Beer has been brewed in England for thousands of years. As a beer brewing country, it is known for top fermented cask beer (also called real ale) which finishes maturing in the cellar of the pub rather than at the brewery and is served with only natural carbonation.
English beer styles include bitter, mild, brown ale and old ale. Stout, porter and India pale ale were also originally brewed in London. Lager increased in popularity from the mid-20th century. Other modern developments include the consolidation of large brewers into multinational corporations; the growth of beer consumerism; and the expansion of microbreweries and bottle-conditioned beers.