Hidden health risks of trendy craft beer

THEY are painstakingly brewed to win over discerning ale lovers – and have been embraced by the middle classes.

But craft beers can be as potent as the ciders or super-strength lagers favoured by street drinkers – and officials fear they could be fuelling alcohol-related health problems.

Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco are among chains selling craft beers and ales with more than 9 per cent alcohol-by-volume. Brewdog’s Mr President American Double IPA, at 9.2 per cent, is sold in 300ml bottles at Tesco for £2.10. Just one has 3.04 units of alcohol – almost a quarter of the weekly recommended maximum of 14 units.

James Calder, of the Society of Independent Brewers, said Belgian beers, stouts and some IPAs ‘have more interesting and complex flavours ... the higher [alcohol content] is simply part of that traditional style of brewing’.

But Andrew Misell, of Alcohol Change, warned: ‘If we drink these as we would a weaker beer, we’re in danger of drinking a lot more than we intend.’