BrewDog is facing a major blow as its beers disappear from pubs nationwide at a rapid pace.
Nearly two thousand venues have dropped the Scottish brewer’s draught range in the past two years, cutting its presence in the on-trade by more than a third.
Industry figures show around 1,860 pubs have stopped stocking BrewDog entirely, with its flagship Punk IPA hit hardest.
The beer has vanished from 1,980 taps over the same period, a fall of more than 50 per cent.
The brewery's financial performance has deteriorated significantly, with the company reporting losses of £59million for 2023 and £30.5million during 2022.
Chief executive James Taylor recently acknowledged to investors that the company's financial statements made for unpleasant reading, whilst confirming the business would remain unprofitable throughout the current year.
These mounting losses prompted BrewDog to shutter ten of its own-branded establishments last month, including the original Aberdeen location, after determining they lacked commercial viability.
The closures affected eight English venues, including the Camden site, with management attempting to relocate staff to alternative locations to prevent redundancies.
Major beer brand axed from nearly 2,000 pubs across the UK
| GETTYThe establishments abandoning BrewDog predominantly belong to major pub companies and chains, eliminating a crucial income stream for the struggling brewery.
Earlier in the year, the company had already shut six additional venues globally, comprising two in England, three across Europe and one further English location.
A source told the Telegraph the brand was “losing taps in the pub and bar trade like you wouldn’t believe”, as landlords increasingly turn to rivals such as Camden Town and Beavertown.
The brewery has pivoted its commercial focus towards alternative venues as traditional pub partnerships evaporate.
BrewDog pub chain closing 10 bars | GETTY Lauren Carrol, BrewDog's chief operating officer, stated: "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."
She added: "We saw the trend coming, which is why we've shifted focus to high-impact channels like festivals, stadiums, and independent [pubs]."
The company has pursued partnerships with venues including Lord's Cricket Ground and the London Stadium, positioning these collaborations as evidence of its aspirations to become "the world's most exciting beer business."
The brewery's distribution network has become increasingly dependent on JD Wetherspoon, whose 794 establishments now constitute a substantial portion of BrewDog's remaining pub presence.
Pubs could stay open longer on Sunday too | PAAn industry insider warned: "If they ever lost the JD Wetherspoon deal, then that's Punk IPA done as a [pub trade] product."
This reliance emerges as other major pub groups systematically remove BrewDog products from their ranges, leaving the Scottish brewery vulnerable to the decisions of a single major customer.
The company maintains it remains "committed to the managed retail channel" and continues collaborating with partners to deliver what it describes as "incredible beer and unforgettable experiences."
However, the concentration of its pub trade through one major chain underscores the precarious position facing James Taylor as he attempts to stabilise the business.