Where is Red Stripe brewed?
Red Stripe is sold as a beer from Jamaica. It is brewed in Britain, at Manchester.
What to drink instead 6 beers on the same shelves that are what they say
In short
On the shelf, Red Stripe presents as Jamaican: 'Jamaican Lager' on pack, stubby bottle, Jamaican flag colours and Kingston heritage. The UK supply comes out of Manchester, brewed by Heineken UK. It is the same strength here as at home: 4.7%. The brand belongs to Heineken N.V. (via Desnoes & Geddes Limited, Kingston). On the recipe: UK production means British water and malt rather than Jamaican; Heineken publishes no recipe comparison. The label says: "Country of origin United Kingdom; brewed by Heineken UK Limited."
Who has brewed it here
| Years | Brewer | Site | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? to 2015 | Diageo-controlled Desnoes & Geddes supply; UK production under Diageo's arrangements before Heineken took control | Jamaica and UK contract sites | thedrinksbusiness.com |
| 2016 to now | Heineken UK | Manchester | beerguild.co.uk |
Questions people ask
Where is Red Stripe brewed?
The beer sold in the UK is brewed at Manchester by Heineken UK.
Is Red Stripe brewed in the UK?
Yes. It is brewed at Manchester.
Is Red Stripe really Jamaican?
The branding is Jamaican, but the beer sold in Britain is brewed in the UK at Manchester.
Who owns Red Stripe?
Red Stripe is owned by Heineken N.V. (via Desnoes & Geddes Limited, Kingston), headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In the UK the brand is handled by Heineken UK Limited.
What strength is Red Stripe in the UK?
Red Stripe is 4.7% ABV in the UK. In Jamaica it is 4.7%.
Is Red Stripe weaker in the UK than in Jamaica?
No. It is 4.7% in both the UK and Jamaica.
See also
What else is brewed at Manchester · Every brand owned by Heineken N.V.
Sources
- Tesco (tesco.com), 5 September 2026: 4.7% vol, brewed by Heineken UK Limited, country of origin United Kingdom
- British Guild of Beer Writers (beerguild.co.uk), 1 January 2025: Red Stripe is brewed at Heineken's Manchester brewery
- The Drinks Business (thedrinksbusiness.com), 1 December 2015: Heineken acquired Diageo's 57.9% stake in Desnoes & Geddes, taking its total to 73.3%; UK ordering from Heineken from 30 December 2015 with first deliveries 2 January 2016
- second research pass (en.wikipedia.org): cited by second research pass
- second research pass (heineken.co.uk): cited by second research pass
- second research pass (petebrown.net): cited by second research pass