Competition between brewers is also driving up quality and innovation which means a greater range of tastes and beer styles for drinkers.

Bath Ales Wild Hare (£2.08, 5% abv, 50cl, Tesco) is smooth, crisp and refreshing, made with organically grown pale ale malt and non-organic English hops and boasting beautifully fresh citrus, hoppy aromas with a dry, bitter finish.

Camden Town Brewery is one of London's most exciting breweries. Camden Town Hells Lager (£1.50 from £1.89, from now until August 25, 4.6% abv, 33cl, Waitrose) is a year-round brew but perfect for summer, the crisp, dry body is styled on a German Pilsner with a broad range of fruit and hops that give it a robust flavour.

One of the most famous names in craft beer, Aberdeen-based Brewdog go from strength to strength. Brewdog Punk IPA (£1.69, 5.6% abv, 33cl, brewdog.com) is a safe choice from their core range, but the Scottish brewers have just launched Hello, My Name is Metter Marit (£2.89, 8.2% abv, 33cl, brewdog.com) at double the usual abv in an Indian pale ale. Flavoured with Norwegian lingonberries, the aromas of red berries, complex malt and hops sends the taste-buds into a wild frenzy.

Hot on its heels, Innis & Gunn have released their second seasonal launch, Innis & Gunn Scottish Pale Ale (£2.25, 7% abv, 33cl, innisandgunn.

com). A golden ale that's well balanced with fresh, floral citrus notes and a generous hoppy mouthfeel, it finishes with a beguiling biscuity, toasty note.

There’s kudos attached to creating a really great India Pale Ale and micro brewery Meantime uses heaps of Golding hops in its Meantime London Pale Ale (£1.79, 4.3% abv, 33cl, Sainsbury’s). Uber-refreshing with a biscuity maltiness, citrusy profile and a bitter edge.