In this report

Our advice

Beer tasting is a personal experience. The best beer is the one you like the most, whatever its rating. Try our top six beers - but also give some of the other beers in our tasting a go.
Brewers ought to label their beers true to style, rather than passing them off as something else that has a better marketing ring.
We tasted beers that are commonly stocked in supermarkets. But we didn't survey which particular beers were available at which supermarkets. Try your local supermarket or bottle store if you're looking for something different. If it's not there, ask them if they can order it.
Look for specials - beer is often discounted. But make sure you check the best-before date. With a few exceptions (such as some Belgian-style ales), beer doesn't improve with age.
Beer is sensitive to heat and light. So if you're buying it in clear or light-coloured bottles, take care. Don't buy beer from glass-fronted fridges or from under fluorescent lights - go to the cool room or back of the fridge and take the freshest product you can find.
When you get your beer home, keep it cool and in the dark. With the exception of bottle-conditioned beers, you can keep your beer in the fridge.