Dismay as brewing giant calls time on Banks's beers
Black Country beer lovers have spoken of their disbelief that Banks's mild is to disappear from the region's pubs after 150 years.
Banks's Sunbeam, a blonde beer introduced in 2011, is also among 11 beers to be dropped by the Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company.
A total of eight cask ales are being discontinued, also including Eagle IPA, Jennings Cumberland, Marston's Old Empire,, Marston's 61, Ringwood Boondoggle, and Ringwood Old Thumper. The keg versions of Bombardier, Mansfield Dark Smooth and Mansfield Original Bitter are also being dropped.
They will cease to be available to pub landlords by the end of the year. The bombshell news comes weeks after the company announced that the city's Park Brewery is to close next year, after 150 years.
Shelly Bentley, West Midland regional director for the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said she could barely believe the news.
"I'm in total shock, it's hard to take it in," said Mrs Bentley, who lives in Sedgley.
"It's like kicking somebody when they are down. It was bad enough that they are closing the brewery, but now they are getting rid of our best beers. I can understand them closing the brewery, it is a business and it did have a lot of spare capacity. But where I drink, the Swan at Compton, it is still the beer everybody asks for, it still seems to be popular.
