British beer lovers were shocked this week to hear news that the Danish brewing giant Carlsberg is delisting 11 well-loved beer brands. Popular ales like Banks’s Mild and Marston’s 61 Deep Pale Ale will disappear from pubs countrywide as the brewer withdraws them from sale on draught.
A spokesman for Carlsberg Marston Brewing Company (CMBC) gave a statement to explain the decision: “Like any brewer, we are always reviewing our lines to best appeal to our consumers and help grow cask ale while delivering the highest quality brews. Understandably, where demand has sadly declined we do have to make the difficult choice to delist beers.”
While some ales will still be available in limited formats in the future – like Jennings Cumberland Ale, which will still be on sale in bottles – some familiar names will be discontinued entirely. We take a look at which lines will be disappearing from British bars and the alternatives that disappointed punters can drink instead.
Ringwood Old Thumper
The disappearance of Old Thumper was a particular blow. The strong ale was a popular choice – it made a great winter warmer at this time of the year.
Alternative: Batemans XXXB (Triple XB)
Batemans XXXB (Triple XB) is an Extra Special Bitter (ESB) of 4.8% that does the same job. The Lincolnshire legends have been brewing this beer since 1978 and XXXB offers up comforting flavours that are malty, a little spicy and full of body.
Marstons 61 Deep Pale Ale
Fans of crisp pale ales will lament the demise of citrussy Marstons 61 Deep with its New World hop flavour.
Alternative: Oakham Ales Citra Session IPA
But fear not, 61 Deep can readily be swapped for a classic from Peterborough’s Oakham Ales. Its single-hopped session IPA, Citra, has the same vibrant zing that helped to popularise 61 Deep, and it’s backed by the reassuring quality of an award-winning independent brewery that have been brewing for over 30 years. Citra can be found on cask in pubs nationwide as well as being listed in a number of supermarkets.
Banks’s Sunbeam Blonde Beer
This is a refreshing 4.2% zesty ale which gets its characteristic gooseberry flavour from the Nelson Sauvin hop.
Alternative: Mallinsons Nelson Sauvin
Happily, renowned Huddersfield brewer Mallinsons makes a single hopped blonde ale that weighs in at 3.8% ABV. Its Nelson Sauvin has all the crisp gooseberry goodness you could ask for now that the sun has set on Sunbeam.
Eagle IPA
This used to be brewed to 5.0% by Charles Wells, but in recent years has dropped to a sessionable 3.6% ABV.
Alternatives: Burton Bridge Charrington IPA or Hook Norton Hooky Best Bitter
Now the Eagle is being discontinued, beer lovers in the Midlands would do well to look to the Burton Bridge brewery for an alternative. It has revived the historic Charrington IPA recipe under the Heritage Brewing Company brand. It’s a little bit stronger at 4.5%, but it has that typical balance of hoppy and malt flavours that lovers of the English IPA style will be looking for.
While Charrington IPA is quite a regionally specific beer, Hooky from Hook Norton Brewery, is a lower alcohol alternative (3.4%) that is widely available on cask in pubs up and down the country. The bitter is a true classic from one of the UKs oldest breweries.
Banks’s Mild
While Banks’s Mild will not be disappearing entirely – it will still be available in cans – there will doubtless be many people disappointed not to be able to find it on draught any longer.
Alternative: Bathams 3.5% Mild
Another historic family brewer can be relied upon to fill the gap – at least for drinkers in and around the Black Country. Bathams 3.5% Mild is an absolute classic interpretation of this historic beer style, now brewed under the watchful eye of sixth generation brewer, Alice Batham. Slightly sweet and indulgently thick in the mouth, Bathams Mild will scratch that dark beer itch for Banks’s fans who are looking for an easy-going beer that doesn’t compromise on flavour.