ABOUT PISSWATER

WHAT IS PISSWATER?

Exposing "foreign" beers that are actually brewed in UK factories.

🏭 Many "imported" lagers are brewed in Manchester or Wales

📉 Many have lower ABV than the original

🍬 Some contain glucose syrup that wouldn't be legal in their "home" country

HOW THE GAME WORKS

1

See a beer

We show you a beer with its supposed country of origin

2

Make your call

Is it actually legit? Or is it corporate pisswater?

3

Get the truth

We reveal where it's really brewed, who owns it, and what they've done to it

4

Drink better

We suggest a proper alternative worth your money

WHAT THIS ISN'T

❌ Not a beer review app

❌ Not Untappd

❌ Not a rating community

WHAT THIS IS

✅ A truth-exposure game

✅ A satire-driven education tool

✅ A discovery engine for proper alternatives

WHY WE BUILT THIS

You walk into a pub. You see Foster's with a big Australian flag. Stella with Belgian heritage. San Miguel trading on Spanish vibes (it’s Filipino). Kronenbourg with French sophistication.

It's all bollocks.

Many of these "imported" beers are brewed in Manchester, Wales, or Yorkshire. Many have lower alcohol than the original. Some contain ingredients that wouldn't be legal in their supposed home country.

We're not here to shame anyone for their beer choices. We're here to make sure you know what you're actually drinking — and help you find better options if you want them.

WHAT IS "BREWED UNDER LICENCE"?

When you see a beer is "brewed under licence," it means a UK brewery has paid for the right to use the brand name and (sometimes) recipe. They brew it locally using local water and often local ingredients.

The result? A beer that:

  • Has never been near its supposed country of origin
  • Often has a modified recipe for "local tastes" (read: cheaper production)
  • Frequently has lower ABV to avoid higher UK duty rates
  • Sometimes contains adjuncts (glucose, rice, maize) that the original wouldn't

Is it illegal? No. Is it misleading? Absolutely.

WHY DO UK BEERS HAVE LOWER ABV?

In the UK, beer duty increases at certain ABV thresholds. Specifically:

  • Beers above 2.8% ABV pay standard rates
  • Beers above 7.5% ABV pay even higher rates

Many brands reduce their UK ABV to hit lower duty bands or just to save on production costs. They're legally required to state the ABV, but they're not required to tell you it's lower than the "real" version.

So when Stella went from 5.2% to 4.6%, they saved money twice: cheaper to make, less duty to pay. You got less beer for the same price.

DATA ACCURACY & FAIR USE DISCLAIMER

We're not lawyers. We're not scientists. We're beer drinkers who got annoyed.

Pisswater exists to highlight differences between beer branding and real-world production. All information shown on this site is compiled from publicly available sources including brewery websites, UK retailer product pages, trade publications, and product labelling available at the time of research.

We aim to be accurate and fair. However:

  • Brewing locations may change without notice
  • Some brands operate both imported and UK licence-brewed versions
  • ABV and recipes may vary by batch, market, or packaging format

For this reason, Pisswater cannot guarantee that all details remain current at all times. Drinkers should always check the most recent product packaging for final confirmation.

Opinions vs Facts

The terms "pisswater", "legit", and similar verdicts are clearly presented as satirical opinion based on the factual data shown. They are not scientific or legal classifications. Humorous verdicts are clearly opinion, not fact.

GET IN TOUCH

Got a data correction? Want to suggest a beer? General feedback? Use the form below and we'll get back to you.

We’ll only use your details to respond to your message.

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🎮 PLAY BREWED OR BULLSHIT📋 VIEW THE PISSWATER INDEX