Where is Efes Pilsener brewed?
By Mark Porter Last checked 9 September 2026 How we check
Efes Pilsener is sold as a beer from Turkey. It is brewed in Britain, at Ashford, Kent.
What to drink instead 6 beers on the same shelves that are what they say
Every beer on the shelf by strength · How the units are worked out
More about the brand: rights, style, when it was created, where it is brewed at home
What we have not confirmed
The Grocer (8 April 2026) reports that Efes Pilsener for the UK is now brewed under licence by Sunrise Beverages at Curious Brewery in Ashford, Kent, at 5%, in a 660ml bottle and 4 x 440ml and 10 x 330ml cans, sold through Tesco. That is a trade report rather than the pack: we have not been able to read Tesco's listings, and no other major supermarket lists it, so UK brewing rests on The Grocer's report, which names the brewery.
If you have a can or bottle to hand, the producer's name and address in the small print would settle it.
In short
Efes Pilsener is sold in Britain as a beer from Turkey. The cues are Turkish brand named after Ephesus, sold heavily through Turkish restaurants in the UK. The beer in UK shops is brewed at Ashford, Kent by Sunrise Beverages at Curious Brewery. The UK version is 5.0%; we have not confirmed the strength in Turkey. The brand belongs to Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii A.S..
What to buy instead of Efes Pilsener
Efes Pilsener is sold as Turkish and brewed in Britain, at Ashford, Kent, at 5.0%.
| Beer | Why it is on the list | Strength here |
|---|---|---|
| Peroni Nastro AzzurroThe same style, genuinely imported from elsewhere | Brewed at Rome, Padua and Bari in Italy. 5.1% here, 0.1 percentage points stronger than Efes Pilsener. | 5.1% |
| Damm DauraThe same style, genuinely imported from elsewhere | Brewed at Barcelona in Spain. 5.4% here, 0.4 percentage points stronger than Efes Pilsener. | 5.4% |
| Sabor Premium LagerThe same style, genuinely imported from elsewhere | Brewed in Spain. 4.6% here, 0.4 percentage points weaker than Efes Pilsener. | 4.6% |
| SagresThe same style, genuinely imported from elsewhere | Brewed at Vialonga in Portugal. 5.0% here, the same strength as Efes Pilsener. | 5.0% |
| Birra IchnusaThe same style, genuinely imported from elsewhere | Brewed at Assemini, Sardinia in Italy. 4.7% here, 0.3 percentage points weaker than Efes Pilsener. | 4.7% |
| M&S Spanish LagerThe same style, genuinely imported from elsewhere | Brewed in Spain. 4.5% here, 0.5 percentage points weaker than Efes Pilsener. | 4.5% |
Chosen by rule, not by taste, and no beer pays to appear: how the list is made.
Who has brewed it here
| Years | Brewer | Site | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to now | Sunrise Beverages, under licence from Anadolu Efes, at Curious Brewery | Ashford, Kent | thegrocer.co.uk |
Questions people ask
Where is Efes Pilsener brewed?
The beer sold in the UK is brewed at Ashford, Kent by Sunrise Beverages at Curious Brewery.
Is Efes Pilsener brewed in the UK?
Yes. It is brewed at Ashford, Kent.
Is Efes Pilsener really Turkish?
The branding is Turkish, but the beer sold in Britain is brewed in the UK at Ashford, Kent.
Who owns Efes Pilsener?
Efes Pilsener is owned by Anadolu Efes Biracilik ve Malt Sanayii A.S., headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey.
What strength is Efes Pilsener in the UK?
Efes Pilsener is 5.0% ABV in the UK. A UK pint is 2.8 units.
Last checked 9 September 2026. How we check.
Sources
- 365 Drinks (retailer) (365drinks.co.uk): UK retailer describes stock as imported from Turkey
- The Grocer (thegrocer.co.uk), 8 April 2026: 'production of Efes Pilsener has moved to Curious Brewery in Kent, where it is being brewed under licence by Sunrise Beverages'; landed in Tesco as a 660ml bottle, 4 x 440ml and 10 x 330ml cans; 'It carries the same 5% abv as the Efes brewed overseas.'
Spotted an error?Tell us what the pack says and we will check it. mark@pretendpint.com