Your keg lineup is your wet GP. The beers you put on tap decide what pours, what sells, and what each pint actually makes you — and most operators pick their range on rep-pressure and gut, not numbers. This guide lays out the top UK draught beers for 2026, how many pints you actually get from a keg, and how to work out what each one earns you, so you can build a lineup that sells and protects margin.
Key takeaways
- Birra Moretti is now the UK’s best-selling draught lager, having overtaken Carling; Guinness remains the top seller by volume.
- A standard 50-litre keg = 88 pints gross, but only about 85 are saleable once you allow for line losses and the dregs.
- The market has shifted to “world lagers” (Madrí, Cruzcampo, Estrella) and premium — higher buy price, but higher pour price too.
- The brand doesn’t set your GP — your buy price vs your pour price does. The table below shows how fast GP moves with cost.
Top UK draught beers 2026
ABVs are typical draught values and can vary by format — always check the current spec sheet. “Why it sells” is the operator angle, not a tasting note.
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| Brand | Style | Approx ABV | Taste profile | Why it sells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birra Moretti | Lager | 4.6% | Smooth, malty, balanced | #1 draught; premium pull without alienating mainstream |
| Guinness | Stout | 4.1% | Creamy, roasted, dry finish | #1 by volume; ritual product, draws its own crowd |
| Carling | Lager | 3.7% | Light, crisp, clean | Volume staple; price-sensitive regulars |
| Madrí Excepcional | Lager | 4.6% | Smooth, fuller-bodied | Fastest-growing world lager; strong premium trade-up |
| Stella Artois | Lager | 4.6% | Crisp, dry, bitter edge | Established premium; wide recognition |
| San Miguel | Lager | 5.0% | Full, slightly sweet | Premium Spanish; holiday association |
| Peroni Nastro Azzurro | Lager | 5.1% | Crisp, dry, delicate | Top-end premium; high pour price |
| Camden Hells | Craft lager | 4.6% | Clean, gently hoppy | Craft credibility on a lager palate |
| Cruzcampo | Lager | 4.4% | Light, easy, faintly sweet | Surging world lager; younger drinkers |
| Amstel | Lager | 4.1% | Light, sessionable | Easy mid-tier volume pour |
| Foster’s | Lager | 3.7% | Light, mild | Budget volume; broad appeal |
| Coors | Lager | 4.0% | Cold, light, crisp | Mainstream cold-served pour |
| Carlsberg Danish Pilsner | Lager | 3.8% | Light, clean | Reformulated core lager |
| Heineken | Lager | 5.0% | Balanced, mild bitterness | Globally recognised premium |
| Estrella Damm | Lager | 4.6% | Malty, smooth | Premium Spanish; food-led venues |
| Pravha | Lager | 4.0% | Light, crisp, Czech-style | Premium-look at sessionable strength |
| Beavertown Neck Oil | Session IPA | 4.3% | Citrus, hoppy, easy | Craft draw; trades up from lager |
| Inch’s | Cider | 4.5% | Apple, medium | Modern cider volume |
| Thatchers Gold | Cider | 4.8% | Apple, medium-dry | Best-known mainstream cider |
| Aspall | Cyder | 5.5% | Dry, sharp, premium | Premium cider for food/upmarket venues |
How many pints in a keg?
Most UK lager and cider comes in a 50-litre keg = 88 pints gross. In practice you’ll sell around 85 once you allow for line losses, gas and the unservable dregs. Some premium, craft and stout lines (Guinness, Camden, Beavertown) commonly come in 30-litre kegs ≈ 53 pints. Cask ale is different again — a 9-gallon firkin is 72 pints gross, ~66 saleable (see our cask ale wastage guide).
When a keg is part-used, don’t guess what’s left — measure it. A beer keg checker reads the remaining contents in seconds, and our guide to measuring a part-used keg walks through the weight method.
What does a keg actually make you?
The brand on the font doesn’t set your margin — the gap between your buy price and your pour price does. Here’s how GP moves on a 50-litre keg (85 saleable pints) at a £4.00 ex-VAT pour, by buy price:
| Keg buy price (ex VAT) | Cost per pint | GP % at £4.00 pour |
|---|---|---|
| £110 | £1.29 | ~68% |
| £130 | £1.53 | ~62% |
| £150 | £1.76 | ~56% |
| £170 | £2.00 | ~50% |
Illustrative, ex-VAT, at a flat £4.00 pour — your real buy prices vary by pubco, region and volume. The lesson: a premium world lager can out-earn a budget lager if the pour price rises with the buy price. Where operators lose money is paying premium buy prices and pouring at mainstream prices. Work out the real figure for every line — StockTap does it automatically from your buy prices and pour prices, and tracks the GP per keg line by line. See how StockTap works →
How to stocktake your kegs
Whichever beers you run, the money is made or lost on accurate stocktaking — especially the part-used kegs. Use a keg checker for sealed kegs, a dipstick for cask, and record every reading so your GP reflects reality rather than guesswork. Our full keg measuring guide and cask wastage guide cover the methods.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-selling draught lager in the UK?
Birra Moretti is now the UK’s best-selling draught lager by value, having overtaken Carling. Guinness remains the top-selling beer by volume.
How many pints are in a 50-litre keg?
88 pints gross, but around 85 saleable once you allow for line losses, gas and dregs.
How many pints in a 30-litre keg?
About 53 pints gross. Many premium, craft and stout lines come in 30L.
Which keg beer has the best GP?
It depends entirely on your buy price vs pour price, not the brand. A premium lager can out-earn a budget one if you price the pour to match. Calculate GP per line rather than assuming.
How do I measure how much is left in a part-used keg?
Use a keg checker or weigh it — see our guide to measuring a part-used keg.
Disclosure: some links above are affiliate links to Amazon. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to kit I’d actually use in my own cellar.
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