A popular brewery known for producing the best-selling ale in the UK is facing closure after its foreign owners made an announcement.

Sharp’s Brewery, located in Rock, Cornwall, and renowned for creating the beloved Doom Bar ale, is set to shut down. The American company Molson Coors Beverage Company, which owns Sharp’s Brewery, has revealed plans to close the facility and is currently in discussions with the employees.

Doom Bar, a well-known beer found in pubs, restaurants, and supermarkets nationwide, has been a fixture in the UK for years and holds the title of the country’s top-selling cask ale, according to Cornwall Live.

Molson Coors Beverage Company has proposed the closure of Sharp’s Brewery in Rock by the end of 2026, which may lead to approximately 50 job redundancies at the location. The company aims to restructure its UK&I business to drive long-term growth by optimizing efficiencies and reducing costs.

The closure proposal could potentially result in around 200 job losses across Molson Coors UK&I operations. Despite investing more than £20 million in Sharp’s Brewery since acquiring it in 2011 to enhance capacity, upgrade equipment, foster innovation, and bolster the brand portfolio, Molson Coors says the decision to close the brewery was made after exhausting all options to ensure its financial sustainability.

Simon Kerry, the Managing Director for UK & Ireland at MCBC, expressed the difficulty of the decision to close Sharp’s Brewery, emphasizing the site’s significance within the company for the past 15 years and the dedication of the team. While focusing on assisting affected employees during the transition, Molson Coors is exploring various production alternatives, including potential partnerships for continuing the production of Sharp’s brands.

The company is actively engaging in consultations regarding the proposed closure while reaffirming its commitment to the Sharp’s brands.