lovers tend not to mind because they know they are paying for a quality product and understand the extra effort that’s gone into making and shipping it.
Is craft beer suitable for vegans?
Many craft beers are suitable for people following a vegan diet, and plenty come with a Vegan Society certification on the bottle or can. Bigger alcohol companies like to use filtration and fining aids such as isinglass or gelatine for beer production, meaning they aren’t suitable for vegans or even vegetarians. Craft brewers tend not to rely on these animal-based ingredients, so the beer they produce is often naturally vegan.
But you still need to check labels. Many craft beers, particularly stouts and porters, contain lactose to achieve a silky mouth-feel. Happily, some breweries, such as Moor Beer Company, make 100% vegan-friendly beer, so if you’re vegan you can safely crack open one of their cans without having to read the small print.
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The best craft beer to buy in 2023
1. Thornbridge Jaipur: The best standard craft IPA
Price: £23 (12pk) | Buy now from Thornbridge Brewery
Though its beers are now distributed in over 30 countries around the world, the Derbyshire-based Thornbridge Brewery remains proudly independent, and still produces all of its beer at its founding location in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Jaipur is still its best-known beer, and it’s the perfect introduction to Thornbirdge’s impressive, award-laden range.
Key details – Size: 330ml; ABV: 5.9%; Country of origin: UK; Suitable for vegans: No
2. BrewDog Elvis Juice: The best grapefruit craft IPA
Price: £18 (12pk) | Buy now from Brewdog
But just how independent is BrewDog these days? Having sold 22% of its company to TSG Consumer Partners (owners of Pabst), the Scottish brewer is no longer the independent craft brewery it once was. That said, it’s still majority-owned by the founders, board members and members of the general public, known as “Equity Punks”. For now, it still counts as craft.
Key details – Size: 330ml; ABV: 6.5%; Country of origin: UK; Suitable for vegans: Yes
3. Tiny Rebel Cwtch: The best red ale
Price: £39 (24pk) | Buy now from ClickNDrink
Founded in 2012 by brothers-in-law Bradley Cummings and Gareth Williams and originally operating out of a garage, Tiny Rebel has gone from strength to strength since its inception. And despite its astounding growth and awards success, it remains the smallest microbrew operation covered on this list.
Key details – Size: 330ml; ABV: 4.6%; Country of origin: UK; Suitable for vegans: Yes
4. Beavertown Lazer Crush: Best alcohol-free IPA
Price: £1.60 (per can) | Buy now from Sainsburys
A common misconception with alcohol-free beer is that lack of alcohol results in a lack of flavour. Beavertown’s Lazer Crush is a great example of why this simply isn’t the case. Using three types of hops, this NA beer is chock full of flavour. The deep hoppiness is balanced wonderfully by the sweet notes of peach, orange and mango, while the hints of earthy pine and bitter grapefruit round it all off and ensure the beer doesn’t become sickly sweet.
Beavertown was launched in 2011 by Logan Plant, the son of legendary Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. Since then, the brewer has been making mostly IPAs, with some limited edition seasonal beers thrown in for good measure. In June 2019, it lost a sizeable chunk of its independence when Heineken bought a 49.5% stake in the company. That being said, Logan and his wife Bridget still own 50.8% of the company between them; let’s hope they retain the majority going forward.
Key details - Size: 330ml; ABV: 0.3%; Country of origin: UK; Suitable for vegans: Yes
5. Lost and Grounded Keller Pils: Best craft lager
Price: £2.80 (per can) | Buy now from Waitrose
Founded in Bristol in 2016 by Alex Troncosco and Annie Clements, Lost and Grounded has wasted no time in laying down its mark in the craft beer game. Alex helped make breweries Camden Town and Little Creatures what they are today, but when the former was bought out by international beer titan AB InBev, he left to pursue his dream of owning a brewery of a more humble nature with his partner Annie.
Key details - Size: 440ml; ABV: 4.8%; Country of origin: UK; Suitable for vegans: Yes
