Newbs guide to decent, readily available beers

Lagunitas IPA is decent and reasonably priced at Morrisons
M&S have a decent range and tend to stock Buxton beers, Axe Edge, Ace Edge etc are spot on if hop forward pales are your bag.
Tesco Extras have a good range too and their own Finest American DIPA is Brewdog Hardcore rebadged with a small difference in the hops plus they stock Fullers 1845 which I am a big fan of atm.

If you can get a hold of The Kernel beers you will be very happy I reckon

 

Depends on the store i s'pose, the nearest Tesco Extra to me has it in stock but it hadn't been in stock for about a year til recently. Big Sainsburys have a few gems in their range.

 

Hi, if it's Brewdog you're after then you can order from their website. They will have all the regular stuff as well as some specials and a good selection of beers from the UK, Europe and America.
https://www.brewdog.com/shop/

If you know what sort of style you're after you can also look at other websites where you can search by country, brewery or styles such as www.beersofeurope.co.uk, www.beermerchants.com, www.alesbymail.co.uk and www.beerritz.co.uk.

Please be aware that any of these will have an extra charge for delivery of about £8.

If you're not so sure you could subscribe to a beer club like Flavourly where they will send you different styles to try each month for a set fee. www.flavourly.com/

You could also find a bottle shop or brewery tap house in your town or city and they should be able to help you decide what sort of beers to buy. Most wine shops should also have a good selection of beers too, or as mentioned above supermarkets have a better range than they did a few years ago.

 

Hi @jkb89, I was in your position not too long ago. New to the whole scene, wanted to try as much as possible - whilst avoiding below average beer, if possible.

I think @Aye and @Georgefox have given you some pretty good advice - so I've not all that much to add.

What I will add is I've tried a number of online shops, with great success. https://belgiuminabox.com, https://www.eebria.com/, http://www.belgianbeerz.com/ and http://www.beerofbelgium.com/en/ (http://www.beergium.com/en/ - one I've not tried, but similar). As George rightly points out, there's a bit of a postage fee to think about. Personally, I only use them when I've had a decent month, and can put in a decent sized order - rather than just 1 or 2 bottles. Spreads the postage costs and normally works out okay.

Where abouts in the world are you? I'm lucky in that I have a number of Booths supermarkets nearby, and its craft range is pretty good, so that's my go to.
I don't have a specialised bottle shop nearby, but if you do, then it's worth taking a trip there and having a chat with them. I will often go to a bottle shop if I'm away and near one, and the guys in there have always been really helpful.
The other thing I've done is speak to local breweries - just google it and see what's nearby. I've been to several, and most have actually shown me round the brewery as an added bonus!
Again, you can speak to them, pick up some beer you've not had before and just learn more about beer and what you like.

The subscriptions George mentioned are also a good idea - *shameless plug* I've actually got a code for Flavourly which get's you a tenner off a box. Works out at 8 beers for £14.
HARRY3Q7D or just follow this link: www.flavourly.com/HARRY3Q7D if you're interested.

 

Where are you in the UK? I've spent the last year and a half exploring beer options in/around the greater London area, but not sure if that's helpful to you depending on your location.

 

I go near Shropshire (Telford) a few times a year for work, but can't say I've had the time or luck to find anything special out where you are. Maybe some local cider places to the South? I'm sure Birmingham must have some good spots, but I've actually never spent any time there other than in traffic nightmares.
Near Potters Bar, the only place I've heard of is Beer:Shop in St Albans (http://beershopstalbans.com/). I haven't been myself, but it gets good reviews and I plan to stop by at some point when detouring from a Costco Watford run.

 

If you can get to it, Birmingham has Cotteridge Wines, which seems to be greatest beer shop in the country.

 

Heads up @jkb89 - if you're thinking of using the flavourly code, let me know. I'm planning to cancel my membership this month.

(alternatively, you can get a very similar deal at beer52, using this link: https://www.beer52.com/join/46326/01a8c1230c28b56d)

 

Hey guys, thanks for all the info on this page !!

But I'm wondering if anyone have ever tried BelgiBeer subscription? It's mainly belgian beers so I'm wondering if it wasn't worth a try?!

Thanks for the help!!

 

Using Google and https://www.beeradvocate.com/place/directory/6/GB/, I would search for bottle shops nearby and talk to the staff and have them help you get started. Take notes on each or at least the untappd app to track them. You can also use the app to find places nearby. I say two beer minimum because sometimes you need to give them a second chance. There are social situations that seem to influence your likes as in you enjoyed a beer at a restaurant out with the guys, but when you had the same one at home, it wasn't what you remembered.

Also get yourself some proper drinking glasses for your favorite styles.

Have fun with it! It wasn't long ago I started my quest.