If Guinness is the global default, Beamish is the stout people talk about after they’ve graduated from the obvious order. It’s a proper Cork stout, loaded with Irish brewing heritage and a reputation that’s grown louder in recent years – partly because it’s excellent, and partly because it’s so hard to get your hands on outside Ireland.
In many ways, Beamish is the stout equivalent of a cult pub: not everywhere, not for everyone, but deeply loved by the people who know. It’s darker and drier than most mainstream stouts, with that roasted bite you actually want from a pint of stout – coffee edge, subtle chocolate bitterness, and a finish that doesn’t hang around too sweetly.
What makes Beamish special in London isn’t just the taste – it’s the hunt. Very few venues pour it, and when a London pub does get Beamish on tap, it becomes an event in itself. It’s the kind of pint that makes stout drinkers temporarily forget loyalty to whatever else is on the bar.
Beamish is also a reminder that stout doesn’t need to be reinvented, fruit-soured, or barrel-aged to be worth ordering. Sometimes it just needs to be poured properly, in the right pub, for the right crowd and Beamish ticks all three.
If you’re looking for a proper Irish stout with roast, dryness, and real character – and you don’t mind a little rarity – Beamish is absolutely worth seeking out.
Whilst on your stout mission, you can also read our guide to Guinness – the pint everyone orders, and the pour everyone judges.
Where can I find Beamish on tap?
Want to know which pubs are pouring Beamish right now? Use Where’s My Booze to search nearby venues, see live tap lists, and avoid the guesswork. Find the pint you want, where it’s actually pouring.