Brewed Where?

Which beers sold as foreign are brewed in Britain, and what to buy instead

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Where is Carlsberg Special Brew brewed?

Sold as foreign, brewed in Britain Verified Last checked 5 September 2026

Carlsberg Special Brew is sold as a beer from Denmark. It is brewed in Britain, at Northampton, Northamptonshire.

Brewed for the UK in
Northampton, Northamptonshire (Carlsberg Brewery)
Brewed in Britain
Sold as a beer from
Denmark
Carlsberg branding and the Churchill-in-Copenhagen origin story used in the product copy
Brewed in (country)
United Kingdom
Brand owner
Carlsberg Group
HQ: Copenhagen, Denmark
UK rights held by
Carlsberg Britvic (owned)
UK strength
7.5%
Strength at home (Denmark)
Not established
UK Special Brew is 7.5% ABV. It has been reduced in strength more than once over the years (widely reported as 9% historically, then 8%), but no primary or trade-press source was found to confirm those steps and dates within this research, so they are not recorded here.
Style
Strong Lager
Brand created
Denmark; year not established
Brewed at home in
Denmark (Carlsberg Danmark) for the original Danish product
What the UK label says
“Country of Origin: United Kingdom. Packed In: United Kingdom. Carlsberg UK Ltd, Northampton, NN1 1PZ.”
Source: www.asda.com

In short

Carlsberg Special Brew is sold in Britain as a beer from Denmark. The cues are Carlsberg branding and the Churchill-in-Copenhagen origin story used in the product copy. Since 2025 it has been brewed at Northampton, Northamptonshire by Carlsberg Britvic; before that Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company made it at Northampton. The UK version is 7.5%; the strength in Denmark is not established. The brand belongs to Carlsberg Group, which also owns Banks's and Bombardier in the UK. On the recipe: Retailer copy repeats the story that Special Brew was created to mark a Winston Churchill visit to Copenhagen; the Tesco listing gives the year as 1940 and the Asda listing 1950. The label says: "Country of Origin: United Kingdom. Packed In: United Kingdom. Carlsberg UK Ltd, Northampton, NN1 1PZ."

Who has brewed it here

YearsBrewerSiteSource
2020 to 2025Carlsberg Marston's Brewing CompanyNorthampton (inferred)carlsbergbritvic.co.uk
2025 to nowCarlsberg BritvicNorthamptoncarlsbergbritvic.co.uk

What changed

Questions people ask

Where is Carlsberg Special Brew brewed?

The beer sold in the UK is brewed at Northampton, Northamptonshire by Carlsberg Britvic.

Is Carlsberg Special Brew brewed in the UK?

Yes. It is brewed at Northampton, Northamptonshire.

Is Carlsberg Special Brew really Danish?

The branding is Danish, but the beer sold in Britain is brewed in the UK at Northampton, Northamptonshire.

Who owns Carlsberg Special Brew?

Carlsberg Special Brew is owned by Carlsberg Group, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the UK the brand is handled by Carlsberg Britvic.

What strength is Carlsberg Special Brew in the UK?

Carlsberg Special Brew is 7.5% ABV in the UK.

What does the Carlsberg Special Brew label say about where it is brewed?

The UK label text on record reads: "Country of Origin: United Kingdom. Packed In: United Kingdom. Carlsberg UK Ltd, Northampton, NN1 1PZ."

See also

Tuborg Green
Origin not established · 4.6% · sold as Danish
Partly verified
Birrificio Angelo Poretti 4 Luppoli
Northampton · 4.8% · sold as Italian
Brewed here Verified
Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn Lager
Mixed supply · 5.2% · sold as American
Partly verified
Holsten Pils
Northampton · 5.0% · sold as German
Brewed here Verified
Mythos
Northampton · 4.6% · sold as Greek
Brewed here Verified
Skol
Northampton · 2.8% · sold as Scandinavian
Brewed here Partly verified

Every beer sold as Denmark · What else is brewed at Northampton, Northamptonshire · Every brand owned by Carlsberg Group

Sources

  1. Carlsberg Britvic (carlsbergbritvic.co.uk), 5 September 2026: Carlsberg Special Brew listed at 7.5% ABV, brand origin Denmark
  2. Tesco (tesco.com), 5 September 2026: 7.5% ABV; Churchill origin story with a 1940 date that conflicts with other accounts
  3. Asda (asda.com), 5 September 2026: Carlsberg Special Brew Strong Lager Beer Cans 4 x 440ml: alcohol by volume 7.5; Country of Origin United Kingdom; Packed In United Kingdom; manufacturer 'Carlsberg UK Ltd, Northampton, NN1 1PZ.' Product copy: 'Specially brewed in 1950 to mark a visit to our brewery by Sir Winston Churchill'.