Malta Guinness vs Supermalt at a glance
| Malta Guinness | Supermalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Taste | Rich and full, sweet, with a gentle bitterness from the hops | Lighter and less bitter, with a more rounded sweetness |
| Calories | Around 56–57 kcal per 100ml in published nutrition data — roughly 185–190 kcal a 330ml can | Check the nutrition panel on the can — we do not hold a verified Supermalt label |
| Sugar | Around 11g per 100ml in published nutrition data | Check the can — recipes and labels differ between markets |
| Where made | Nigeria (the cans we sell) | Denmark |
| Price in the UK | £28.99 for 24 × 330ml cans at RegiPay Stores | We do not sell Supermalt; prices vary from shop to shop |
| Availability | Specialist African grocers, some supermarkets, and online — including here | Widely available in high street shops and many supermarkets |
Flavour descriptions are subjective. They are the descriptions people most often give, not the result of a lab test, and the only way to settle the argument in your own house is to pour both cold and taste them side by side.
What the two drinks have in common
Both are malt drinks — sometimes called malta or malt soda. A malt drink is brewed from barley malt, water and hops, much like the first stages of making beer, but it is never fermented into alcohol. Sugar or glucose syrup is usually added, which is where the toffee-like sweetness and the dark brown colour come from. The Malta Guinness we sell lists water, barley malt, hops, caramel colour and carbon dioxide on its pack, and it contains cereals containing gluten (barley), so it is not suitable for anyone avoiding gluten.
Neither is a beer. The Guinness name and the stout-like colour cause endless confusion, but both are soft drinks and both are sold as non-alcoholic. They are what many West African and Caribbean families pour for children, for guests who do not drink, and for anybody at a wedding, naming ceremony or Christmas gathering who wants something richer than a cola.
Where they differ
The difference most people notice first is weight. Malta Guinness tastes fuller and heavier, with a bitter edge from the hops that balances the sweetness. Supermalt is often described as lighter and smoother, with less of that bitterness, which is why some people who find Malta Guinness too intense prefer it.
Origin and habit matter too. Malta Guinness is the best-known malt drink in Nigeria and Ghana, so for many Nigerian households in the UK it is the taste of home, and it is the one most likely to be expected at a party. Supermalt is brewed in Denmark and has been on British shelves for decades; because it is made in Europe it is often easier to pick up in a corner shop, and it is especially popular in Caribbean households.
Which should you buy?
Choose Malta Guinness if you are catering for a Nigerian or Ghanaian crowd, you like a full, rich malt with some bitterness, or you want to buy by the case for parties and the cupboard. A box of 24 is the practical way to buy it, and it is what we sell.
Choose Supermalt if you find Malta Guinness too heavy or too bitter, you want a lighter, rounder sweetness, or you only want a can or two and your local shop already stocks it.
If you are buying for a party and cannot decide, buy the drink your guests grew up with. For most Nigerian families in the UK that is Malta Guinness — and it pairs well with jollof, fried rice and small chops. For a deeper look at all three big brands, including Maltina, read our Malta Guinness vs Maltina vs Supermalt guide.
A word on sugar
Malt drinks are sweet. At around 11g of sugars per 100ml in published data, Malta Guinness sits just under the 11.25g per 100ml line that UK front-of-pack labels use for a "high" sugar drink. Treat either brand like any other sweetened soft drink, and read the panel on the can you actually buy, because recipes can change.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malta Guinness the same as Guinness beer?
No. Malta Guinness is a non-alcoholic malt drink, and the cans we sell are made in Nigeria. It is brewed from barley malt and hops but is not fermented into alcohol, so it contains no alcohol.
Which is healthier — Malta Guinness or Supermalt?
Neither is a health drink: both are non-alcoholic, sweetened malt soft drinks. Malta Guinness has around 56–57 kcal and 11g of sugars per 100ml in published data. For Supermalt, check the nutrition panel on the can you buy.
Where can I buy Malta Guinness in the UK?
Malta Guinness is available online from RegiPay Stores in boxes of 24 × 330ml cans, with delivery across the UK.