In the M&S craft beer section..
When it comes to drinking at home I either order beer directly from breweries (i.e small indy breweries) or buy from bottle shops. I should add that when I’m in North London I don’t drink at home, I go to the pub. There are plenty of good choices. When I’m in Cardiff that is unfortunately less the case
If I’m in a supermarket I’ll glance at the beer shelves, but wouldn’t be going in specifically for beer, unless it was one of Lidl’s Belgian or German beer weeks.
The range of beer in supermarkets has improved significantly with the arrival of craft beer. Of course big craft beer- Brewdog, Camden, Beavertown dominates(I swerve) and as Tim Martin regularly points out the price points usually undercut even Wetherspoons prices.
Waitrose arguably has the best beer selection and give that it is perennially in competition with M&S for a certain type of customer so does the latter.
I don’t go in M&S as much as I used to thanks to its continuing focus on shutting stores. M&S foodstores are not so interesting that I need to make a special visit when other supermarkets are nearer. Who knows if that thought has occurred to M&S suits at their Paddington HQ.
On Tuesday I stopped by M&S in Central Cardiff- a three storey edifice with a food shop on part of the ground floor. I was actually buying cat sticks (the cat has a particular preference here) but also checked the craft beer range.
As everywhere else there is Brewdog and Camden. M&S continues its welcome focus on bottled beers from Adnams and Oakham. When It comes to craft cans change seems to be taking place. With the takeover of Brew By Numbers and Brick their beers had gone. Northern Monk and Vocation remain as do Pollys and for the moment Fourpure (a 7.4% dipa at £3.50). Beers from London brewers Gypsy Hill and Two Tribes have appeared as had 500ml bottles of Five Points Best, as what was an exceptionally reasonable price.
I’d more often be drinking some beard friendly niche craft beer in a bar or at home but its interesting to see what there is beyond the niche, because that’s where most beer drinkers, including those that like craft, are
Sadly there is no beer section in my local M&S, they have only seen fit to stock wine.
Is there an anti-beer faction – & by association anti-beard – within M&S?