PUB-goers are fed up with seeing the same old lagers at the bar.
Over half of those polled by Kingfisher Drinks – some 51.5% – have identified Carling as the UK’s most “boring beer” for a second year.
Aussie brand Fosters was in second (45.5%) once again, now closely followed by Carlsberg (44.2%) and Stella Artois (40.8%).
The 2025 boring beer index was rounded off by Peroni (23.5%), San Miguel (21.4%), Madri (19.5%), Coors (19.1%), Birra Moretti (17.7%) and Amstel (16%)
Carlsberg has risen four places since last year’s ranking, while Peroni has moved up five.
Stella Artois, San Miguel, Coors and Amstel all dropped down the order.
Meanwhile, Heineken, which came fourth last year, has dropped off the ranking altogether.
The report said: “If you (Pubs) take one thing from the report, it’s surely that reviewing your beer range on a regular basis is time well spent, as it’s clear consumers have strong feelings about it.”
In Greater London, new entry Madri, 19.5% of people said they were bored with the lager.
Out of 1,000 beer drinkers polled 71% said respondents were either “sometimes” or “always” bored with the beer ranges they came across.
The dissatisfaction was most strongly felt in the North East, where 80% were bored with the beer on offer in pubs compared to 63% in the East of England.
The top issue for the respondents (59%) was the variety of beers a pub had, with 53% saying that the range of beers was “extremely” important when choosing a place to drink.
Roughly 20% even said they would leave a venue if they didn’t have a good selection.
The index also ranked the most boring ales and stouts with John Smiths (39.1%) and Guinness (38%) first and second.
The high ranking of Guinness may be a surprise to many considering its popularity, but as the index likes to point out, if 38% are bored of seeing it, 62% are not.
The report also highlighted the difference in behaviours between ages.
Only 22% of 18 to 30-year-olds would always stick to one beer per visit, whilst 27% of over-40s stuck to the same brand.
Meanwhile, 65.7% of over 40s would sometimes choose a beer they’d never heard of, but only 54.6% of 18 to 30-year-old would.
Ale and stout brands that punters are bored of
PUB-GOERS are tired of the following drinks, according to the survey.
- John’s Smith – 39.1%
- Guinness – 38%
- Greene King IPA – 25.4%
- Doom Bar – 24.4%
- London Pride – 18.3%
- Worthington – 17.6%
- Abbott Ale – 15.5%
- Neck Oil – 15.4%
- Camden Pale Ale – 15%
- Timothy Taylor’s Landlord – 8.3%
Beer prices on the rise
Customers have been feeling the pinch in their pockets for the past several years when buying a pint.
ONS data released in May showed the average price of a pint was £5.17.
Prices have risen by 15.5% in the past three years.
The increased cost of brewing and beer prices, coupled with rising energy bills, has caused a sharp increase in the price of a pint.
Pubs were also squeezed by the previous budget, having to hike prices.
For consumers struggling with the cost of living, choosing the right tipple is crucial.
Customers are also left with an ever-shrinking number of pubs to go to.
The number in the UK dipped below 39,000 in 2025, with 2,000 alone shutting since the start of 2020.
SAVE MONEY ON BEER
THE price of a pint these days is enough to have us crying into our beer.
Office for National Statistics data shows the price of a pint has skyrocketed 28% across the nation since 2019, or an average hike of £1.03 per beer.
But tap into these savvy tricks to pour pounds back into your purse . . .
SIGN UP TO APPS
Happy hours are still big business, but signing up for certain apps can be the key to freebies.
For example, Dusk allows members to discover the coolest pubs in their area, and you might be able to redeem a free drink on each outing.
To sign up, visit www.dusk.app.
SWITCH IT UP
If you are a bottled beer fan, you will usually save a few pennies by switching to tap.
But have you thought about buying your own mini kegs for home?
For example, Majerstic sells five-litre kegs of beer for just £20.
DON’T BE CAMRA-SHY
Sign up to be a member of the Campaign For Real Ale — Camra — and get some serious perks.
For £30.50 a year, members are given a wide range of deals, including £30 worth of real ale vouchers (these can be used at pubs including JD Wetherspoon, Castle Rock and Amber Taverns).
They also get 10% off products at thousands of pubs nationwide.
If you are the average drinker (118 pints a year, apparently) you could save a pretty penny.
Find out if more by visiting www1.camra.org.uk/membership/member-benefits.
ALE BE
You could save by choosing pubs that sell their own-brewed pale ales.
They will sell at a cheaper price per pint than those from an external brewery, according to The Good Pub Guide.
You could also opt for beers with lower alcohol content, as these tend to be cheaper — great if you just really like the taste of beer.
