Carlsberg Marston’s has been accused of “wiping out UK brewing heritage” following a decision to cut a number of beers sold in pubs.
Eleven beers would be affected, including classic ales Banks’s Mild and Bombardier, although some would continue to be available in other forms after being taken out of production in cask or keg format.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said it was a “sad and disappointing decision”, with Banks’s Mild being among the first beers made by the 150-year-old Wolverhampton brewery.
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) said it remained “passionate about cask ale and delivering a sustainable, successful future for this important part of British beer culture”.
The company said it had taken the decision following a review of its products and it had taken the decision to cut production where demand had declined.
The affected beers are Banks’s Mild, Banks’s Sunbeam, Bombardier (keg), Eagle IPA, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Mansfield Dark Smooth (keg), Mansfield Original Bitter (keg), Marston’s Old Empire, Marston’s 61 Deep, Ringwood Boondoggle and Ringwood Old Thumper.
Amber Bitter and Pedigree to stay
Carlsberg Marston’s said Jennings Cumberland ale, Marston’s Old Empire IPA and Ringwood Boondoggle will continue to be sold as bottled beer.
In addition, Banks’s Mild will still be sold in keg, and in can, and Bombardier Amber Beer will be available in cask and in bottles.
“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,” a spokesperson for Carlsberg Marstons said.
Gillian Hough, from CAMRA, said the move was “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,” she said.
Earlier this year the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company announced it would close Banks’s Brewery in Wolverhampton as part of restructuring.
But it also announced “significant investments” to its Northampton and Burton breweries.
Terry Cole, the landlord of the Royal Oak, close to the Bank’s brewery in Wolverhampton, said his pub sold about 200 pints of Bank’s Mild every week.
But Mr Cole said he believed there was “no going back” and that “the world has to evolve and we have to move on”.
He said he could understand why the company was cutting its less popular ales and he understood Bank’s Mild was a “regional ale”, popular in the West Midlands, but not as popular nationally.
Nevertheless, he said his customers would be disappointed and it would be hard to find a replacement.
Warinder Juss, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton West, said he was “concerned” by the decision to cut back on some beers.
He said: “I’ve had a meeting with them where they assured me that they will continue to brew the Bank’s beer that we are all accustomed to.”
“I think it is probably time to have another meeting with them,” he added.
