The Scottish brewer’s famous beer, Punk IPA, was hardest hit – disappearing from 1,980 venues, exclusive pub industry data has revealed.
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.
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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