Boddingtons (branded as the "Cream of Manchester") is a brand of beer, formerly from the English city of Manchester, that has been brewed for more than 200 years. The bitter is now sold in over 30 countries worldwide, and can be drunk on tap around the world in countries as diverse as New Zealand, China, the United States and Canada. Strangeways Brewery was founded by two grain merchants, Thomas Caister and Thomas Fry, in 1778.[1] The location of the brewery, just outside Manchester city centre, was chosen to avoid a grain tax levied by local mills that belonged to Manchester Grammar School.
Henry Boddington joined the brewery in 1832 as a traveller, and eventually rose up to become a partner in the company. In 1853 he borrowed money to become the sole owner of the enterprise.
Boddingtons remained a family company until 1989, when the last family chairman Ewart Boddington sold the Strangeways brewery and the Boddingtons beer brand to Whitbread for £50.7 million. In May 2000, the Whitbread Beer Company was acquired by Interbrew.
Boddingtons contains 3.5% and 3.8% alcohol by volume in cask. Boddingtons cans have widgets, to manage the head when poured from the can. The strength of the canned version was reduced from 3.8% to 3.5% in late 2008. During the mid-1990s an additional version was also produced and marketed as Boddingtons Manchester Gold at 4.8% but this is now discontinued.
For export markets the beer is 4.7% alcohol by volume and named Boddingtons Pub Ale as opposed to Boddingtons Draught Bitter in the home market.
In September 2004, InBev announced plans to close the Strangeways brewery and move production out of Manchester to Magor in South Wales and Glasgow in Scotland.[2] [3] However, the brewing of Boddingtons cask ale was moved to Hydes Brewery in Moss Side, Manchester. [4]
Boddingtons is the third best selling bitter in the United Kingdom after John Smith's and Tetley's Bitter.[citation needed]
Sponsorship
In 2002 Boddingtons was an Official Partner of the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester.
In 2006 Boddingtons are the main sponsor of Colwyn Bay F.C..[5] The jersey is branded, and Boddingtons is the exclusive beer served in the clubhouse.
Boddingtons was the drink of choice of the rock band The Macc Lads and a common reference in their songs.
References
External links
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