Hoist on Their Own Tankard

Scottish & Newcastle brewers got the European Commission to give its Newcastle Brown Ale "protected designation of origin" status. That keeps brown ales brewed outside Newcastle from using the name. Now, the company says it wants to shift production of the ale to Gateshead. The company says it should still be able to use the name Newcastle Brown Ale, but EC officials say they aren't certain about that. The firm is now trying to have the protected status revoked.