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Key takeaways
What is the best beer in the world?
The honest answer? It depends. There isn't a single beer that can claim the title of the best beer in the world because everyone's taste is different. Some people reach for a crisp lager, others prefer a hoppy IPA, while many wouldn't swap a rich stout for anything. That's the beauty of beer – there's a style for every palate.
The beer itself is only part of the story. Freshness, serving temperature, food pairings and even the occasion all influence how a beer tastes. That's why lists of the best beer in the world or the most popular beer in the world are a great place to discover new brews, but they shouldn't be treated as the final word.
At Pinter, we believe freshness deserves just as much attention as style. Even an award-winning beer loses character over time, while a freshly poured pint delivers brighter aromas, fuller flavours and the drinking experience the brewer intended.
The 5 best beers and what they taste like
Ask ten beer lovers to name the best tasting beer, and you'll probably get ten different answers. That's because beer styles are incredibly diverse, each offering its own balance of bitterness, sweetness, aroma, and body.
If you're looking for your next favourite pint, these five classics are a brilliant place to start.
Draught, bottled, or fresh at home: Which makes your beer taste best?
| Comparison | Bottled & canned | Fresh draught at home (Pinter) | Pub draught |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshness | May spend weeks or months in warehouses and on shop shelves before opening. | Brewed fresh in your Pinter and ready in as little as 3 days. | Usually fresher than packaged beer, but depends on keg turnover. |
| Flavour | Oxygen and time gradually reduce hop aroma and freshness. | Enjoyed at peak freshness with bright aromas and full flavour. | Can be excellent, but flavour varies depending on how the beer is stored and served. |
| Light & oxygen | Light (especially in clear or green bottles) and oxygen can affect flavour over time. | No light exposure and minimal oxygen after brewing help preserve flavour. | Beer stays protected in the keg, but freshness depends on handling and line quality. |
| Brewing process | Pasteurised to extend shelf life, which can soften fresh beer character. | No pasteurisation, so beer tastes closer to how the brewer intended. | Quality depends on the brewery's process rather than where it's served. |
| Consistency | Consistent product, but freshness varies depending on age. | Every pint comes from your own freshly brewed batch. | Can vary from pub to pub due to line cleaning, serving temperature and pour quality. |
| Cost | Usually the cheapest upfront, depending on the beer. | From around £1.50 per pint when brewing a full batch. | The average UK pint now costs over £5 in many parts of the country. |
We asked our head brewer, Will Kirkham, what according to him makes a beer best - here's what he had to say:
"People often ask what makes the best beer in the world. The answer isn't one brand or one style. It's a beer that's brewed with care, served at its best and enjoyed in the right moment. Freshness, balance and atmosphere all play a part - and that's what turns a good beer into a memorable one."
Taste the world's best styles fresh at home
Great beer deserves to be enjoyed at its best, not weeks or months after it left the brewery. With Pinter, you can brew everything from crisp lagers and hop-forward IPAs to rich stouts and refreshing sours, then enjoy them fresh in your own home.
Pinter's brewery partnerships with names including BrewDog, Guinness and Trooper by Iron Maiden mean you're brewing authentic recipes, not just inspired-by versions. The result is beer that's as close as possible to how the brewer intended it to taste.
At around £1.50 per pint, it's not only a fresh way to enjoy great beer - it's an affordable one too. Some recipes are ready in just a few days, while others benefit from a little more time, but every batch rewards a bit of patience with brewery-fresh flavour.
How to find your personal best beer
There isn't a shortcut to finding your favourite beer. There is, however, a smarter way to explore. These tips will help you discover the styles and flavours that suit your palate.
1. Start with the style, not the brand
Try a style you've never had before - whether it's an IPA, sour, stout or pale ale - and sample two or three examples before making up your mind. One disappointing pint doesn't define an entire style.
2. Serve it at the right temperature
Beer tastes very different depending on how it's served. Lagers are best well chilled (3-5°C), while ales open up closer to cellar temperature (10-13°C). Rich stouts can be served a little warmer to bring out their roasted flavours.
3. Pair beer with food
Great food makes great beer even better. Hoppy IPAs cut through rich dishes, stouts pair beautifully with chocolate desserts, and crisp sours complement seafood, salads and lighter meals.
4. Drink it fresh
Most beer isn't designed for long-term ageing. If possible, check when it was brewed rather than relying only on the best-before date. Fresher beer usually means brighter aromas and fuller flavour.
5. Compare the same style from different breweries
Every brewery puts its own spin on a style. Trying several lagers or IPAs side by side teaches you far more about your own taste than jumping between completely different beers.
6. Pay attention to what you enjoy
Instead of focusing on the label or ABV, think about what stood out. Was it the citrus aroma, the smooth body, the crisp finish or the gentle bitterness? Once you know that, choosing your next beer becomes much easier.
The best beer in the world is the freshest one you love
So, what's the best beer in the world? It's the one you genuinely look forward to drinking. Awards, ratings and best-of lists are great for discovering new styles, but your favourite beer will always come down to your own taste. Whether that's a crisp lager, a bold IPA, a smooth stout or a fruity sour, there's no wrong answer.
If there's one thing every great beer has in common, it's freshness. Fresh beer lets the hops shine, the malt come through and the flavours taste exactly as the brewer intended. That's why trying different styles fresh is one of the easiest ways to discover what you really enjoy.
So the next time you're choosing a pint, skip the search for the "perfect" beer and try something new instead. You might just find that the best beer in the world has been waiting for you all along.
Drink your favourite beer fresher than you ever have
With the all-in-one Pinter machine, flexible beer plans, brewery collaborations including BrewDog, Guinness and Trooper by Iron Maiden, and fresh beer from around £1.50 a pint, there's never been an easier way to enjoy your favourite styles at their very best.
GET YOUR PINTER TODAYYour questions about the best beer, answered
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About the author
Charlie Howsego
Community Executive
As Pinter's Community Executive, Charlie loves nothing more than helping people discover the joy of brewing at home. Through his writing, he shares practical tips, brewing insights, and a genuine passion for fresh beer.