Carling Black Label Review (UK Return 2026)

Carling Black Label is back. That’s not something I thought I’d be writing in 2026.

Reintroduced in February 2026 by Molson Coors, it arrives with what looks like a more premium feel, a cleaner design, and what I can only assume is a recipe tweak aimed at modern tastes. The ABV now sits at 4.7%, which I believe is slightly higher than the older UK version (athought never really a lager drinker I don't really remember it!), but it is still a step up from standard Carling (Carling Original).

For anyone that remembers it first time round, this was a big deal back in the 1980s. Properly big. The “I bet he drinks Carling Black Label” adverts were everywhere, and for a while it felt like the default lager for a huge chunk of the UK. Then it slowly faded away, and by 1997 it was gone.

So seeing it back on shelves again (although it took a little tracking down, and I finally found it in a local convenience store) … it felt more nostalgic than exciting, if I’m honest.

Now, I’ll be straight with you. I’m not a fan of Carling Original. Never have been. I’ve always found it thin, a bit lifeless, and very much a “drink it cold and don’t think about it” sort of lager. That view extends to quite a few of the UK supermarket lagers from Molson Coors too.

My Carling Black Label review on YouTube. 

So expectations here were low.  But then I poured it.

And straight away, it looked different. Darker in the glass than standard Carling (and most other 'cheap' supermarket lagers), with a deeper golden tone that hinted at something a bit more malt-forward. The head held well enough, and overall it just looked … better.

On the taste, that carried through.

There’s still that crisp, refreshing edge you expect from a lager like this, but it’s backed up with a bit more substance. A slightly fuller body, a noticeable malt presence, and an earthy bitterness that gives it a bit of backbone.

It doesn’t feel thin. It doesn’t feel rushed. It actually feels like there’s been some effort put into making this stand apart from its 4% sibling.

That was the surprise for me.

It’s not trying to reinvent lager, and it’s not suddenly competing with craft pilsners, but it is a clear step up from what I expected. For a brand I’ve been fairly critical of in the past, this feels like a shift in the right direction.

Just to clear up one thing I’ve seen floating about… this isn’t just Madri in a different coat. I’ve done a side-by-side, and they’re not the same beer. Check it out on YouTube.

All in, this landed better than I thought it would.

Score: 6/10

A surprisingly solid lager. Still very much in the “easy drinking” camp, but with enough body and bitterness to make it worth your time.

The Verdict

I went in expecting very little and came out fairly impressed. It won’t win over people who already dislike Carling, but if you’re after a simple lager with a bit more going on, this is worth a look.