From smooth bitters to hop-forward IPAs, the UK’s shelves are still packed with quality. So here’s my* pick of 10 great British beers you can find in most supermarkets (not in any particular order); each one a fine example of our brewing heritage or modern innovation at its best.
* These aren't going to be everyone cup of tea, I realise that, but it is my take on whats good, and readily available in British supermarkets today; do you agree or disagree, let me know in the commenst section.
1. Fuller’s London Pride
ABV: 4.1%
Typical Price: £2.00–£2.50 per 500ml bottle
A true classic. Fuller’s London Pride is as much a part of British beer history as a Sunday roast or a rainy bank holiday. Brewed in Chiswick since the 1950s, it’s a wonderfully balanced ale, with a gentle malt sweetness and a soft bitterness that just hums with tradition.
It’s the kind of beer that never shouts but always satisfies. There’s caramel, a hint of biscuit, and that slightly earthy hop finish that just makes you smile. It’s reliable, familiar, and proudly British in every way.
2. Timothy Taylor’s Landlord
ABV: 4.3%
Typical Price: £2.00–£2.30 per 500ml bottle
Now we’re talking Yorkshire. Timothy Taylor’s Landlord is one of those beers that has earned genuine respect from brewers and drinkers alike. Brewed in Keighley, it’s been around since the 1950s and still tastes like quality craftsmanship in a bottle.
It’s a pale ale that sits somewhere between the classic bitter and modern session ale; rich in malt character but balanced by that famous English hop aroma. There’s a reason it’s won more awards than most politicians have excuses. The balance of sweetness, bitterness, and floral hops is spot on.
If you’ve never had a Landlord on cask, do yourself a favour and try it; but even in bottle form, it’s a slice of Yorkshire brewing perfection.
Sidenote: Now, I personally prefer their Knowle Spring, but the availability just isn’t good enough to justify putting it on this list. If you’ve never had it, do yourself another favour and give it a try!
3. Theakston’s Old Peculier
ABV: 5.6%
Typical Price: £2.20–£2.80 per 500ml bottle
This is a beer with real character. Brewed in Masham, North Yorkshire, Old Peculier has been warming souls for generations. It’s dark, strong, and full of charm; the sort of beer you can sit with all evening while the wind howls outside.
You get deep malty sweetness, a touch of treacle, and that rich fruitiness that feels like Christmas pudding in a pint glass. Despite its strength, it’s smooth and rounded, and somehow still goes down far too easily.
It’s old-fashioned in the best possible way; a reminder that not all great British beers need to chase trends. Some just need to be exactly what they’ve always been.
4. St Austell Proper Job
ABV: 5.5%
Typical Price: £2.00–£2.50 per 500ml bottle
Down in Cornwall, St Austell have been quietly brewing brilliance for years, and Proper Job is their hop-forward flagship. It’s a modern take on the traditional IPA, full of citrus and pine notes, yet still distinctly British at heart.
It’s crisp, bold, and full-bodied; a proper pint, you might say. The bitterness is firm but not harsh, and it leaves that clean, refreshing finish that makes you want another. It’s a great bridge between the American-style IPA lovers and those who still want something rooted in British tradition.
Sidenote: If you are near a Lidl, they often do Proper Job for less than £2.
5. Abbot Reserve (Greene King)
ABV: 6.5%
Typical Price: £2.20–£2.70 per 500ml bottle
Now this is the grown-up sibling of the regular Abbot Ale. At 6.5%, Abbot Reserve is richer, deeper, and far more indulgent. You can almost sense the history in every sip.
It pours a deep amber with an aroma of caramel and toffee, followed by warming malt sweetness and a touch of fruitcake. There’s a comforting fullness to it, perfect for slow sipping by the fire.
Greene King may divide opinion, but Abbot Reserve shows what they can do when they get it right. It’s a proper English strong ale; no frills, no gimmicks, just flavour and tradition done well.
6. Thornbridge Jaipur
ABV: 5.9%
Typical Price: £2.50–£3.00 per 500ml bottle
When Thornbridge launched Jaipur back in 2005, it quietly changed the face of British brewing. Brewed in Bakewell, Derbyshire, this golden, hop-forward beauty helped kickstart the UK’s modern craft beer movement, long before most of us had even heard the term.
It pours a lovely amber-gold with a head that lingers like a good story. The aroma hits first; citrus, tropical fruit, and a touch of pine. Then comes the flavour, bright, punchy hops balanced by just enough malt sweetness to keep things civilised. It’s lively but refined; bold but beautifully balanced.
Jaipur’s real charm is that it manages to please everyone. For traditional ale drinkers, it’s full of body and craftsmanship. For craft beer fans, it’s got enough hop character to make your taste buds dance. There’s a reason it’s on every serious beer drinker’s list, it’s a true modern British classic.
Sidenote: Once you've tried the core Jaipur, try their other variants and see if there is another version you prefer.
7. Wainwright Gold (Marston’s)
ABV: 4.1%
Typical Price: £2.00–£2.20 per 500ml bottle
Named after the fell walker Alfred Wainwright, this golden ale celebrates exploration and the beauty of the British landscape. It’s light, refreshing, and ideal for those moments when you want a pint that feels like a walk through the hills on a sunny day.
There’s a lovely honeyed malt base and a delicate floral hop character that gives it balance. It’s not flashy, but it’s immensely drinkable; the kind of beer you could happily enjoy after a day’s graft or an afternoon ramble.
A truly underrated supermarket gem.
8. BrewDog Punk IPA
ABV: 5.4%
Typical Price: £2.20–£2.50 per 330ml can or bottle
Loath them or hate them, many of you will wonder why BrewDog is on this list! Well, credit where it’s due, Punk IPA helped introduce a whole generation to craft beer. It might not be the small independent it once was, but the beer still holds up.
Crammed with tropical fruit, citrus, and a bold bitterness, it’s punchy, modern, and full of life. It’s definitely not traditional, but it’s part of the British beer story now, whether we like it or not. And if you can find it on offer in the supermarket, it’s well worth revisiting with fresh eyes (and taste buds).
9. Northern Monk Faith
ABV: 5.4%
Typical Price: £2.50–£3.00 per 440ml can
Leeds-based Northern Monk are one of the brightest stars in the British craft scene, and Faith is a brilliant showcase of what they do best. It’s a hazy pale ale packed with tropical fruit, soft mouthfeel, and that juicy hop aroma that just makes you smile.
It’s modern Yorkshire brewing through and through; experimental yet familiar, innovative yet rooted in quality. It’s a cracking fridge beer, and it proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy something that tastes like it came fresh from a taproom.
10. Badger Fursty Ferret
ABV: 4.4%
Typical Price: £2.00–£2.30 per 500ml bottle
There’s something wonderfully British about a beer with a name like Fursty Ferret. Brewed by Hall & Woodhouse down in Dorset, it’s got that charming countryside feel from the very first sip; the sort of beer that belongs in a cosy pub garden with the smell of Sunday lunch in the air.
It’s an amber ale with a lovely balance of biscuit malt and gentle fruitiness. You’ll pick up toffee, caramel, and just a hint of marmalade, all rounded off with a soft, satisfying finish. It’s neither too heavy nor too light; just easy-going, traditional, and quietly full of flavour.
Badger beers often fly under the radar, but Fursty Ferret deserves more attention. It’s honest, dependable, and full of character, exactly what a proper British ale should be. You don’t have to think too hard about it; you just sit back, take a sip, and enjoy.
A Final Thought
There you have it; ten cracking British beers that you can pick up while doing your weekly shop. From the sturdy malt of London Pride to the tropical haze of Northern Monk Faith, this list covers the full spectrum of what makes British brewing special.
We’ve got tradition, innovation, and everything in between. And while the craft beer world often looks across the Atlantic for inspiration, there’s plenty right here at home to remind us why Britain still sets the standard when it comes to quality and character in a pint.
So next time you’re in the supermarket, don’t just reach for the familiar; try something properly British, and raise a glass to the brewers keeping our great beer traditions alive.
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