Last orders for BrewDog pints after hipster IPAs slashed from 2,000 pubs across UK

BrewDog beers have been taken off the taps at almost 2,000 pubs across the UK.

The company’s draught beers have been slashed from close to 1,860 pubs in the last two years, the Telegraph reports.

It comes after the brewery announced the closure of 10 of its bars last month, citing ‘ongoing industry challenges’ such as rising costs.

The company’s most famous beer Punk IPA has also taken a beating after disappearing from 1,980 pubs, according to confidential pub industry data.

BrewDog hit back after the data was released, saying ‘every independent brewer has been affected’ by economic pressures and arguing they are benefitting from a new shift to events.

An industry source claimed to the Telegraph, however, that the bar chain was ‘losing taps in the [pub and bar trade] like you wouldn’t believe’.

Instead, pubs are said to be stocking Camden Town and Beavertown.

Behind the move away from BrewDog is believed to be mostly pubs owned by chains and large companies.

This shift is said to have left BrewDog reliant on JD Wetherspoon’s business which still serves it.

An insider revealed: ‘If they ever lost the JD Wetherspoon deal, then that’s Punk IPA done as a [pub trade] product.’

The news follows a turbulent period for BrewDog, which recorded mammoth £59m losses in 2023 and £30.5m losses in 2022.

These challenges forced the company to close 10 of its own branded bars which were not ‘commercially viable’, including its flagship site in Aberdeen.

Eight of the ten bars scheduled to shut up shop are in England, including their Camden bar.

Bosses say they are hoping to move workers to other bars to avoid job cuts.

Lauren Carrol, BrewDog COO, 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 the independent free trade. We’re seeing strong growth there, with recent collaborations at Lord’s Cricket Ground and the London Stadium showing our ambition to be the world’s most exciting beer business.

‘We remain committed to the managed retail channel, and we’ll keep working closely with partners to serve up incredible beer and unforgettable experiences.’

BrewDog was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie.

It took off in the 2010s as pub goers craved independent beers and IPAs.

The brand gained a reputation for its bold marketing stunts, such as driving a tank through London and a creative approach to craft beer.

Watt stepped down as BrewDog’s CEO in May 2024 after 17 years, handing over to chief operating officer James Arrow.

Arrow then stepped down from the role in March this year due to ‘personal reasons’.

The ‘punk’ brewer has also been hit by negative allegations over the working environment at the company.

In 2021, some 61 ex-members of staff signed a document alleging a ‘culture of fear’ and a further 45 were said to support its aims but did not want to include their names for fear of reprisals.

The letter alleged the company was ‘built on a cult of personality’ and used ‘lies, hypocrisy and deceit’ as tools, including exaggerating claims made as part of its infamous PR campaigns.

They said staff had been left with mental health issues, and bosses did little to address the problems within the business.

BrewDog co-founder James Watt apologised and promised to take action in light of the revelations.

Mr Watt was singled out for criticism by his former employees, who accused him of being the driver of the ‘toxic’ attitudes among senior members of staff.

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