The full list of 39 ‘foreign’ beers that are ACTUALLY brewed in the UK – and what to drink instead

THINK you’re being cultured by ordering a Spanish or Belgian pint at the pub? Chances are it’s not “foreign” at all – and is actually brewed far closer to home than you thought. You might think you’re ordering a Spanish lager – but Madri is actually brewed in the UK Credit: Alamy Stella Artois is weaker in the UK than if you were to order a pint of it in Belgium Credit: Getty A new study by PretendPint.com has revealed that dozens of Brits’ favourite beers are purporting to be foreign but are actually made in the UK. In fact, many of these popular tipples have different recipes to those sold in their home countries – with some even being WATERED DOWN for Brits. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! According to PretendPint, which was set up specifically to uncover which beers are sold as foreign but brewed in the UK, 39 beers carry branding from another country but are made on British soil. Many of these beers have different languages or the names of foreign countries or cities on their bottles or taps as a clever marketing ploy. Madri, for instance, claims to be “El alma de Madrid” (the soul of Madrid) – but is actually brewed in Tadcaster, Yorkshire. If you think you like a Spanish beer, your pint of Cruzcampo and San Miguel has also been produced this side of Europe. If Stella Artois is more your thing, your crisp pint didn’t really come from Belgium. It’s brewed in Magor, in South Wales, by the Budweiser Brewing Group. Most read in Money And the bottle of Cobra or Kingfisher you’re washing down your curry with wasn’t imported from thousands of miles away either. Cobra is brewed at the Molson Coors brewery in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, while Kingfisher is made in Hartlepool. Birra Moretti might say “Italian passion for brewing” on its bottle, but the beer you ordered was actually brewed by Heineken in Manchester. And your Murphy’s Irish stout wasn’t brewed in Ireland at all – it was made in Tadcaster. Many foreign beers are also lower in strength here compared to if you order them in their home country. This is thanks to the UK’s beer duty system, which charges manufacturers higher rates of tax for selling drinks above 3.4% ABV. Stella Artois, for instance, is 4.6% alcohol in the UK – but 5.2% if you order the same beer in Belgium. It is completely legal to brew a foreign brand under licence in Britain, but some experts have slammed the practice as “misleading” punters. Tim Webb, chair of CAMRA’s Beer and Cider Campaigns Committee, said that drinkers are having “the wool pulled over their eyes” by big corporations. Full list - the 'foreign' beers that are actually made in the UK Cruzcampo Sevilla – Sold as Spanish | Brewed in Manchester | 4.4% ABV Cruzcampo Sevilla Orange – Sold as Spanish | Brewed in Manchester | 3.3% Madrí Excepcional – Sold as Spanish | Brewed in Tadcaster | 4.6% Madrí Excepcional 0.0% – Sold as Spanish | Brewed in Tadcaster | 0.0% San Miguel Especial – Sold as Spanish | Brewed in Magor | 5.0% Bud Light – Sold as American | Brewed in Magor | 3.4% Budweiser – Sold as American | Brewed in Magor | 4.5% Coors Lager – Sold as American | Brewed in Burton upon Trent | 3.4% Shipyard American Pale Ale – Sold as American | Brewed in Burton upon Trent | 4.5% Stella Artois – Sold as Belgian | Brewed in Magor | 4.6% Stella Artois 0.0 – Sold as Belgian | Brewed in Magor | 0.0% Stella Artois Unfiltered – Sold as Belgian | Brewed in Magor | 5.0% Carlsberg Danish Pilsner – Sold as Danish | Brewed in Northampton | 3.4% Carlsberg Expørt – Sold as Danish | Brewed in Northampton | 4.8% Carlsberg Special Brew – Sold as Danish | Brewed in Northampton | 7.5% ABV Birra Moretti L’Autentica – Sold as Italian | Brewed in Manchester | 4.6% Birra Moretti Sale di Mare – Sold as Italian | Brewed in Manchester | 4.8% Birrificio Angelo Poretti 4 Luppoli – Sold as Italian | Brewed in Northampton | 4.8% Corona Cero – Sold as Mexican | Brewed in Magor | 0.0% Corona Extra – Sold as Mexican | Brewed in Magor | 4.5% Sol – Sold as Mexican | Brewed in Britain | 3.4% Pravha – Sold as Czech | Brewed in Burton upon Trent | 4.0% Staropramen Premium Czech Lager – Sold as Czech | Brewed in Burton upon Trent | 5.0% Kronenbourg 1664 – Sold as French | Brewed in Northampton | 4.6% Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc – Sold as French | Brewed in Northampton | 5.0% Beck’s – Sold as German | Brewed in Magor | 4.0% Holsten Pils – Sold as German | Brewed in Northampton | 5.0% Cobra Premium – Sold as Indian | Brewed in Burton upon Trent | 4.5% Kingfisher Premium Lager – Sold as Indian | Brewed in Hartlepool | 4.5% Caffrey’s Irish Ale – Sold as Irish | Brewed in Tadcaster | 3.8% Murphy’s Irish Stout – Sold as Irish | Brewed in Tadcaster | 4.0% Foster’s – Sold as Australian | Brewed in Manchester | 3.4% Mythos – Sold as Greek | Brewed in Northampton | 4.6% Red Stripe – Sold as Jamaican | Brewed in Manchester | 4.7% Kirin Ichiban – Sold as Japanese | Brewed in Bedford | 4.6% Skol – Sold as Scandinavian | Brewed in Northampton | 2.8% Tiger – Sold as Singaporean | Brewed in Britain | 4.8% Singha – Sold as Thai | Brewed in Faversham | 4.8% Efes Pilsener – Sold as Turkish | Brewed in Ashford | 5.0% What to drink instead Peroni is one of most popular authentic beer options – it’s imported from Italy and sold at 5.1% in the UK Credit: AFP If you’re looking for a genuine foreign beer, here’s what to order instead the next time you’re at the pub. The experts at PretendPint have also put together a list of the beers that are actually imported – and are the same strength as in their home country. Some of them may be a bit harder to find – but you’ll know you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for. Peroni is one of most popular authentic beer options – it’s imported from Italy and sold at 5.1% in the UK. If you want a true Belgian beer, try Hoegaarden – it’s imported straight from Belgium and sold at 4.9%. Erdinger comes directly from Germany, and is 5.3% ABV. For a slightly more exotic choice, Chang (5% ABV) is imported from Thailand, while Tsingtao comes all the way from China at 4.7%. A spokesperson for AB InBev, which makes Stella Artois and Budweiser, said: “Our beer portfolio includes a wide range of internationally renowned brands, each with its own authentic heritage, rooted in the recipes and brewing traditions of its home country. “We proudly brew Stella Artois and Budweiser locally in the UK, following the same globally recognised quality standards, while working with local farmers and suppliers, supporting skilled jobs, and contributing to local communities and the wider economy.” The rest of the beer producers were contacted for comment. Comment now