LAGER lovers can save serious cash by ditching the big brands for own-label booze at supermarkets – but do they really compare?
These bargain tinnies often cost shoppers half the amount of similar big brand beers like Foster’s and Stella.
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Aldi and Sainsbury’s both stock four packs of their own label canned lager for just £2.59 – which works out at around 65p a can.
But four cans of Stella Artois would set the average shopper back £5.75 at most supermarkets including Tesco and Aldi.
This equates to a whopping £1.44 a can.
Swap the big brand out for Aldi’s cheap premium lager and you’d save £3.16 or roughly 79p a can.
The Sun tested own-label lagers from Aldi, Asda, Lidl, M&S and Sainsbury’s.
We scored each beer on taste and value.
While some offered competition, others were the definition of forgettable – even if their incredibly low price was the prime attraction.
As always, if you’re enjoying a tinnie, remember to drink responsibly.
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Aldi
Galahad Premium Lager
- £2.59 (65p per 440ml can)
- 15p per 100ml
- 4% ABV
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Aldi’s answer to Foster’s is its Galahad Premium Lager.
This was a common staple in university halls of residents back when I was a student.
Why you ask? Well because it’s dirt cheap and replicates the more expensive cans of Foster’s.
If you ask me – there’s little that’s premium about this beer.
If you enjoy a weak beer then this is the one for you.
It’s sweet but flat and pretty dull on the tongue without much depth of flavour.
The only redeeming quality is its shockingly low price.
But for now, I’d rather leave this one in the back of my memory of my time at university.
TASTE: 3/10
VALUE: 10/10
TOTAL SCORE: 13/20
Asda
Pilsner Lager
- £3.50 (88p per 500ml can)
- 18p per 100ml
- 5% ABV
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Asda’s lager caught my eye straight away.
The supermarket is the most generous offering shoppers 500ml of the tasty stuff and each can comes in at 5% ABV.
Pale in colour but with a bold full-bodied flavour this beer is a great alternative to the likes of Budweiser.
It has a slightly bitter aftertaste which stimulated the tastebuds – I was impressed.
TASTE: 8/10
VALUE: 6/10
TOTAL SCORE: 14/20
Lidl
Excelsior Larger
- £2.89 (72p per 440ml can)
- 16p per 100ml
- 4% ABV
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Lidl’s answer to Foster’s – Excelsior Lager has a decent flavour and is less flat than Aldi’s dupe.
Again, it lacks character and body and would better be left on the shelf.
But if you had to pick between Aldi and Lidl’s Foster’s dupe then I would go for this one – it has the slightest edge.
TASTE: 5/10
VALUE: 9/10
TOTAL SCORE: 14/20
Galereux Premium Lager
- £3.95 (99p per 440ml can)
- 22p per 100ml
- 4.6% ABV
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I think I’ve found Lidl’s alternative to the more expensive cans of Stella Artois.
Yes the labelling is similar – but so is the taste.
It’s packed with a malty sweetness that’s balanced out by hoppy bitterness.
It has a great head when poured into a glass and gives a clean aftertaste.
The only downside to this beer is that it tastes a little less harsh – harsh in a good way – than the real Stella Artois indicating to me that it’s ever so slightly watered down.
But you can’t fault it for the price.
TASTE: 7/10
VALUE: 7/10
TOTAL SCORE: 14/20
M&S
Belgian Lager
- £5.50 (£1.38 per 440ml can)
- 31p per 100ml
- 5% ABV
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Delish! This one would make the perfect tinny for the train ride home.
It’s light and packed full of flavour but lacks the rancid aftertaste cheap lager can normally leave on the tongue.
I also like the fact it’s not overly sweet like other beers we tested.
It’s the most expensive beer that we tested – but the fact that it’s 5% makes it a worthwhile purchase if you’re after a nice beer buzz.
I’d reach for one of these to cool me down on a hot summer’s day.
TASTE: 10/10
VALUE: 6/10
TOTAL SCORE: 16/20
Sainsbury’s
Crown Lager
- £2.59 (65p per 440ml can)
- 15p per 100ml
- 4% ABV
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This is a solid canned lager.
But all I’m getting with each taste is – that’ll do.
It’s not blowing me away but that doesn’t mean it’s got poor taste.
It’s crisp and refreshing with a similar profile to Heineken – but it’s lacking a fully developed flavour that you’d expect.
I wouldn’t rush back for it, but I certainly wouldn’t turn it down if it was ice cold on a hot day.
It’s price matched to Aldi’s own-label lager which makes it great value too.
TASTE: 6/10
VALUE: 10/10
TOTAL SCORE: 16/20
