Manufacture of the famous Geordie brown ale, brewed in its namesake town of Newcastle for
82 years will switch to Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, Scottish & Newcastle said.
It wants to close the Federation Brewery, Dunston, Gateshead, with the loss of 63 jobs by the middle of next year, because of falling beer sales in the UK. The Dunston site is currently running at around 60% capacity.
The famous bottled beer, with its iconic blue star label, first went on sale in 1927 and was brewed next to St James’s Park football ground in Newcastle until 2005.
The ale was also dubbed “dog” by drinkers, as they would make the excuse of going to “walk the dog” when nipping to the pub. Many Geordies will remember with affection the sweet yeasty smell rolling across the city from the plant, which was demolished last year to make way for a science park.