Danish beer-maker Carlsberg plans to cut 11 well-known British beers (including eight cask ales and three kegged drinks) from its line-up by Dec 2024‚ causing worry about UK brewing traditions
The changes come after Carlsberg Marstonʼs Brewing Company (CMBC) fully moved under Danish control earlier this year; the company has already closed down several uk-based facilities including the 150-year old Banksʼs Brewery in Wolverhampton
This is another example of a globally owned business wiping out UK brewing heritage
Among the affected drinks is Bombardier - a beer first made in the 80s and named after boxing champ Billy Wells‚ who held British titles in the early 1900s (Wells also served in the Royal Artillery). The brand got well-known for its st georges flag design and tv-ads with Bob Mortimer
The beer industry has seen many british companies go to foreign owners in recent times:
- Fullerʼs went to Japanese Asahi about 5 years ago
- Youngʼs sold its brewing part over 10 years back
- Marstonʼs sold its last shares to Carlsberg for £206m this summer
CMBC says its still committed to british beer-making: “We are passionate about cask ale and delivering a sustainable future for this important part of British beer culture‚“ but admits some drinks must go due to low sales numbers