From Birra Moretti to Madri and Corona – where your ‘foreign’ beer was REALLY brewed revealed

BETWEEN heatwaves and World Cup matches, this summer has seen a few million pints put away. That includes a whopping six million sold in the UK during the England vs Mexico game alone, according to the British Beer and Pub Association. This summer has seen a few million pints put away amid a combination of heatwaves and the World Cup Credit: Getty The Campaign For Real Ale have highlighted how many ‘foreign’ lagers are actually brewed closer to home Credit: Getty The line-up of lagers found in our pubs often purport to be brewed abroad in countries such as Belgium. But a new report from the Campaign For Real Ale has revealed most of these tipples are produced a lot closer to home. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! “We have seen the larger brewers mislead consumers by suggesting a lager is imported when it is UK-brewed, or that a beer is brewed locally when it comes from somewhere else entirely,’ says Tim Webb, chair of Camra’s Beer and Cider Campaigns Committee. “Consumers wanting a local brew have the wool pulled over their eyes by brands made by one of the big corporations.” Join us as we look at some of the surprising and not-so-sunny places our favourite beers are produced… ESTRELLA DAMM Soaring demand for Spanish beer Estrella Damm led to a brewery manufacturing it in Bedford Credit: Supplied THIS Catalan thirst-quencher was brewed in its country of origin for a long time, but soaring demand in the UK has meant that since spring 2024 the Damm Company has been brewing it in Bedford – before spending £70million to expand production at its UK brewery site even more. BIRRA MORETTI Italian tipple Birra Moretti is now brewed in Manchester along with other foreign favourites Credit: Supplied THERE’S nothing like the taste of Italy, especially when it’s brewed under the sunny skies of Moss Side in ­Manchester, at Heineken’s massive UK brewery. The site also produces the Spanish lager Cruzcampo, Dutch tipple Heineken and Australian lager Foster’s. Most read in Money MADRI Spanish lager Madri is actually brewed in the county of Yorkshire Credit: Supplied IT claims to have “the soul of Madrid” but Madri is brewed in Tadcaster, Yorkshire. Its Spanish identity is a marketing trick by owners Molson Coors. We love it anyway, proving manager Sam Allardyce was right to once wish his surname was Allardici so he’d receive praise like his Euro counterparts. STELLA ARTOIS Popular Belgian beer Stella Artois is nowadays brewed in South Wales Credit: Supplied BELGIAN favourite Stella Artois makes its way into English pubs by crossing the Channel – the Bristol Channel, that is, because it’s actually brewed in Magor, South Wales, by the Budweiser Brewing Group who, in turn, are owned by giant AB InBev – the largest beer producer in the world. COBRA Indian beer Cobra now has roots in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire Credit: Supplied CLASSIC companion to an Indian meal this may be, but Cobra is brewed in the Staffordshire town of Burton-on-Trent. Originally made in Bangalore, India, rising import costs prompted the move to the UK and in 2024 it was swallowed up by brewing giant Molson Coors. CORONA Corona’s origins are in Mexico City – but it is now brewed in Wales Credit: Supplied CORONA was first brewed in 1925 in Mexico City – and years later Mexican artist Eduardo Catano designed the logo with the famous crown. Nowadays that refreshing taste of Mexico starts life in Magor, South Wales – and, just like Stella Artois, it is owned here by global drinks giant AB InBev. Comment now