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Top 10 Best English Beers

We all know the English like to drink. There are pubs on every corner – whether you’re in the middle of Derbyshire or in central London. But what are the best beers from this British land?

With the number of pubs, bars, restaurants, and corner shops that serve beer in England, it’s always a difficult task deciding what you’re in the mood for. Would you go for a hoppy IPA or stick with a traditional, dark lager? England has numerous beers with a claim to fame, creating fizzy sips and deep amber pints. Breweries are everywhere you could possibly imagine in England, with Wynchwood Brewery churning out the ever-famous Hobgoblin, and Badger Brewery creating the aptly-named Golden Champion.

England has been brewing for decades and has created a rich history of tradition, technique, and flavorful creations. Deciding the top 10 in the country will no doubt be a difficult task, and will surely upset some pub-dwellers who are sure their sacred pint will make the list. However, we have tried our best – check it out.

1) Buxton – Jacob’s Ladder

Fans of Buxton beers might have assumed we would mention one of their strong IPAs or dark stouts, but this pale ale makes the top 10 for good reason. The ample hops, coupled with some bitter notes of grapefruit, citrus, and peach, create a light and easily drinkable beer. This is the perfect choice for a long summer-drinking-day – it’s also only 2.7%, so you can easily knock back a few of these without worrying too much about making a fool out of yourself – yet, that is.

The aroma is hoppy, with citrus, no malt presence, and fresh tasting. It can be pretty bitter, but if you’re in the mood for a dry and slightly-carbonated drink, then this one’s for you. At only 2.7%, we recommend this for having a few pints during the day, or for when you want to just have a relaxed drink without getting hammered – also known as when you’re having a drink with the in-laws.

2) Buxton – Yellow Belly Peanut Butter Biscuit Stout

This is more of what Buxton is known for – dark beers with strong flavors. With aged vanilla beans and cocoa nibs, this is sure to hit that sweet spot. The aroma is characterized by chocolate, peanuts, figs, dates, bourbon, and vanilla spices. A full-bodied pour with a creamy texture, this is the epitome of the perfect pint.

The taste is very rich and can be considered a dessert beer, for chasing that steak and kidney pie at your local. The thick taste and texture make this a heavy drink, and we would recommend sticking with only 1 or 2 of this dark, dessert-like, and intense beers.

3) Magic Rock Bourbon Barrel Bearded Lady Dessert Edition

Another imperial stout on the list, this West Yorkshire creation hits the spot. In Huddersfield, Magic Rock has concocted a chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon stout that is widely popular among beer drinkers.  With an aroma of roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, bourbon, and coffee, this is the perfect drink for those who can’t quite decide whether 3 pm is the time for a latte or a beer – and go with the beer.

The taste is similar to the aroma, with roasted malt, dark chocolate, sweet flavors, toffee, vanilla, and cinnamon. With a thick feel that balances the richness with a more subtle taste, this lets you enjoy more than one pint without feeling too heavy. The medium carbonation keeps you from feeling too full, and the black pour with the golden head gives the picture-perfect pint.

4) Siren Maiden 2017

Heading out to Berkshire, we come across Siren Craft Brew, an establishment formed in the town of Finchampstead. This creation was the first-ever beer brewed at Siren, and remains the first batch brewed each new year. This brewery is known for experimenting, interesting combinations, and great beer.

This seasonal series has American-style barley wine, aged in both spirit and wine barrels, and then blended with a percentage of fresh beer. The barrels used for the ageing process keep 10% of the beer in them before being topped up with the Maiden. This technique lets the flavor continue to grow, evolve, and change throughout the process, due to the mixture of the aged beer with the barrel flavors.

The 2017 blend uses beer from rum, bourbon (including the ever-famous Jim Beam), red wine, tequila single malt whiskey, and 15% of fresh Maiden. The aroma of this beer gives off berry notes, red wine, and gives way to spirit and wood undertones.

Served in a snifter, this beer is available bottled, on tap, and broadly distributed. The flavor is complex, and is unlike the traditional IPA or stout, due to the ageing process, aromas, and technique used to create this seasonal series of beer.

5) Thornbridge Hall Bracia

Heading back to Derbyshire, we visit the town of Bakewell, and the famous Thornbridge Brewery. The crew here have created a traditional ale – and a strong one at that, coming in at 10%.

The name comes from a Celtic word for a beverage brewed in the Iron Age. A Roman inscription is present to this day at Haddon Hall, an establishment in the county of Derbyshire. Not much is known about the beverage brewed in these ancient times, except for the high alcohol content, and the utilization of cereals for the brewing process.

Thornbridge’s creation is infused with dark and bitter honey, sourced from the Alpine foothills in Northeastern Italy – talk about dedication to your job. The aromas of chestnut, honey, white chocolate, dark fruits, and cappuccino blend together smoothly. The mouthfeel is velvety and feels comfortable while slurping down a few pints. The notes of coffee, chocolate, hazelnuts, and peat can all easily be tasted in each swig of your glass.

The dark brown pour has a creamy, light brown head in your glass. As you sip, the taste will begin sweetly, and then turn to a medium bitter. A smooth sip, you can’t even tell that this is a high-alcohol beer – either a very good thing or very dangerous. You decide.

6) Cloudwater DIPA V13

Traveling up north to Manchester, where you can barely understand a single word, we check out Cloudwater Brew Co. This institution churns out great beers – especially their hazy IPA. Pouring as a hazy yellow color with a fresh, white head, you will love this beer for some warm, summer days. Or a rainy day – we’re in Manchester after all.

With an aroma of exotic fruits like pineapple, mango, and passion fruit, the citrus scents keep the drink light and easy to drink. The taste is similar to the smell, with a refreshing citrus, passion fruit, florals, and a light sweetness to top it off. The average carbonation prevents you from feeling too full as you sip, and the finish is nice and long for the perfect sip.

7) Beavertown / Three Floyds Tempus Project – Heavy Lord

Back to the imperial stouts, where England seems to thrive. We head down to Tottenham Hale, and check out Beavertown Brewery. This extremely-strong stout surely shouldn’t be one for a full night out with the boys at a whopping 14.5%, but for those who know how to pace themselves, this could be your new best friend.

This seasonal series combines three of the favorites from this London brewery – the imperial stout, Dark Lord, and another imperial – Heavy Water. Aged in bourbon barrels for 6 weeks, the beer is then infused with cacao and vanilla. The infusion is in three parts, with one part taking place in a keg, one part in a cask, and one in a cask that was soaked with Guatemalan coffee.

The beer color is dark black, with a few tan bubbles, but no head like some other stouts. The aroma is bourbon, whisky, malt, vanilla, fudge, chocolate, and more malt. The taste is similar to the aroma, but with some added sweetness, like the taste of cake and whisky fudge. A very sweet pint, this is definitely one for a hearty dessert.

8) Champion Mild – Hobson’s Brewery

We’re now heading to Newbury Farm in Cleobury Mortimer – and we’re trying their epic mild ale. The beer has a smooth flavor profile, notes of chocolate malt, and has a strong taste. The nutty and mild combination provides a flavor-packed sip that is both sweet and refreshing for most days.

Brewed as a traditional dark mild ale, the process uses malting barley, chocolate malt, and variety hops from Worcestershire. Tasty, smooth, and light, this beer is only 3.2%, giving you plenty of leeways to have a few when you’re out with your mates.

9) Magic Rock High Wire

Heading to Huddersfield, we stop at Magic Rock Brewing to try their American pale ale – rejoice, fellow Americans. The Brits at least like something about the USA. This beer is hop-forward and will get you buzzing right away.

Featuring flavors of mango, lychee, and grapefruit, this citrus combination works well against a malt base, with a bitter finish to cap off the citrus-like beginning. You’ll see a pale yellow pour in your glass, topped off with white foam. The aroma is hoppy, with some fruity notes. A medium-bodied pour, it is soft on the tongue and isn’t too tangy or bitter going down.

The smell might not be everyone’s favorite, but the taste will surprise you. An easily-drinkable pint, this is one that will most people will enjoy.

10) Old Chimneys Good King Henry Special Reserve

Now we head to Suffolk, and visit Old Chimneys Brewery for some imperial stout. A black color without any foamy-head on top, you’ll smell the scents of soy sauce, marzipan, nutty-flavors, earthiness, and sweet scents. The smell of soy sauce may not be everyone’s cup of tea per se, but we love the combination.

Without any carbonation, it goes down very smooth and provides a taste of oak, wood, marzipan, nuttiness, and molasses – similar to the aroma. The finish is semi-sweet and combines sweetness with oak and figs. A heavy choice, you would think this pint is also heavy on the alcohol content – and you’re right. This beer comes in at 11%, so wouldn’t be one for a sesh on the town. For one or two after a meal, the combination of smoothness, nuttiness, and earthy scents will leave you happy and satisfied.
Beer is one thing that the Brits are great at – Okay, they are great at a lot of things. The numerous pubs that have a cozy and buzzing ambiance, the restaurants with traditional British food that is perfect for cold days, the beautiful scenery and architecture, and those charming accents. What’s not to love?

Not only does England have infinite tourist attractions, friendly people, charming pubs, cute towns, and buzzing cities, they are also home to many top of the line breweries – and in turn, ‘class’ pints. We love the variety that England has, with hoppy IPAs, dark imperial stouts, and barley wine mixes.

England is a country that has everything you’re looking for. Have a light IPA for the boozy day out with your mates, lounging in the sun and going bar hopping. Finish your dinner with your parents by having a heavy stout, taking place of a dessert. Or, you can try a mixture of spirits and beer, with beer aged in whisky or rum-infused casks.

No matter what you’re in the mood for – or what the occasion calls for – rest assured England will have something for you. With great breweries spread all around the country, we’d say the best way to experience it for yourself is to take a road trip around England – and try every single mention on this top 10 list. You’re gonna need to pace yourself for this one.