Boddingtons

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Boddingtons is an English beer, originally from Manchester, UK 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, Hong Kong, and the United States.

The Strangeways Brewery was founded by two grain merchants, Thomas Caister and Thomas Fry, in the late 1700s. The location of the brewery, just outside the 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 Mr 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.

Brewed in Manchester since 1778, Boddingtons contains 3.8% and 4.1% alcohol-by-volume in cask.

In September 2004, InBev announced plans to close the Strangeways brewery and move production out of Manchester to Bristol and Preston. However, the brewing of Boddingtons cask ale was moved to Hydes Brewery in Moss Side, Manchester.

[edit] Sponsorship

In 2002 Boddingtons was an Official Partner of the XVII (17th) Commonwealth Games, then held in Manchester.

In 2006 Boddingtons are the main sponsor of Colwyn Bay F.C.. The jersey is branded, and Boddingtons is the exclusive Real Ale served in the clubhouse.

[edit] Trivia

• In 2000, Boddingtons' 1997 "Ice Cream" advert was named the 5th best television commercial of all time in a poll conducted by The Sunday Times and Channel 4.
• In the fifth season of Friends episode entitled "The One With All The Kissing", Ross, Chandler and Joey remember with enthusiasm drinking Boddingtons at a pub recommended by their taxi driver when in London for Ross' wedding; and Ross also finds out that a pub at the Trade Centre serves it.