Genuine Imported Beer: Sources

Where do the UK's imported beers come from? Adam Withrington explains.

North America​

• US​ - JW Dundee range, Tennessee Cream Ale (International Brands), Brooklyn Brewery beers (James Clay), Sierra Nevada (Vertical Drinks)
• Canada​ - Sleemans (Specialist Brand Development)

Central and South America​

• West Indies​ - Real Rock from Jamaica (Pierhead Purchasing), Carib from Trinidad
• Argentina​ - Quilmes (Pierhead Purchasing)
• Brazil​ - Brahma, (Interbrew UK), Marca Bravara (Halewood)
• Peru​ - Cusqueña (Chilli Marketing)
• Mexico​ - Corona (Charles Wells), Sol, Dos Equis (Ubevco). While the UK consumer's appetite for genuine imports is spread across the globe, the country which is gaining most popularity is undoubtedly Mexico. And the biggest performer last year from Mexico was Corona Extra. Indeed, as one European lager importer said to me, "2004 was the year of Corona".

Sales volumes of the brand increased last year by a staggering 105 per cent and distribution in the on-trade has doubled. When asked why Corona had such a bumper year, Angel Garcia-Gomez, head of Corona in the UK, said it was down to hard work. "We have been working the same way since 1996, improving our on-trade promotions and our above and below the line activity," he said.

But it has not just been Corona Extra's year. Brewery stablemates Modelo Especial and Pacifico Clara performed well, as did big rival Sol. The Ubevco brand saw total volume growth of 44 per cent and according to Zoe Smith, brand manager for Sol at Ubevco, the beer has grown by 217 per cent in the last five years. "There has been a real growth in interest again in light Mexican beers. They are beers that really appeal to women and we have been clever in our marketing," she said.

Northern Europe ​

• Germany​ - strict purity laws - Löwenbraü (Refresh UK), Holsten, Duckstein (Carlsberg UK), Erdinger (James Clay), Bitburger (Adnams), Paulaner (Specialist Brand Development)
• Holland​ - Heineken, Amstel (Heineken UK), Bavaria (Bavaria UK), Korenwolf (Coors)
• Czech Republic​ - Budvar (Budweiser Budvar UK), Pilsner Urquell (Ubevco) Zatec, Staropramen (Interbrew UK)
• Belgium​ - Hoegaarden, Leffe, Belle-Vue Framboise, Belle-Vue Kriek (Interbrew UK), Duvel, Vedett,
  De Koninck (James Clay), Grimbergen, Brugs (Scottish Courage), Früli, Affligem (Specialist Brand Development)
• Austria​ - Hirter (Euroboozer)
• Russia​ - Baltika (Scottish Courage)
• Lithuania​ - Kalnapilis (E Jakihauiclis)

Southern Europe​

• Spain​ - San Miguel (Scottish Courage), Cruzcampo (Specialist Brand Development), Estrella Damm (SSD Imports / Swallow Soft Drinks)
• Portugal​ - Sagres (Scottish Courage)
• Italy​ - Birra Moretti (Ubevco), Nastro Azzurro (Birra Peroni)
• Turkey​ - Efes (Tees Ltd) The brand is looking to relaunch into the on-trade in 2005 - possibly with a new bottle concept.

Africa​

• Morocco​ - Casablanca (Pierhead Purchasing)
• Namibia​ - Windhoek (Arlington Vintners)
• South Africa​ - Castle (Ubevco)

Asia​

• China​ - Shanghai (Pierhead Purchasing)
• Sri Lanka​ - Lion Dark Beer (Pierhead Purchasing)
• Japan​ - Asahi Black (Asahi Beer Europe)
• Singapore​ - Tiger (Ubevco)
• Thailand​ - Singha (Entbe Ltd)

Australia and New Zealand​

• Australia​ - Coopers Sparkling Ale (Pierhead Purchasing) Hahn Premium, (Hamana Drinks - N.B Madison Drinks are responsible for some on-trade accounts including Walkabout and all of London)
• New Zealand​ - Steinlager (Hamana Drinks - N.B Madison Drinks are responsible for some on-trade accounts including Walkabout and all of London)

Suppliers​

• Bavaria UK​ 0870 444 6842
• Birra Peroni​ 020 7483 9040
• Budweiser Budvar UK​ 020 7554 8810
• Carlsberg UK​ 08457 820 820
• Coors Brewers​ 0845 600 0888
• Euroboozer Ltd​ 01923 256 221
• Halewood International​ 0151 481 5606
• Hamana Ltd​ 01923 710 554
• Heineken UK​ 020 8879 8000
• Interbrew UK​ 0870 241 1124
• International Brands​ 0118 982 1277
• James Clay​ 01422 377 560
• Pierhead Purchasing​ 020 8320 4467
• Refresh​ 01993 890 800
• Scottish Courage​ 0845 302 3000
• Specialist Brand Development​ 01932 853 834
• SSD Imports​ 0121 415 4145
• Tees Ltd​ 020 8556 7333
• Ubevco​ 01306 880 028

Beer styles​

Belgian styles​

• Wheat beers:​ There can be little doubt that the champion of the genuine import sector has been Hoegaarden, Interbrew's all-conquering wheat beer. Typically they are pale, hazy beers, normally still containing live yeast.

Trappist ales:​ Strong ales, mainly from Belgium (although there are exceptions - the Dutch-brewed Bavaria beer for example) which are close to wine in their flavour and high in alcoholic content.

Lambic and fruit beers:​ The best known style of fruity Belgian beers are lambic beers, such as Interbrew's Belle-Vue Framboise. However, it is important to note that a Belgian fruit beer is not automatically classified as a lambic. Früli, for example, is made with real fruit juice

German Reinheitsgebot of 1516​

This is the world famous German Purity Law - the world's first food ingredients regulation. It states that only pure and essential ingredients - water, hops and malt - be used in making beer. All German beers exported to the UK will have been brewed under these strict guidelines.