It’s fun to look back.
This section is devoted to Inside Beer’s trip down Memory Lane, highlighting the major events that were shaping the brewing world 10, 20 and 30 years ago.
10 Years Ago
March 2000
Heineken reveals that it is likely to make a bid for Bass. Other rumoured bidders are Denmark’s Carlsberg, South African Breweries and Anheuser-Busch of the USA.
Bulmers buys The Beer Seller wholesaling company, with its 18 depots, for £32 million.
Wrexham Lager, the oldest lager brewery in the UK, is closed by Carlsberg-Tetley. The beer will be produced under contract by Daniel Thwaites in Blackburn.
Scottish Courage makes clear its intention to stay in brewing. It will sell off its Center Parcs and Pontins leisure interests and may look to expand into brewing overseas.
20 Years Ago
March 1990
The first episode of Michael Jackson’s ground-breaking television series, The Beer Hunter, is broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK.
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer John Major raises the duty on a pint of beer by 2p, the first increase since 1988.
Dorset brewer Eldridge Pope launches a new cask ale, Thomas Hardy’s Country Bitter, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the local author’s birth.
30 Years Ago
March 1980
Bass considers phasing out its famous Burton Unions system of fermentation in oak casks, because it may be uneconomic to repair or replace.
As part of a trend for reviving local brewery names, Whitbread launches Strong Country Bitter (OG 1037.8) for its pubs in Hampshire.
The success of new premium bitter Bombardier has led to Charles Wells announcing that its stronger ale, Fargo, is now to be discontinued in cask-conditioned form.
