Carlsberg Red Barley

Category – Beer, lager, pilsner, bottled, 4.6% abv

Available – From this week

Location – The UK, initially at Liverpool FC’s stadium, then global roll-out to Carlsberg events in on-premise

Price – Not specified

Carlsberg has teamed up with longstanding sponsorship partner Liverpool FC to launch a limited edition variant with a red theme. Carlsberg Red Barley launches at the football club’s stadium later this week before rolling out to several markets in the on-premise channel.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The pilsner lager has been produced by “brewmasters and scientists at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory in Copenhagen” and gets its red colour from a strain of barley.

“When we were set the challenge of brewing an all-red beer for Liverpool FC fans, … we knew it wouldn’t be easy,” said the head of the company’s research laboratory, Birgitte Skadhauge. “Unlike traditional red ales, the red colour of this pilsner comes from the outer-shell of the red barley variant – which has a relatively low climate-resistance and has therefore proved tricky to grow in the quantity we required for brewing. It’s taken over a year of experimentation, but we’re delighted that our team have finally been able to crack it.”

The beer will be available for a limited – albeit unspecified – period at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium, before appearing at Carlsberg-arranged events in the on-premise in countries including Denmark, Sweden, Vietnam, China, India and Hong Kong.

Carlsberg has been a sponsor of Liverpool for the past 26 seasons.

Big beer versus craft beer – Is the fight finally over? – Click here for a just-drinks comment

Just Drinks Excellence Awards - Have you nominated?

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Drinks Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact. This is your chance to showcase your achievements, highlight industry advancements, and gain global recognition. Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today!

Nominate Now