Cans of Cunard Black, Cunard Gold and Cunard Red beers on the bar of the Golden Lion pub.

On board with Cunard Food and drink

Beers on board

With craft beers from the world’s finest breweries and our exclusive Cunard ales in association with Dark Revolution, the Golden Lion pub is the perfect place to pop in for a pint on board.

2 min 06 Aug 2021

Cristina Azorin

Cunard writer

For our British guests especially, the Golden Lion pub has always provided a taste of home on board. With a menu offering classic pub fare and a selection of ales on tap, sliding into one of its leather banquettes is akin to returning to your favorite local - warm, welcoming and familiar.

The comforting sense of deja vu, however, isn’t the only reason The Golden Lion is among our guests’ favorite places to enjoy a relaxed drink on board. Alongside a well-stocked selection of wines and spirits, guests can also enjoy a line-up of speciality beers from around the world, including three bespoke ales developed exclusively for Cunard by Dark Revolution Brewery.

Tasting flight of the Cunard beers: a small glass each of Cunard Gold, Cunard Red and Cunard Black, on the bar of the Golden Lion pub on board.

Cunard’s signature trio of craft beers combine international ingredients and specially-selected hops, all of which are unfiltered and unpasteurised to intensify the flavor profile. Hand-crafted in small batches, the selection includes a stout, a red IPA and a pilsner, named Cunard Black, Cunard Red and Cunard Gold respectively, with packaging reflective of our heritage and brand colors.

Available on draught, in cans and as a Tasting Flight, each Cunard Beer has its own unique character and distinct color.

Cunard Black

Cunard Black is a breakfast stout with a difference. Made with roasted British malts and Sumatran coffee, it’s a well-balanced brew, cleverly offsetting malty undertones with Spanish almonds and a silky hint of sweetness, provided by heady Madagascan vanilla.

Cunard Red

Our signature red IPA (India Pale Ale) expertly pairs floral-infused hops from America with robust British malts. Citrus flavors succeed in cutting through the fragrant notes, providing a delicate fruity equilibrium with a pleasingly zingy aftertaste.

Cunard Gold

As beautifully amber-hued as the sun rising over the ocean, Cunard Gold is a classic German-style pilsner brewed with flavorsome hops and British malts. It’s the perfect pint to savor on a warm summer’s day when its crisp, clean, finish provides the ultimate refreshment.

Tasting flight of the Cunard beers: a small glass each of Cunard Gold, Cunard Red and Cunard Black, on the bar of the Golden Lion pub on board.

The Golden Lion pub on board Cunard's Queen Victoria, showing bar with barstools and archway to main seating area with booths and tables

About Dark Revolution Brewery

Dark Revolution is a British microbrewery based in the cathedral town of Salisbury in the English county of Wiltshire. A familiar name among craft beer enthusiasts, the company prides itself on crafting quality beers that defy the norm and deliver mind-blowing flavor. A regular feature in UK alehouses, Dark Revolution’s passion for innovation and characterful ingredients is (by their own admission) unyielding - lending their beers a unique sensory quality that’s reflected in taste and aroma.

What makes Dark Revolution the perfect partner for brewing Cunard beers?

Dark Revolution is an award-winning microbrewery producing beers of outstanding quality, balance and finish. The scale and flexibility of the brewery, their ability to package draught beer to our on board requirements, and their enthusiasm for creating beers that are new and exciting make them the perfect partner for our first foray into own-brand beer.

Are the beers exclusive to Cunard?

Cunard Gold, Cunard Black and Cunard Red beers are exclusively brewed for Cunard voyages, and are only available to purchase on board Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2.

What inspired the packaging designs and who created them?

The inspiration behind the beer’s packaging came directly from elements of vintage Cunard posters. The front face of the design represents each ships’ iconic funnel, while the retro typeface was found in our White Star Service archive. Each label was individually custom-created by designer Adam Rowe, who works as part of our Cunard Studio team.

How will the beers be dispensed?

The beers are available on draught, in 330ml cans and as a Tasting Flight in the Golden Lion.

Selection of beers in copper ice bucket at Steakhouse at the Verandah

Beers from around the globe

Our Cunard beers are the latest addition to our signature range of drinks on board, which includes Private Label and Private Reserve wines, and our 3 Queens Gins. Each beer is available on draught, or in 330ml cans to take home – the perfect memento of your voyage or gift for a beer lover.

Of course it’s not just our own-brand beers you can discover when you sail with Cunard. We’ve scoured the world to curate a handpicked selection of ales and craft beers from some of the industry’s most renowned breweries, with a host of tempting options to satisfy beer enthusiasts on board. Here’s a look at some of the other hoppy concoctions you can enjoy on your next Cunard vacation.

Brooklyn Lager – American amber lager (5.2% ABV)

This award-winning amber lager from New York’s Brooklyn Brewery is ideal if you’re looking for a beer with a dry hop. Combining fragrant floral notes with pine, sour grapefruit, toffee and caramel accents, it has a distinctive aroma that plays with citrus and sugary flavor pairings.

Erdinger Weißbier – German wheat beer (5.3% ABV)

Blending malt richness and just a hint of bitterness, this German-brewed wheat beer is fresh, fruity and flavorsome – perfect for cooling down on a warm spring or summer’s day. It’s twice matured using traditional Bavarian techniques for a lively and aromatic finish.

Banana Bread Beer – Amber fruit beer (5.2% ABV)

Brewed using natural mineral water and Fairtrade bananas, added to a fine malt blend, this amber beer is both rich and fruity, combining sweet banoffee aromatics, peppery undertones and a silky smooth finish. Its characterful taste pairs perfectly with cheese, chocolate and nuts.

So.LA – West Coast pale ale (4.5%)

This light and refreshing West Coast pale ale packs in tons of zesty and citrus flavors, coupled with a heavy-hitting bitterness. Brewed using a combination of mosaic and citra hops, the result is a well-balanced beer that has a clean and crisp finish.