A PINT of plain is still your only man as Guinness has cemented its status as the most popular drink in Irish pubs.

Australian lager giant Foster’s has rebuffed an unsolicited private equity approach for its wine business worth between AUS$2.3bn (€1.65bn) and AUS$2.7bn (€1.95bn) Australian dollars.

WHETHER either the Beamish & Crawford brewery on Cork’s South Main Street or the Heineken Ireland brewery on the city’s Watercourse Road will still be in operation in two years time is a very real question as the news is digested that the Competition Authority won’t be stopping the takeover of Ireland’s oldest brewery by Heineken Ireland.

IRELAND’S oldest brewery has thrown down the gauntlet to its competitors by announcing a price freeze.

Beamish & Crawford will not be applying any increase to the price of any of their brands, it was announced today.

Brewer Scottish & Newcastle today announced plans to close its Reading brewery with the potential loss of 362 jobs.

Takeover target Scottish & Newcastle unveiled plans for a leaner business today as the brewer wards off an unwanted £7.3bn (€10.2bn) approach from European rivals Carlsberg and Heineken.

UK brewer Scottish & Newcastle received a new takeover proposal today after bidders Carlsberg and Heineken topped up their offer price to £7.3bn (€10.2bn).

BREWER Scottish & Newcastle is reportedly plotting to sell the holding company behind one of its prized assets to block a potential hostile takeover by Carlsberg and Heineken.

Brewer Scottish & Newcastle is today reportedly plotting to sell the holding company behind one of its prized assets to block a potential hostile takeover by Carlsberg and Heineken.

The British were once synonymous with beer drinking, but results out this week from the world’s biggest brewers confirm that our love affair with lager has lost its fizz.

Beamish Stout has won the internationally renowned Gold Medal at the annual Monde Selection 2007 awards in Barcelona.

Shares in Scottish & Newcastle surged today after a report said rival firms Diageo and SABMiller had been considering a £9bn (€13.3bn) takeover.

BEAMISH & Crawford, the Cork-based brewer, has reported another successful year. Beer sales across its Beamish stout, Miller and Foster brands were up by 10% compared with 2005.

THE new owner of Foster’s lager in Europe wasted no time in unveiling plans for the brand’s first major launch in more than 10 years.

The new owner of Foster’s lager in Europe wasted no time today in unveiling plans for the brand’s first major UK launch in more than 10 years.

Brewing giant Scottish & Newcastle was today toasting a £309m (€444.1m) deal that gave it full ownership of the Foster’s lager brand in Europe.

Lower oil stocks derailed the FTSE 100 Index today as further strides towards the 6000 barrier came to nothing.

The FTSE 100 Index continued its march towards the 6000 mark today as takeover activity in Europe boosted gas and electricity stocks in London.

BEAMISH & CRAWFORD, which froze its draught prices last year due to falling demand in the pubs, had a reasonable first-half in a declining market, a spokeswoman said.

Brewing giant Scottish & Newcastle today announced an 11% rise in underlying profits after benefiting from a strong trading performance in the UK.

Brewer Scottish & Newcastle today reported positive summer sales for its UK business despite poor weather and weaker off-licence trade following Euro 2004.

Scottish & Newcastle is to put health warnings on its products as part of a drive to promote awareness of sensible drinking.

Brewing giant Foster’s today said that higher annual profits from sales of beer overseas had been eroded by a sharp drop in US wine trade.

Australia’s biggest winemaker Foster’s Group will have a one-time loss of as much as €170 million at its wine unit as a glut in California prompts competitors to cut prices.

International drinks group Foster’s reaped more from the sale of wine than it did from beer during its last financial year, figures show today.

Letheby & Christopher, the Cheltenham racecourse caterers, are prepared for a hectic time at next week’s National Hunt Festival.