Few things are better than a cold beer after a long day.
But having beers delivered directly to your door? That might just take the crown.
Jack StrongBeer52 is arguably the most popular beer subscription service in the UK[/caption]
Beer subscription services are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why.
These services combine convenience with the joy of discovering new and exciting brews from around the world, all without leaving the comfort of your home.
Whether you’re a fan of hoppy IPAs, smooth stouts, or crisp lagers, beer delivery subscriptions help ensure your fridge is always stocked with an array of options to suit your taste.
Many of these companies also pride themselves on supporting independent breweries, so you can sample unique, small-batch creations you might not find elsewhere.
The talkSPORT Shopping team have tested a selection of beer delivery services to determine which gives you the best booze for your buck.
How we tested
To test the beer delivery services, we got our hands on a monthly subscription box from some of the most popular options based in the UK.
Over a month, we assessed each service based on several key factors such as delivery speed, packaging quality, and, of course, the variety and taste of the beers on offer.
We paid close attention to how each service catered to different preferences and considered the value for money and the ease of managing each subscription.
We then gave each brand a possible rating out of five to determine how worthwhile they are.
Best beer delivery subscriptions at a glance:
- Best overall beer subscription service: Brewser
- Best value beer subscription service: Thornbridge Brewery Beer Club
- Best for UK beers: Best of British Beers
- Best for craft beers: A Hoppy Place
Best beer delivery subscriptions tried and tested
Beer52
Beer52 Subscription, £27 PCM
- Pros: Great selection in each pack, monthly themes, able to choose mixed or just light beers, fantastic magazine
- Cons: Small cans, slightly expensive, not bothered by the snacks
- Rating: 4/5
My testing began with arguably the most well-known beer delivery service in the UK, Beer52.
Founded in 2013, this delivery service delivers a themed curation of drinks each month, complete with a magazine and a few snacks.
This month I tried the Netherlands-themed selection, meaning each of the eight cans inside was produced solely in that country.
I selected the mixed beers option which had a nice mix of dark and light beers with unique flavours and taste profiles.
The beers came with a copy of Ferment Magazine, which was a great touch and a good tool to learn about exactly where some of the products I was tasting came from.
Beer52 also includes a couple of small snacks in each monthly delivery, but truthfully, I wasn’t too bothered with the ones I received.
Overall, I absolutely loved Beer52 as a service. I just wish the cans were larger!
At just 330ml per can, by the time I started enjoying some of these unique beers, they were over and done with.
It’s worth noting that you can upgrade your Beer52 order to a 10-pack (meaning an extra two cans) for £6 (£33 total), so this might be worth considering for people looking to make the most out of their order.
I’m a fan of larger cans, so if Beer52 were to consider mixing up the sizes, I would undoubtedly subscribe to this service permanently.
Read our full Beer52 review for a deep dive into the subscription and our full verdict.
| Cost | £27 (PCM) |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| No. of cans / bottles per delivery | 8 x 330ml cans |
| Type of beer | Light and dark (mixed) |
Thornbridge Brewery Beer Club
Thornbridge Brewery Beer Club, £20 PCM
- Pros: Affordable, tasty and unique flavours, larger cans, anniversary and birthday gifts
- Cons: Only three flavours included (in a box of six), no customisation
- Rating: 4/5
Next on the list was Thornbridge Brewery’s Beer Club subscription, a service from a celebrated craft brewery.
Marking its 20th anniversary this year, Thornbridge Brewery has garnered multiple awards and established itself as somewhat of a mecca for craft beer enthusiasts.
Eager to sample its brews, I signed up for the Beer Club subscription to see what all the fuss was about.
At just £20 a month, this subscription offers excellent value, delivering a mixed box of beers featuring brand-new releases, seasonal specials, and beloved classics.
For those looking to customise their experience, there’s even the option to add extra beers to your order at a discounted price – a nice touch for those keen to get the most out of their subscription.
Delivery was impressively swift and inside the box I found six large cans waiting to be explored.
However, I did notice that this particular month’s selection included two of each beer, meaning there were only three different flavours on offer.
While this is fantastic if you fall in love with one of the beers, it did slightly limit the sense of discovery that I was personally seeking.
With that said, the quality of the brews more than made up for it, and I would happily order again.
The Satzuma flavoured pale ale was absolutely delicious and I loved the quality, look and taste of the beer.
| Cost | £20 (PCM) |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| No. of cans / bottles per delivery | 6 x 440ml cans |
| Type of beer | Light and dark (mixed) |
Brewser
Brewser Discovery Box, £29
- Pros: Good value for money, great for discovering new beers, good choice of packages, pint cans!
- Cons: Unclear how many beers you get
- Rating: 4.5/5
Another popular choice I tried was Brewser, which is apparently the UK’s top-rated beer club.
With high expectations, my Brewser delivery arrived just a few days later and I was keen to get trying.
Brewser boxes individually showcase one brewery at a time, so this month, my Discovery Box contained plenty of goodies from Bristol-based Arbor Ales.
Much to my delight, Arbor almost solely produces pint cans and I was happy to see eight of them included.
Although it did say there were 12 x 564ml cans on the box, I was still over the moon with eight pints’ worth after having a few 330ml cans previously.
With a great mix of pale ales, gluten-free beers, stouts and lagers, each of the Brewser-supplied Arbor cans I tried was delicious and I can wholeheartedly say I enjoyed each one.
For £29, I’d consider Brewser’s Discovery Boxes well worth the money, and I’ll be looking to purchase them again.
| Cost | £29 (PCM) |
| Frequency | Monthly with option to pause |
| No. of cans / bottles per delivery | 8 x 568ml cans |
| Type of beer | Light and dark (mixed) |
Best of British Beer
Best of British Beer, from £77.50 (quarterly)
- Pros: Great variety, free glass and coaster, 500ml bottles,
- Cons: Only available to purchase for 3, 6 or 12 months at a time
- Rating: 4.5/5
With a name like Best of British Beer, you know you’re in for a good time.
Championing solely British beverages, Best of British Beer collaborates with 450 independent breweries across the UK to curate a handpicked selection of monthly treats.
Subscriptions are available in three, six, or 12-month packages, with its base 3-Month, 6-Pack Craft Lager Beer Club priced at £77.50.
I initially thought this was a tad expensive, but I quickly realised it works out to around £25.83 per month – about the going rate.
Upon arrival, it was evident that Best of British Beer is a company that aims to make a solid first impression.
Alongside six 500ml beers, I was delighted to find my own dedicated glass, a beer mat, and a small booklet highlighting some of the tasting notes. A thoughtful touch that elevated this service from good to great.
I’m a sucker for beer in glass bottles too, so I was pleased to see they were all packaged this way. It was a welcome change from the usual cans.
As with any beer subscription, some beers I preferred more than others, but overall, I was quite impressed by the quality and flavours on offer.
My particular box included an array of light and dark beers, but those with specific preferences will be pleased to know they can choose between mixed, dark, or pale and golden selections at no extra cost.
The Best of British Beer firmly ticks all the boxes, so if you’re a fan of UK brews, you can’t really go wrong.
| Cost | £77.50 (3 months) |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| No. of cans / bottles per delivery | 6 x 500ml bottles |
| Type of beer | Light and dark (mixed) |
A Hoppy Place
A Hoppy Place’s ‘Beer Club’, £45 PCM
- Pros: Unique selections, opportunity to try beers not yet widely sold, guaranteed one alcohol-free option each month
- Cons: Pricey, no customisation, no snacks or gifts (apart from on your first month)
- Rating: 3.5/5
A Hoppy Place beer subscription has a sizeable price tag but promises to be top quality, and for the most part, it delivered.
The package made a simple first impression – a plain brown box with a small logo.
Aside from the beers, you’ll find a fairly basic info sheet printed on roughly-cut paper explaining the contents of your box with some brief tasting notes.
It felt a little unpolished, almost makeshift, but had a no-frills, independent charm, like a business focused on great beer over fancy packaging.
Beers are hand-picked each month by the company’s sommelier showcasing hidden gems and time-tested favourites of the craft beer scene.
The selection included a chocolate oatmeal stout, a hazy pale ale and a gluten-free session IPA, which was a nice great variety and they are all really interesting beers.
Unfortunately, you cannot customise the contents of the boxes unless you pay an extra £10 per month to upgrade to the ‘Mystery Box’ service.
Overall, while the beers are excellent, this service is best suited to those with a higher budget and a more easygoing approach, as the lack of customisation may not appeal to pickier drinkers!
Review by Maxim Hancock.
| Cost | £45 (PCM) |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| No. of cans / bottles per delivery | 8 x 440ml cans |
| Type of beer | Light and dark (mixed) |
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