A record number of countries are now pulling more than a billion pints of UK beer in bars and restaurants across the world including Belgium and Australia, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss announced today.

New figures show the world has an ever increasing thirst for UK beer with our breweries exporting 1.1 billion pints to 113 countries in 2013 – more countries than ever before – generating £630 million for the UK economy supporting our long-term economic plan.

Today’s announcement coincides with the Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss’ visit to Ilkley Brewery in Yorkshire which reopened five years ago and now produces 50,000 pints a week, exporting to more than 10 countries.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said, "There's no doubt we’re world leading when it comes to our food and drink – Ilkley Brewery is a shining example - selling Yorkshire brewed beer to the bars of Tennessee and Georgia.

"And as a country we've had huge successes selling £630 million worth of our quality ale, lager and stout to restaurants, pubs and supermarkets abroad, building a stronger economy for the UK.

"We want to see British businesses build on this success. That’s why we’re supporting them, opening on average almost three new markets every week since 2010 and demonstrating to international companies how attractive it is to invest in the UK."

Speaking at the Tory Party Conference in Birmingham in September, Truss pledged to "Big up" the country's food and drink.