Great beer shouldn’t be cheap. It’s made with barley and hops that grow on farms and are tended over months. Maltsters turn that barley into malt. Hop farmers wait until the right moment to pick the perfect hop, and each variety has different costs (imported hops tend to be way more expensive). Head brewers train for years, and fellow brewers, engineers, packagers, drivers, marketing and sales people and more all play a role in transforming those plants in the ground into the beer in your hand.
But great beer doesn’t need to be expensive. As much as I want to champion smaller brewers and local beer shops, many of us (me included) opt for the cost and convenience of the supermarket. Browse the shelves and you’ll see a spectrum of beer styles at a variety of prices – and if you know what to look for there are brilliant bargains.
In the main supermarkets, check out the four-can ‘fridge packs’ (usually £5-6) or a pick and mix selection of different cans and bottles (often four for £6). With beer ranges regularly updating, you can constantly explore different brews. Aldi and Lidl have their own brands of craft beer for under £1.50 a can. There’s a lot of great beer available to us now, and something to suit all budgets. markdredge.com