Which UK Airline Stocks the Best Beer?

Like most beer lovers, when I travel I relax on the flight with a beer.

If you are anything like me, you’ll flick through the menu, hopeful that there’ll be something tasty.

In most cases we’ll be disappointed.

If you are flying in the USA, the general standard and choice seems decent, but it also improves when flying long haul. This is possibly due to on-board space considerations.

But which airline flying from the UK stocks the best beer?

Here are some recent findings:

Easyjet

I have flown Easyjet many times around Europe, finding it has lots of flights as a reasonable cost. The current beer selection is understandably minimal on short-haul flights.

Beers stocked:

• Brewdog Punk IPA
• Heineken.

Brewdog’s Punk IPA is everywhere these days. Pretty much available in every supermarket as well as your local shops. In my opinion this beer has actually improved — it’s very reliable and as delicious as ever.

United Airlines

I flew with United several times from London when working in New York (luckily the flights were underbooked!).

They served Goose Island IPA, although did run out of it on several occasions.

Although Goose Island can no longer be hailed as true ‘craft’, it’s still a step up from Miller Lite, which they also serve.

Beers stocked:

• Miller Lite
• Goose IPA

One tip is to always ask if they have other items available — on longer haul flights like this as they are more likely to have some guest appearances on their shelves.

British Airways

I have flown with BA a few times over the last few years, and the beer selection has evolved and improved over this time.

Originally, the choice consisted of Heineken or Old Speckled Hen. Dull.

BA food on these flights is from M&S — and it seems as if the supermarkets’ recent brewery partnerships have started to appear.

It looks like they have ditched Old Speckled Hen and now have the excellent Mosaic pale ale from Adnams.

Beers stocked:

• Adnams Mosaic Pale Ale
• Heineken

If you’ve recently flown from the UK, please do write a comment with any interesting findings.

Originally published at Bacchanalian Propensities — A Food and Drink Blog.