Editing Webster's Brewery (section)

== Webster's Yorkshire Bitter ==
Webster's Yorkshire Bitter was launched in the summer of 1982.<ref>Watch out for Webbo!: How advertising helped build a brand – and a brewery, Institute of Practitioners in Advertising: IPA Effectiveness Awards, 1984.</ref> Largely a cask product, by 1984 Grand Metropolitan had transformed Yorkshire Bitter into a "massive" national brand, available in the company's 5,000 tied houses and 15,000 free houses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tobaccodocuments.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320005659/http://tobaccodocuments.org/ti/TIWA0003704-3760.html?zoom=750&ocr_position=above_foramatted&start_page=1&end_page=57|url-status=dead|title=Astuces pour en finir avec le tabac !|archive-date=20 March 2012|website=www.tobaccodocuments.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2007/04/12/On-the-trail-of-old-favourites|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509212925/http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/On-the-trail-of-old-favourites|url-status=dead|title=On the trail of old favourites|archive-date=9 May 2012|website=morningadvertiser.co.uk}}</ref> It was marketed as their response to the growing popularity of Yorkshire bitter in the [[south of England]], particularly John Smith's. Yorkshire Bitter was the highest selling off trade bitter by 1985 with 18 per cent of the market.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=_OgdAQAAMAAJ&q=webster's+yorkshire+bitter Marketing], Institute of Marketing and Sales Management</ref><ref>The Grocer 12 April 1986 SECTION: p. 33.</ref> It had become the fifth best selling bitter nationally by 1989, helped by a competitive pricing policy, and was the highest selling bitter in London.<ref>The Top Ten, ''Campaign'', 26 May 1989.</ref><ref>[http://www.hertsale.org.uk/newsletter/HN108.PDF]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The beer was not without its critics, with the 1990 ''[[Good Beer Guide]]'' describing it as "weak flavour[ed], reminiscent of a poor quality home brew – worty, bland, cloying, with a dirty finish on the tongue".<ref>GOOD BEER GUIDE IS ENTHUSIASTIC, PUNCHY, SOMETIMES ACID..., Press Association, 23 October 1989.</ref> In 1993, Yorkshire Bitter was reduced from 3.8 per cent to 3.5 per cent ABV in order to save money on duty.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/big-brewers-cut-strength-of-top-beers-industry-set-for-clash-with-government-over-alleged-losses-caused-by-change-in-way-excise-duty-is-calculated-1490182.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=John | last=Shephard | title=Big brewers cut strength of top beers: Industry set for clash with Government over alleged losses caused by change in way excise duty is calculated | date=7 June 1993}}</ref>

When Scottish & Newcastle acquired the John Smith's and Webster's bitter brands as part of their takeover of Courage in 1995, the lower selling Webster's brands were deprioritised, and virtually all marketing support ceased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/home/scottish-courage-clears-out-brands/2014118.article |title=Scottish Courage clears out brands |work=Marketing Week |date=9 February 1996 |access-date=7 May 2011}}</ref> Roger Protz has described the brand as "almost redundant" and production of cask conditioned Webster's beer was ended in 2010.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref>[http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/30119?Ntt=webster's%2Bbitter&Ntk=All&PagingData=Po_0~Ps_10~Psd_Asc On the trail of old favourites<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref><ref>Good Beer Guide 2011, p694</ref><ref>[http://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2012/03/new-%E2%80%98intelligent-wholesale%E2%80%99-business-set-to-revolutionise-drinks-brands-distribution/ New ‘intelligent wholesale’ business set to revolutionise drinks brands distribution » Hospitality And Catering News<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref>