Clarkson's $38 Pint

[Clint Yeastwood]

I have been watching Clarkson's Farm. I just saw the episode where he opens his second pub, where he sells his Hawkstone beers. He started with a lager, for some ridiculous reason, and it looks like the only ale "he" makes is an IPA. I realize this is technically a British style, but in 2025, it just makes his pub look American. He really needs to make some styles that seem more at home on his funny little island.

He has one pale ale, but it's made with rice.

Here's the amazing thing: I saw a menu board on the show, and it said one Hawkstone costs $38. That's a three and an eight.

This is worse than the $37 I paid for my wife's Singapore sling at the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel, and it's even worse than the $7.35 I refused to pay for tap water at a restaurant in Lucerne, Switzerland.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Well, a source on the web says a pint is more like $8, so I'm not sure why they wrote 28 pounds on the menu board. Perhaps it was some variant of dry British humor.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

 

[MaxStout]

Well, a source on the web says a pint is more like $8, so I'm not sure why they wrote 28 pounds on the menu board. Perhaps it was some variant of dry British humor.

Maybe the other 20 quid was the mandatory "service charge."

 

[505-Brewer]

Lager makes (business) perfect sense.

 

[HM-2]

Hawkstone is basically analogous to those celebrity tequila brands like 818. Average product at ludicrous prices.

 

[Halfakneecap]

Hawkstone is basically analogous to those celebrity tequila brands like 818. Average product at ludicrous prices.

Yep, there is a certain type of person who simply must buy the latest trendy whatever, the more expensive the better.

 

[madscientist451]

I have been watching Clarkson's Farm.

If you are going to watch "reality" shows, then you shouldn't expect anything that's actually real....

 

[Northern_Brewer]

I have been watching Clarkson's Farm. I just saw the episode where he opens his second pub, where he sells his Hawkstone beers. He started with a lager, for some ridiculous reason, and it looks like the only ale "he" makes is an IPA. I realize this is technically a British style, but in 2025, it just makes his pub look American. He really needs to make some styles that seem more at home on his funny little island.

Being somewhat familiar with the beer industry on our funny little island - that makes total sense, it's where the market is at. The beer market here splits roughly 70% lager - 20% ale - 10% Guinness. Trad brown bitter is dying on its ar$e.

He has one pale ale, but it's made with rice.

Nice to see him following traditional practices in the UK, such as this pale ale from Barclay Perkins in 1900 :
https://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2024/03/lets-brew-1900-barclay-perkins-pa.html

Here's the amazing thing: I saw a menu board on the show, and it said one Hawkstone costs $38. That's a three and an eight.

I just can't believe that - I can only imagine it's for a pitcher, minikeg etc, or something else under the Hawkstone brand. Screenshot?

The average price of a draught pint in the UK is £5.17, which is spot on US$7.00 (= €6.13, C$9.58, A$10.74, NZ%$11.58) - and that includes duty, 20% tax and we don't really do tips at the bar.
https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk...ata-shows-average-pint-price-in-pubs-now-517/

Yeah, it's a bit like those celebrity tequilas without the daft pricing, but there's a big market for that kind of stuff. His schtick plays well with a certain kind of person and Hawkstone is now breaking out into a national brand, in supermarkets etc.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

More like 6-7# per pint.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

So actually £6.75, or US$9.13 per 20oz pint (and including tax). Bit expensive but not out of line for the posh area he lives in.

Did you see the Challenge 25 and assume that was a product rather than the requirement to ID anyone who looks under the age of 25?
It's unusual to have it so prominently on the blackboards, which makes me think they've been caught serving under-age...

 

[HM-2]

More like 6-7# per pint.

£10.40 for a double of vodka is ridiculous when you can pick up a 70cl bottle of craft stuff for £18.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

£10.40 for a double of vodka is ridiculous when you can pick up a 70cl bottle of craft stuff for £18.

Yes it's pricey. But come to the US and you'll see $10-12 cocktails everywhere (and often more), for singles.