Average pint of cask ale hits £4.91, as top brands break the £5 barrier in fresh blow to pubgoers

THE average price of a pint of cask ale has hit a whopping £4.91, according to new analysis. A survey conducted by The Morning Advertiser found some of the nation’s favourite ales have rocketed up in price in the past year. In a major blow to drinkers, some cask ales have now passed the £5 mark. Timothy Taylor’s Landlord is the most expensive at £5.42, a rise of 30p over the last 12 months. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! This will be a particular concern to beer fans as it’s the best-selling cask ale in UK bars and pubs. London Pride is cheaper at £5.22 but has seen a huge rise of 40p. The only other cask brand to hit over £5 on average was Tribute Pale Ale at £5.07. It’s had the biggest rise in price over the past year, at a massive 48p. Pedigree and Hobgoblin are now at £4.98 on average, although the former has actually dropped in price by 18p. Hobgoblin has increased by 41p. Most read in Money Abbott Ale costs £4.93 on average, while Doom Bar is at £4.77. A pint of Greene King IPA is now £4.26, a decrease of 10p. The cheapest cask ale is Wainwright, which at £4.57 has fallen in price by 18p. The average price of a pint of draught beer has also increased in the last year. It’s now at £5.34, up by 17p, according to information submitted by pub operators. Beer prices have been rising in pubs and bars as businesses have been dealing with rising costs. Many have been hit by increases to employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage, as well as beer duty taxes. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham this week announced support for pubs by offering them a 20% discount on business rates from next year. Comment now