Future of cask Boddingtons in doubt after halt in production
The future of cask Boddingtons looks uncertain after a three-month halt in production.
Figures released by owner AB-Inbev show the cask version of the beer accounted for less than 5% of the brand's sales last year.
An AB-Inbev spokesperson said: "Boddingtons draught and canned product is not affected and we would like to assure consumers and customers that we are looking at all viable options for future production."
However, the move has left licensees unable to source cask after the contract brewing agreement between AB-Inbev and Hydes came to an end in March, calling time on production of the brand in Manchester after 200 years.
Stan Eaton, of the Old Black Bull in Preston, who has been serving Boddingtons in his pub for more than 20 years, said: "When we first came to run the pub 22 years ago we were serving over 6,000 pints a week, but recently it has been less than a tenth of that and now we've had to replace it entirely because we can't get supply.
"Whereas our range of guest beers has continuously expanded, our Boddingtons sales have waned because there's absolutely no support behind it, which is particularly shocking as we're right in its north-west heartland and were originally a Boddingtons house."
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By Melissa Cole
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