Good Beers You Can Buy in UK Supermarkets

If you spend any time talking about beer online, you’d be forgiven for thinking that supermarket beer is something to avoid at all costs. Old stock, tired flavours, big brands trading on name rather than taste. And yes, some of that criticism is fair.

But the idea that you can’t buy genuinely good beer in UK supermarkets just isn’t true anymore. You might not find the freshest limited releases or small-batch experiments, but you can find well-made, enjoyable beer that’s worth your money, if you know what you’re looking for.

This page isn’t about chasing hype or pretending every supermarket shelf is full of hidden gems. It’s about cutting through the noise and highlighting good beer you can actually buy, without having to hunt down bottle shops or pay specialist prices.

I buy all of these beers myself, drink them properly, and write honestly about what’s in the glass. Some are classics, some are newer arrivals, and some are just reliable favourites that do their job well. Not everything here is perfect, but everything here earns its place.

What does “good” supermarket beer actually mean?

Good supermarket beer isn’t about chasing extremes. It’s not about the highest ABV, the loudest hops, or the most eye-catching can artwork. More often than not, it’s about balance, consistency, and drinkability.

When I’m judging beer from a supermarket, I’m looking for a few simple things. Does it taste fresh? Is it well put together from first sip to last? Does it feel like someone cared about how the whole pint tastes and feels, not just the headline flavour?

Value matters too. I never expect a £3 beer doesn’t need to taste like a £6 bottle-shop release, but it should feel like you got your money’s worth. Likewise, a more expensive supermarket beer should justify the price with depth, flavour, and/or sheer enjoyability.

Most importantly, good supermarket beer is beer you’d happily buy again and again. Not because it was interesting once, but because it actually delivers when you’re stood in front of the fridge deciding what to drink.

What to avoid when buying beer in UK supermarkets

Knowing what to buy is only half the battle. Knowing what to be cautious of can save you just as much money, and disappointment.

The biggest issue with supermarket beer is age. Some styles cope well with sitting on a shelf, others really don’t. Hop-forward beers, especially IPAs and pale ales, can fade quickly. If there’s no date, or the beer looks like it’s been around a while, it’s often best left behind.

Another trap is hype-led branding. Loud cans, big promises, and trendy language don’t guarantee what’s inside is any good. Some beers are designed to look exciting rather than drink well, and you can usually tell when flavour has taken a back seat to marketing.

It’s also worth being wary of styles that don’t travel well at supermarket scale. Heavily fruited beers, delicate lagers, and experimental styles can lose their edge when freshness isn’t guaranteed. That doesn’t mean they’re always bad, but they’re higher risk than more robust styles.

Finally, and I've kinda hinted at this already, but don’t assume higher price beer automatically means better. As you will see below, some of the most enjoyable (IMHO) supermarket beers are mid-priced (or downright cheap!) and quietly consistent. A sensible, well-made pint will always beat something expensive that’s trying too hard.

Good beer you can buy in UK supermarkets

Availability varies by store and region, and prices change over time. I’ve included where I typically see each one, so you’ve got a fighting chance of actually finding them, and the price is todays price.

Aldi Specially Selected Coffee Stout

A really good example of what supermarkets can get right is Aldi’s Specially Selected Coffee Stout. It’s one of those beers that doesn’t shout about itself, but quietly delivers when you pour it into a glass.

I rememebr when I first reviewed this, I think I'd had a few really bad beers from Aldi and I couldn't believe the delicious flavours I was getting, I put the review live expecting to be shot down in flames but everyone else seemed to like it too. 

Taste wise, it’s smooth and surprisingly full-bodied for a 5.2% stout. The coffee flavour is bold but well judged, backed up by roasted bitterness and a touch of caramel sweetness that keeps it balanced. The finish is warming and lightly bitter, making it the sort of beer you sip rather than rush.

At around £1.79 for a 500ml bottle, it’s excellent value. You could easily pay twice that for something similar in a bottle shop, and not necessarily get a better beer. It’s a great example of a supermarket stout that feels considered, well made, and genuinely enjoyable. See review on my YouTube Channel.

Northern Monk Eternal Session IPA

Northern Monk are one of those breweries I tend to trust (OK, they can have a few bad novelty beers), and Eternal Session IPA is a good example of why I trust them. It proves you don’t need a big ABV to get plenty of flavour, and at 4.1% it’s a beer you can happily drink more than one of without feeling like you’ve overdone it.

The aroma leans tropical, with citrus and a touch of pine, but it’s not over the top. In the glass, it drinks light and soft, with orange and grapefruit coming through clearly on the palate. There’s enough bitterness to keep it feeling like an IPA, but it finishes clean and refreshing rather than sharp.

I usually pick this up in Tesco, where it’s around £1.25 a can (£5 for a four-pack). At that price it’s very easy to justify buying regularly. It’s not trying to reinvent anything, it’s just a well-made, reliable session IPA that shows how good modern British brewing can be when it keeps things simple. See review on my YouTube Channel.

Badger Fursty Ferret

Fursty Ferret from Badger is one of those beers that always seems to catch my eye when I’m scanning supermarket shelves. Partly it’s the name, but mostly it’s because it feels reassuringly traditional. This is a proper British amber ale that doesn’t try to dress itself up as anything else.

In the glass, it pours a clear, rich amber colour, and the flavour leans firmly into malt. I get plenty of biscuity sweetness from the dark crystal malts, which gives it that classic, moreish feel. It’s not cloying though. A gentle floral hop note, with a hint of lemony freshness, cuts through nicely and keeps it balanced.

At 4.4% ABV it’s substantial without being heavy, and it’s the sort of beer that works just as well on a quiet evening as it does alongside food. I usually see it around £2.30 a bottle, and it often turns up in multi-buy deals at Tesco or Asda. It earns its place because it’s reliable, easy to enjoy, and a good reminder of how well British breweries still do this style. See review on my YouTube Channel.

Old Speckled Hen

When I’m in the mood for something classic and dependable (which I am often), Old Speckled Hen is one of those beers I still reach for. It’s a real fixture of the British supermarket shelves, instantly recognisable in its clear bottle with that deep auburn colour that already tells you what sort of beer you’re in for.

On the nose it’s all toffee and gentle fruit, sometimes edging towards pear drops. In the mouth it’s smooth and malty, with a richness that feels a little bigger than its 4.8% ABV suggests. The sweetness is nicely balanced by a very soft herbal bitterness, which keeps it from ever becoming heavy or cloying.

I usually see it priced around £2.25 a bottle in most supermarkets, and it earns its place by being reliably good every time. It’s the sort of beer I’ll pick up when I want something warming and familiar, especially with food. If I’m after something a bit bolder, I’ll sometimes go for Old Crafty Hen instead, but the original Speckled Hen remains a solid, easy choice that consistently delivers. See review on my YouTube Channel.

ASDA Collab Collection West Coast Double IPA (with Harbour Brewing)

ASDA’s innovative Collab Collection has thrown up a few interesting beers, but the standout for me is their West Coast Double IPA brewed with Harbour Brewing. Harbour are one of those breweries I generally trust, known for clean, precise beers, and this feels far closer to a taproom release than something you’d expect to find in the middle of a supermarket aisle.

At 8% ABV, this is a proper West Coast DIPA that doesn’t pull its punches. It pours a deep, clear amber and smells exactly as it should, resinous pine, grapefruit, and a touch of tangerine. In the mouth, the bitterness is front and centre, driven by the Chinook and Simcoe hops, with a solid malt backbone that keeps everything balanced and stops the alcohol from taking over.

Priced currently at £3.04 (I don't know why they settled on this price either!)for a 440ml can in ASDA, and it often turns up in their multi-buy deals, which makes it very good value for the style. It earns its place because it doesn’t compromise on strength or bitterness, and it’s one of the few supermarket Double IPAs that genuinely delivers that old-school West Coast character. See review on my YouTube Channel.

What about lager?

Lager drinkers aren’t short of choice in UK supermarkets anymore, and while a lot of it is still fairly anonymous and should be avoided, there are some genuinely decent options if you’re after something clean and well made.

Spaten is a good example of a classic German lager done properly. Usually found in Morrisons, it’s crisp, malty, and balanced, with none of the sweetness or blandness that plagues a lot of mainstream lagers. It’s straightforward, but that’s exactly the point.

At the other end of the scale, Königsgold Lager from Home Bargains regularly punches above its price. It’s simple, clean, and very easy to drink, and while it’s not going to convert anyone to craft beer, it’s a solid option if you just want a no-nonsense lager that doesn’t taste thin or watery.

If lager is your default choice, it’s worth looking beyond the biggest brands. Supermarkets are slowly getting better at stocking lagers with a bit more character, and the difference is noticeable.

How to choose a good supermarket beer based on what you like

If you already know roughly what you enjoy, choosing a decent beer in the supermarket becomes much easier. You don’t need to memorise styles or chase whatever happens to be trending. A few simple preferences will usually point you in the right direction.

If you like lighter, easy-drinking beers, look for session IPAs, pale ales, or well-made lagers around the 4–4.5% mark. These tend to focus on balance and refreshment, and when they’re done well, they’re hard to beat for regular drinking.

If you prefer maltier, more traditional flavours, amber ales, bitters, and classic British ales are often a safer bet than modern hop-heavy beers. They’re usually built around biscuit, toffee, and caramel notes, and they hold up well on supermarket shelves.

For darker beer fans, stouts and porters are generally more forgiving of age and storage. Roasted malt flavours like coffee, chocolate, and cocoa travel well, which is why supermarkets often do this style better than expected.

If you like bold, bitter beers, don’t be afraid of stronger IPAs and Double IPAs, but treat them with a bit more care. Check dates where possible, and expect to pay a little more. When they’re fresh and well made, they can be some of the most satisfying beers you’ll find in a supermarket.

Above all, don’t overthink it. Good supermarket beer isn’t about finding perfection, it’s about finding something you’ll actually enjoy drinking. Once you know what you like, the shelves start to make a lot more sense.

Final thoughts

Good beer in UK supermarkets does exist, but it rewards a bit of attention. You don’t need to chase trends, spend a fortune, or memorise styles. You just need to know roughly what you enjoy and be willing to look past the loudest cans on the shelf.

All of the beers on this page are ones I’ve bought, drunk, and gone back to. Some are bold, some are traditional, and some are just solid, dependable choices that make everyday drinking more enjoyable.

This site is supported by advertising so I can keep writing independent, unsponsored reviews without paywalls or pressure to promote specific brands. If something earns its place here, it’s because it deserves it.

If you want more detail on any of these beers, I’ve reviewed them all more fully elsewhere on the site and on my YouTube channel. Otherwise, treat this as a starting point, a way to make better choices the next time you’re stood in front of the fridge wondering what to pick.