United Kingdom
Ownership: Heineken International — founded 1927, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Known for: One of England's most recognisable brown ales — smooth, lightly hopped and malty with a distinctive nutty flavour. Available on draught and in bottles at pubs and off-licences across the UK and exported worldwide.
History: First brewed in 1927 by James Porter & Sons at the Tyne Brewery in Newcastle, the beer became a working-class staple of the North East before going national. Its iconic blue star logo and blue-tinted bottle made it one of the most visually recognisable English ales. Now brewed under licence in various countries, it remains a proud symbol of North East England and one of the country's top ale exports.