McEwan's Champion

McEwan's Champion

Bottle: Filtered
Award Winning Premium Beer
Full-bodied, Smooth and Complex

Used to be known as No 1; then in 1997 it was re-named No 1 Champion Ale after winning a Tesco bottled beer competition; renamed in 2004 to Champion.

Production moved from Fountain to John Smiths in Dec 2004.
Also see Gordon Highland Scotch.

Production moved to Bedford in late 2011 following the acquisition of the McEwan’s and Younger’s brands by Wells & Youngs from Heineken.
3.3
352 reviews
Bedford, England

Community reviews

3.3 Old rating from 06-08-15 - 500ml bottle, pours a dark brown colour with a light brown head. Aromas of fruit and malt. Tastes of sweetness, as well as fruit and malt with a real feel of the ABV. Enjoyable
3.5 Brown body, beige head. Nutty, malty and sweet, with a slight bitter finish. Medium mouthfeel and not overpowered by the alcohol strength. Nice drink.
3.1 Jan 2021. 500ml dark bottle, filtered, from Tesco for less than £1.50. Fucking awesome value for money. Ignore anyone who tells you this is a Wee Heavy or other rot. This is a strong ale - same as an English Strong Ale or even, with the strength and the noticeable robust hopping, an original IPA - now normally brewed in the UK as a beer classed as a Premium Bitter or ESB. This is brewed in England, if that helps people's understanding! This is comparable with a Fuller's Vintage Ale or ESB, or somewhere between them. it's a cracking, old fashioned British strong ale. The history of IPA is entwined in this. I like this. Probably more than I used to back in the days when proper beer was more commonplace than it is with craft fucking nonsense lager beer everywhere and replacing proper beer. [ 3.5] Jan, 2005: Filtered Bottle. A Head to Head with Fuller’s 1845. An interesting match - an English strong ale against a Scottish strong ale. Both are dark red - though the Scotch is darker, less attractive. Malty aroma combined with unpleasant fridge ice and tin from the artificial carbonation. Some buttery notes and a hint of diacetyl. Though not strictly top quality, the aroma is more enjoyable than it sounds. This would be a very attractive aroma if the beer were bottle conditioned. Mouthfeel is a little cheap and rough from the filtering, pasteurising and artificial carbonisation, but the taste is very pleasant and attractive. Sweet and malty with just a little push of earthy hops in the background, coming in warmer in the finish and growing in strength to contrast the sweetness. The actual strength of 7.3% is hardly noticeable, except late in the finish, and deep in the belly. Lots of caramel. Can be just a bit boring; just a bit over bearing; especially contrasted with the more wide-ranging Fullers, but I like this. Given the right treatment, this could be a class act. As it stands at the moment it’s simply an enjoyable strong malty brew. [3.0] Sept, 2002: Filtered Bottle. A fine malty beer, with all the complex flavours that come with a good malt brew. This has a lot in common with a milk stout - dark fruits and an agreeable sweetness with the added twist of licorice. A splendid drink, but not one for those who like hops. [3.0]
3.2 Pite jakiś czas temu. Ocena w celu uzupełnienia profilu. https://www.instagram.com/czgr_
3.6 500ml bottle on 25th January 2021. Pours deep brown with yellowy white foam and scant lacing. Nutty caramel aroma. Nutty malt wash, with transients of cherry fruits. A nutty malt finish. Plenty of body and a smooth mouthfeel.
2.4 Not really my favourite style but reasonably palatable. The main flavour is pleasant, but something about the finish isn't for me. Does have a nice abv if like me you happen to be a student trying to get drunk.
2.3 Õlle on selline jook, et iga uus kord kui klaasi või pudeli suule tõstad, siis leiad midagi uut, sõltuvalt tuhandest-miljonist pisiasjast, mis hetke olukorda mõjutavad. Seega piirdun iga õlle juures selle tekstiga.
3.2 500ml bottle from Kaufland, drunk at home on a cold November evening. Clear deep garnet, a thick fine head, plenty of lacing and even a long-lasting stream of rising carbonation. On the nose, rum and raisin, caramel, hints of spices and easter buns, a dash of cinnamon. In the mouth, dark sugar sweetness from the first sip, flavours similar to the aromas but lighter, dryness that thins the texture, mild bitterness that rises into the finish as the sugar abates. Too sweet and not complex enough in the mouth, but very drinkable nevertheless.
2.6 500ml bottle from Waitrose W-S-M. Pours clear dark reddish brown with an off-white head. Aroma: fruity, caramel sweetish malty, nuts. Taste: light to moderate sweet & moderate bitter, caramel, toasted nuts, some dark fruits, chocolate hints. Medium body with average carbonation. Supposedly a classic but not for me.
3.6 Solid beer! The description on the bottle full-bodied, smooth and complex is correct. The taste is smooth with great depth but with underlying hints of clove and sweetness of caramel. Let this beer settle drink slower the sweet tones seem to come later towards the bottom of the glass.
3.5 Available in Tescos, Aldi and other places over London and South East England. That's great, because I think this is the best widely-available beer in England. Good if slightly granular head with nice lacing, malty, leathery nose that carries on into a quite beautiful sweetness that hides its 7.3% ABV rather well. Depends what style of ale you like, but if you like it chewy and don't want to pay micro-brewery prices, buy this.
3.4 Bottle given to me as a gift. An amber coloured pour with a medium off white head on top. Malty, caramel, dark fruit aroma and taste. Wasn't expecting to like this but it is actually alright and quite drinkable.
3.1 Spice cake aroma; some coffee. Sweet caramel, biscuity flavour. Subtle bitterness. Enjoyed more than I thought I might.
3.7 500 ml bottle from Tesco, bb 30/01/2021 Dark amber/red, clear, light beige head. Nose - dried fruit, earthy tones, toffee. Taste - dried fruit, bit of toffee. Sweet start, bitter finish. Not bad.
3.6 50cl bottle thanks to @simontomlinson and EuroSwap 2/2020. Pours opaque reddish brown with beige head. Aroma is sweet nutty malts. Taste is clean with creamy mouthfeel. Sweet and malty, but nicely balanced. Really nice beer without anything fancy.
3.8 Bottle BBE in 12 months. Mahogany appearance, light beige head that leaves lacing. Aroma of a darkish malts, caramel and chocolate. Taste is similar but also has a biscuit flavour, a hint of dark fruits and quite sweet. Lovely soft carbonation, good body and very smooth. The ABV is very noticeable more so than some wines at 12%. I think this is a good thing as it makes you sip and savour the beer which has enough complexity to excite. For me this is superior to McEwan's Headspace by a long shot.
3.3 500ml bottle from Tesco, Leatherhead. Pours ruby with a thin beige head. Aroma of malt, dried fruit and alcohol. Taste of bread and raisins. Initially sweet mouthfeel with a bitter finish.
3.7 500ml bottle brewed in England at 7.3%. Chestnut brown with a good-sized and duration head. Toffee aroma with a hint of sultana (and maybe even minute sulphur?). Lowish carbonation, but feels muted due to the fairly thick consistency. Tangy dark and dried fruits are the star of the show here, raisin and even cherry make themselves known, and are lifted up somewhat with a beleaguered toffee malt. Has a sort of Marmite on toast character, what with the tangy fruit elements and slight dry tannins. If you squint there's even a woody note in here. Not bad at all, and great bang for your buck ABV-wise on supermarket shelves - if that's a concern for you! No alcohol burn. Interesting and decent; fairly complex, and a decided step or three above McEwan's Export.
3.4 Pours an amber colour ale with a beige coloured head Notes of citrus fruits and strawberries fruits and berries Bottle version
4.3 Favourite dark ale. Thick and toffee, treacle taste. Great
3.6 Nose is malty, toast, caramel, hint of berry and toffee. Taste is caramel, hints of banana, fudge, malty, toast, very sweet, slight row cherry.
3.6 Bottle from Tesco 4 for £6. Pours a clear mahogany colour with a thinnish off-white head. Aromas of dry dark fruits, caramel, fruit cake, nuts and brown bread . Taste has similar notes to the aroma, malty, fairly sweet with added hints of chocolate and an earthy hop on the finish. Full bodied with a smooth oily and slightly sticky mouthfeel. Aftertaste is sweet, dark fruit, caramel, chocolate and an earthy hop. Pretty good
3.5 Bottle 50 cl, bought at Sainsbury's, Pimlico, London. Warming, yet not boozy.
4.2 Dark chestnut colour with brief tan head. Aroma, sweet and malty - Coca Cola, dried fruits. Likewise in flavour, dark dried berries, malt, biscuit, with sweetness. Rich and smooth on the palate. High in alcohol, but the alcohol taste doesn’t intrude. Look out! Enjoyed this beer a lot. Drank it on Election Day 2019 whilst the SNP were also enjoying being champions.
3.7 Had this a few times, but I believe this has got better. Allow me to explain... BTW Bottle from Morrison's: 4 for £6! smells and looks wonderful, dark, deep amber classic ale. Screams out to be drunk after a long day of work on a cold autumn/winters night in a dark room. So fruity on the nose, cherries, cranberries, cinnamon, sweet malt and treacle tart. Hint of pears? taste is sweet, thick, jammy, liquor and malt and honey. Its fat and full bodied, cloying but never too much. 1 bottle is enough due to the 7.3%. Wonderful stuff and a homage to stronger better quality home-brews that we all end up turning our hand to.
3.4 Chewy, warm and a little too much. Nice beer but one is more than enough.
4.7 One of the classics I really enjoy. Warming, dark, enjoyable and not too harsh. It smells a bit like candy canes. Very similar to other strong ales such as King goblin. Leaves a bit of an aftertaste for a while (in a good way). A bit of a tang on the end of my tongue. Well worth getting 4 for £6 at supermarkets of this ale. It's a huge favourite anyway, but the ultimate experience would be on a cold winters afternoon with perhaps a bit of fog and ground frost, taking a bottle into rural country fields and savouring it. Perhaps even used as one for the start of a session that's followed by session ales. Perfect..... April 2022: Yep, still as fantastic as ever. Still at the top of its game for a strong ale. When you just fancy the one, for a massive ale enthusiast such as myself, the low pre 4% ales just taste like tap water after being able to enjoy and savour champion on other occasions. It's one I find myself going back to time and time again. The review is also based on availability (every supermarket sells it I believe). That warming blend, malty, slightly sour at the end, instant warming. 100's of strong bitters (6-8%) tried over the years and this is still at the top of my list.
5.0 Bought this beer from Tesco superstore in Nottingham , you get 4 bottle for £6, you just truly cannot believe the lovely smooth taste of this ale when you consider the rather huge strength, 7.3 %..!! It tastes more like a smooth 4.5 % ..sweet after taste on the tongue. I'm a huge fan of this champion beer from guys who have proved they know there oats :)
3.9 2016 07 10 Butelka 0,5 l. Piana barwy brudnej bieli, obfita i gęsta, opada do grubej warstewki, piękny lacing. Piwo ma kolor ciemnobrązowe, pod światło miedziany, jest lekko zmętnione. W aromacie średnio intensywne nuty opiekane, karmelowe, toffi, czerwonych owoców. W smaku słodkawe, lekko alkoholowe, wyczuwalne nuty orzechowe, toffi, karmelowe oraz ziołowo-korzenne. W ustach odczucie średniej pełni i średnio wysokiego wysycenia, goryczka średnio niska, równoważy dość wyraźną słodycz. Smaczne piwo w dobrej cenie.
5.0 A superb beer