Boddingtons cask, the legendary ‘Cream of Manchester’, is returning to pubs across the North West, being brewed close to its original home.

Boddingtons Cask

JW Lees, Manchester’s oldest brewer, is now brewing Boddingtons Cask Ale, and distributing it, too, under licence from brand owner Budweiser Brewing Group.

First brewed in 1778, this well-known ale became a symbol of the city’s spirit and Northern pride. From pub posters to TV ads and pop culture moments, Boddingtons left its creamy mark far beyond the bar. It disappeared from cask handpumps in 2012.

With a new 4% ABV recipe, Boddingtons is due to reappear in pubs across the North West in December.

“When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was ‘The Cream of Manchester’ and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution…” said William Lees-Jones, managing director of JW Lees.

Boddingtons is back

“We are planning to put Boddingtons back where it rightly deserves to be, as one of the leading premium UK cask beers, particularly in our heartland of the North West. 

“We also look forward to working with Budweiser Brewing Group with their portfolio of market-leading lagers and premium packaged beers in our pubs.”

Brian Perkins, president of AB InBev in Western Europe, added: “We are excited to relaunch Boddingtons Cask Ale in partnership with JW Lees, combining one of the UK’s most iconic beer brands with one of its most respected brewers.

“We see real growth potential for Boddingtons in the UK on-trade, and this is a great example of how strategic partnerships can unlock value for both businesses and beer lovers alike.”

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