counter Six popular beers that don’t use the original recipe including Guinness – and the two with MORE alcohol – Forsething

Six popular beers that don’t use the original recipe including Guinness – and the two with MORE alcohol

THERE is nothing more British better than a pint down the pub.

But most of the beer you drink today is quite different to the original recipe used.

Two people toasting with pint glasses of beer at an outdoor wooden table.
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Your favourite beers have changed over time[/caption]

Paul Hunter from beer tour company Ale Hunters said there are many reasons why beer recipes are changed.

The availability of ingredients has a baring on the recipes of major brewers.

Sometimes poor harvests, for instance, will force a brewer to adapt a recipe accordingly.

Tax and government policy also has a major impact. For example, Paul says: “During the first world war the UK government introduced restrictions upon the strength of UK beers, reducing the abv.”

At the same time, people’s tastes change over time.

Paul said: “In the 19th century the previous taste for soured, aged ‘stale’ beers shifted to fresher, lighter ‘running’ beers.

“This led to the decline of the former beers including IPA which eventually became ‘bitter’.

But much of it simply comes down to cost versus taste.

Paul adds: “The increasing costs associated with producing beer can lead to a revisiting of all cost streams to make beer more profitable.”

Here are the ways in which your favourite beers have changed over time…

Carlsberg

A glistening pint of cold Carlsberg lager beer.
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Carlsberg has seen its recipe change over time[/caption]

Back in 2019, Carlsberg changed its recipe in the UK aiming for a “smoother, fuller mouth-feel” as well as “a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness”.

It comes after Carlsberg taste quality had been slammed by customers.

The brewer said the beer has been completely “rebrewed from head to hop”.

At the time, Bhavya Mandanna, master brewer at Carlsberg UK, said: “Our new Pilsner has a fuller body and a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness made possible through modifications to our brewing process and the addition of bittering hops in the brewhouse.

“Aroma hops with citrus and floral top notes give a greater depth of flavour whilst maintaining the light and refreshing qualities of Carlsberg.”

Since then, the pilsner has actually increased its alcohol content with a current ABV of 5% up from 3.8% in 2019 which will be reflected in the taste.

The firm admits that the recipe is constantly changing. On its site it says: “More than 100 years after our founder J.C. Jacobsen mastered the art of brewing great Pilsner, we’re still looking for ways to improve our beer.”

Newcastle Brown Ale

The recipe for Newcastle Brown Ale changed in 2015 following fears over one of its ingredients – a potentially cancer-causing colouring.

The caramel colouring was used to give the ale its distinctive tint.

Instead the ingredient was swapped out for roasted malts to achieve a similar colour.

None of the beer’s ingredients were subject to any restrictions, but owner Heineken said it had listened to “consumer concerns” when making the changes.

Paul adds: ” Many beers in the UK at the beginning of the 20th century were still using colouring as it was cheaper than darker malt (milds for example).

“Popular opinion was that the colouring was cancer related so they used a roasted malt instead.

“It’s an interesting one as Newcastle Brown in the bottle is almost always faulted as the glass is clear.

“Light reacts with the hop oils which creates a chemical compound that is unpleasant. Newcastle Brown in a can or keg tastes different.”

London Pride

The recipe of London Pride has changed constantly over the years since it first started brewing in 1951.

The original recipe featured flaked barley and sugar. It has since introduced crystal malt and chocolate malt.

The one ingredient that has stayed constant is pale malt.

Guinness

Two hands holding pints of Guinness.
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Guiness has seen its taste and texture changed over its long history[/caption]

The history of Guinness is currently the subject of Netflix blockbuster House of Guinness from its origins in Dublin in the 1700s.

The famed Irish stout has seen its formula change many times over this time.

And in the early 1980s the drink was relaunched using pale malt for the first time.

Paul Hunter said: “Guinness is one of the world’s innovators in many spheres.

“They changed their ingredients for the main beer in the 20th century, adding roasted unmalted barley to the roasted malt which impacted on colour and flavour.

“Then the big change was in 1959 when they changed the package from a cask beer to a bright/keg beer.

“Cask Guinness had a smooth, full bodied mouth-feel due to the ‘double pour’.”

This meant switching to using nitrogen as part of the process which changed the texture and flavour of the drink.

Paul adds: “Another ‘innovation’ was introducing ‘extra cold’ Guinness in 1998.

“This was to satisfy fans of cold lagers and pale ales but reducing temperature does negatively impact on flavour.”

He recommends that If you want to try ‘old style’ Guinness head to the Coach and Horses, Wellington Street in London where they serve iro 60 kegs a week of 8 degree Guinness.

Punk IPA

BrewDog‘s Punk IPA has been changed many times since its 2007 launch.

The most notable change included lowering the ABV from 6% down to 5.4% in 2021 changing the flavour of the beer.

It’s thought the main reason for doing so was a cost-saving measure.

By its own admission, Brewdog says: “Punk IPA is constantly reinventing itself to stand the test of time and remain a giant among beer.”

Heineken

Dutch brewer Heineken upped the alcohol content of its beer sold in the UK in 2003.

The beer had an ABV of 3.4% which was produced at a lower strength especially for Brits.

This was then increased to 5% in line with the drink sold in continental Europe.

How can I save money at Wetherspoons?

PUB-GOERS love Wetherspoons for its competitive pricing and low-cost meals – but did you know there are more ways to save money?

Senior consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how.

Free refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.

Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.

So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.

Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.

For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.

Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in

their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.

Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it. 

Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.

Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.

It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.

As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.

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