E-Malt.com News article: UK: Molson Coors confirms Sharp’s Brewery by the end of the year

Sharp’s Brewery in Rock is set to close by the end of the year, with up to 40 jobs expected to be lost.

Owner Molson Coors Beverage Company confirmed on Tuesday, September 29, that production at the north Cornwall brewery will cease in December 2026 following the conclusion of a consultation process launched earlier this year.

The company said every alternative option had been considered but concluded the site was no longer financially sustainable as part of its national brewing network.

Since acquiring Sharp’s in 2011, Molson Coors says it has invested more than £20 million in the Rock brewery, expanding production capacity, upgrading equipment and supporting the development of the Sharp’s brand portfolio.

However, the company said changing consumer tastes and ongoing challenges facing the cask ale market had contributed to the decision.

The brewery's closure will mark the end of brewing operations at the Rock site, although Molson Coors said it is exploring a potential sale of the premises.

The company has agreed Heads of Terms with Camerons Brewery as its preferred brewing partner for key Sharp’s cask ale brands.

Production of Sharp’s keg and packaged beers will continue at Molson Coors breweries in Burton and Tadcaster.

Simon Kerry, managing director for Molson Coors in the UK and Ireland, said:
“For the last 15 years, Sharp’s Brewery has formed a significant part of our UK business, so taking the decision to close the site has not been easy.

“However, despite our best efforts, the site is no longer financially sustainable.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank our many exceptional colleagues at Rock who have been instrumental in the success of the Sharp’s brands during that time. Our focus is now on supporting those impacted throughout this transition.”

The closure represents a major blow for the brewing industry in Cornwall, where Sharp’s has become one of the county’s best-known beer producers.

The brewery is best known as the home of Doom Bar, one of the UK's most popular cask ales.


30 September, 2026