Carlsberg has been accused of ‘wiping out’ British brewing heritage after it axed 11 classic beers including Bombardier and Banks’s Mild.
Drinkers will see a further reduction in choice as the Danish brewing giant withdraws eight cask ales and three kegged beers from pubs by the end of the year.
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company’s (CMBC) decision to delist the beers has sparked a backlash – after it had previously shut down Cumbria-based Jennings Brewery.
It has also sold the Eagle Brewery in Bedford to Spanish beer maker Damm and announced the closure of Wolverhampton’s Banks’s Brewery in its 150th year.
The announcement deals a fresh blow to British brewing, with The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) warning the latest cuts would massively impact consumer choice and industry jobs.
Comedian Bob Mortimer was the face of Wells Bombardier, which is marketed as ‘the drink of England’
Gillian Hough, vice chairman of Camra, said: ‘This is another example of a globally owned business wiping out UK brewing heritage.
‘I hope that this change will mean space on the bar for licensees to stock guest beers from local independent breweries, but realistically, I suspect this isn’t what CMBC plans.
‘This loss of consumer choice is the inevitable outcome of a brewing conglomerate run by accountants and the bottom line. This is a sad and disappointing decision that puts both the history and the future of British brewing in jeopardy.’
Jennings Cumberland Ale and Ringwood Boondoggle will also become extinct due to a ‘falling demand for the beers’, CMBC said.
Bombardier, which was first brewed by Charles Wells in 1980, is marketed as ‘the drink of England’ and said to be inspired by heavyweight boxing champion Billy Wells, who was British and British Empire champion from 1911 until 1919.
The comedian Bob Mortimer later became the face of the brand.
Bombardier was first brewed by Charles Wells in 1980
Carlsberg took full control of CMBC in July after Marston’s, which dates back to 1834, sold its remaining 40 per cent stake in the company for £206m.
CAMRA has described the axing of the iconic ales as further evidence of the negative impact consolidation in the brewing industry was having on consumer choice.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated the original merger of Carlsberg UK and Marston’s PLC to form CMBC but eventually gave its go ahead to the deal.
It comes at a difficult time for the pub and brewing trade, with an industry group warning of a £650m hit to the sector from Labour’s recent Budget.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, warned venues will shut, jobs will be lost and the price of a pint will go up following a string of tax rises.
Brewers and pub companies have been left ‘reeling’ after being let down by Rachel Reeves last month, she said.
Higher costs faced by pubs include National Insurance contributions paid by employers (NICs), the National Minimum Wage and a new workers’ rights package, will heap extra pressure onto firms.
A CMBC spokesman said: ‘As the UK’s largest cask ale brewer, CMBC is passionate about cask ale and delivering a sustainable, successful future for this important part of British beer culture.
‘Like any brewer, we are always reviewing our lines to best appeal to our consumers and help grow cask ale while delivering the highest quality brews.
‘Understandably, where demand has sadly declined, we must make the difficult choice to de-list beers.
‘We continue to invest in and launch new cask ales, as well as support popular traditional cask ales, ranging from Banks’s amber bitter to Marston’s Pedigree.’
