When the music stops…
October 13, 2009
I have often commented here in The Brew Club that the water used in brewing any Ale is as important as the other ingredients, in much the same way that the terroir in which grapes are grown influence the wines they produce.
Well, you might recall that in my review of Sam Smith’s Old Brewery Bitter that Scottish and Newcastle Breweries tried to move brewing of John Smith’s Yorkshire Bitter from Yorkshire to Lancashire and relented after public outcry.
Well according to the BBC they’re trying again, this time they plan to move brewing of the almost legendary (I refuse to use the word iconic) Newcastle Brown Ale from its home in Gateshead to the aforementioned John Smith’s brewery in Tadcaster, Yorkshire.
It will be interesting to see, what outcry there is this time and whether they’ll relent. Clearly Scottish and Newcastle are determined to close a brewery, but it horrifies me that corporations like Scottish and Newcastle have so little regard for the heritage they administer.
What do you think?
Posted in English Beers, Other Stuff, Views from a Brit
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October 13th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I agree. Heritage is a part of beer that keeps me coming back. Isn’t Heineken the mega company that actually owns Scottish and Newcastle?
Corporate mindsets often forget the histories and heritages in and out of the brewing industry in my opinion.
nate´s last blog ..Ale places in England
October 13th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Unfortunately, I guess it comes down to profits in the end. If they can’t figure out how to make money, they either need to consolidate, or worse, close down or sell to someone with money who would likely close them down anyway! Seems odd, that sales are down so much.
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Spaten Oktoberfest Beer
October 14th, 2009 at 3:08 am
@nate you are correct, Scottish & Newcastle are owned by Heneken and, by all accounts, will be changing their name to Heineken UK in November – probably just as well if they no longer have a connection with Newcastle.
@Scott – beer sales are down in the UK because of increased duty, we already had the highest rate of duty in Europe and that was increased again this year by the Government. This is one factor which has lead to more that seven pubs a day closing in the UK.
Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Old Money
October 14th, 2009 at 7:48 am
The power to tax is the power to destroy. I wonder what the UK is going to look like in 10 or 20 years if that trend continues? No pubs except those that can survive in tourist areas under 90% taxes? I ask this of our own politicians sometimes, How do these people keep getting elected?
Scott´s last blog ..The Brew Club on Facebook