HOLT-based Box Steam Brewery has mounted a David vs Goliath-style banner campaign to challenge the domination of multinational beer companies in Wiltshire’s pubs.

Frustrated that beers such as Doom Bar are taking over pumps in bars across the county, Box Steam has put up a banner ad in a field on the border of Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol.

The banner depicts a noble knight astride the iconic white horse of Westbury doing battle with his nemesis. Sited at the intersection of the A46 and A420, it is hoped that the image will attract the attention of locals and visitors to the area.

MD Andy Roberts said: “We supply cask and bottled beers to pubs, bars, restaurants and shops across Wiltshire, but we keep coming up against Doom Bar and other national brands. We work hard to sell our award-winning Tunnel Vision and other ales. I’m sure it’s the same for other small brewers.

“It’s frustrating enough that Doom Bar, a ‘Cornish’ beer, some of it is not even brewed in Cornwall. It’s brewed under licence in Burton-on-Trent, and Sharp’s is owned by Molson Coors, an international corporation.

“This is our patch and we’re proud to lead the charge for Wiltshire beer.”

However, this claim is disputed bySharp’s, who say that all of their cask Doom Bar is brewed in Rock, Cornwall - it is only bottled Doom Bar that is produced in Burton upon Trent. 

James Nicholls, senior brand manager for Sharp’s, said: “We are delighted that Doom Bar can stand alongside Tunnel Vision and Box Steam’s beers on the bars of Wiltshire and congratulate them on their recent award wins at the International Beer Challenge.

"Much like Box Steam Brewery, we started Sharp’s as a small microbrewery here in Rock, Cornwall, back in 1994 and we never dreamt our beer would prove so popular that consumers and customers would choose it to become the No.1 cask and bottled ale in the country. 

"We’re super proud of what we have achieved, our Cornish roots, our Cornish home and our Cornish team and the support of Molson Coors which enables us to keep up with the extraordinary demand for our beer. Cheers to great beer and to an ever growing and exciting beer market.

“PS. We’d rather sit down for a beer than a have  joust, that’s just our Cornish way.”