Nearly 2,000 pubs axe BrewDog beer
The Scottish brewer’s famous beer, Punk IPA, was hardest hit – disappearing from 1,980 venues, exclusive pub industry data has revealed. BrewDog said, “It’s not just us – every independent brewer has been affected.”
BrewDog beers have been scrapped by nearly 2,000 pubs across the UK.
The venues axing the Scottish-based brewer’s drinks are mostly chains owned by big pub companies, The Telegraph has revealed.
Last month, BrewDog announced the closure of 10 bars, including its flagship store in Aberdeen, after concluding they were not “commercially viable”.
Over the past two years, BrewDog’s signature beer, Punk IPA, was hardest hit; vanishing from 1,980 pubs over the past two years – a 52.3pc drop in distribution – pub industry data revealed.
Uncertain future
Bars are reportedly now opting to serve beers from alternative breweries like Beavertown and Camden Town.
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BrewDog is now said to be reliant on popular pub giant JD Wetherspoon.
An industry insider revealed: “If they ever lost the JD Wetherspoon deal, then that’s Punk IPA done as a [pub trade] product.”
The collapse in BrewDog’s UK distribution comes after a rocky period that saw the self-proclaimed ‘punks’ of the craft beer scene hit with “toxic” workplace culture allegations.
Economic headwinds
In 2023, the Aberdeenshire-based brewer saw a loss of £59m, and, in 2022, £30.5m.
Lauren Caroll, BrewDog’s chief operating officer, said: “Independent brewers across the board have felt the squeeze from the economic pressures hitting the pub trade. With costs rising and consumers watching their spend, pub groups have been narrowing their ranges, and brewery-owned pubs are putting more emphasis on their own brands.
“It’s not just us – every independent brewer has been affected. We saw the trend coming, which is why we’ve shifted focus to high-impact channels like festivals, stadiums, and independent [pubs].”
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When I read about the managerial toxic culture, bullying etc I vowed never to buy their beers
Unfortunately it’s not the only brewery or workplace to contain such a culture.
I’ve found middle management to be unfit for purpose and generally acquired such roles through the friends of friends culture, not how competent or skilled they are for the business.
Bring back undercover employees that can highlight such environments to those who care.
Aye it’s been hard shift that beer drinkers from all areas finding the pennies. A good pint to be found from a small brewery Five Kingdoms down south.
Shame because BrewDog’s Punk IPA is a very nice hoppy IPA. Hope the firm recovers.
I love Punk IPA, but not enough to pay almost £2 a pint more than it’s cask beer rivals on offer in my local Wetherspoons.
They need to take a long hard look at their pricing!
To expensive. I’d rather have an abbot for 2pound a pint
I doubt it has much to do with the reported toxic work culture as some mention..
“Bars are reportedly now opting to serve beers from alternative breweries like Beavertown and Camden Town” – Owned by Heineken and AB InBev – so hardly surprising they are pushing out Brewdog as they want the bar space and suspect they are doing good deals with pubs to kick Punk IPA out.
“Bars are reportedly now opting to serve beers from alternative breweries like Beavertown and Camden Town.”
This is because Heineken UK now own Beavertown. So all their associated bars in the “Star Pubs & Bars chain”. Have removed Brewdog so they can stock their own beers.
I’ve always gone for the niche breweries and my all time favourite is Hopback best craft beers on the market.