BrewDog taps shrink as pubs pull Punk IPA

BrewDog beers are being dropped from almost 2,000 British pubs as the brewer closes venues and faces higher costs.

BrewDog draughts pulled from almost 2 000 pubs in Britain

Confidential pub industry data seen by The Telegraph shows Punk IPA has disappeared from 1,980 pubs since 2022. BrewDog’s draught range has vanished from around 1,860 pubs in two years, wiping out more than a third of its UK distribution. The Punk IPA, the brand’s flagship, has suffered a 52.3 percent drop in tap presence as landlords slim down ranges and punters gravitate toward rival brands such as Camden Town and Beavertown.

The company now relies on one large pub chain that still backs the brand, JD Wetherspoon, while BrewDog has closed 10 of its own venues recently, including its Aberdeen site. Chief executive James Taylor frames the closures as part of a broader estate refresh driven by rising costs, increased regulation and ongoing economic pressures facing the sector.

The pattern fits a tougher market for craft brewers in the UK. Landlords are curbing portfolios to protect margins, and competition from newer and bolstered brands is intensifying. BrewDog’s dependence on a single major partner amplifies vulnerability should Wetherspoon alter or end its deal, and it makes the brand more exposed to shifts in pub trade rather than direct consumer demand. The coming months could force BrewDog to rethink its distribution model and price strategy.

Looking ahead, the brewer may need to diversify beyond large chains, invest in own venues, or push new formats and price points to recapture share. The episode serves as a test of whether BrewDog can preserve its bold image while restoring stability in a market that prizes breadth and reliability over novelty and risk.

Highlights

The next chapter for BrewDog will reveal how agile the company can be in a shrinking UK pub network.