Recently here in Lancaster, several pubs in the Mitchells chain have been advertising a bitter on the pumps with a different name in each pub, which in each case refers to the pub in which it is being served. For example, in one pub it's called Banjo's Bitter, because that's the name of the landlord's dog.
I asked the landlord (of the Moorlands, Quarry Rd., Lancaster in case there's anyone local reading this) whee Banjo's Bitter came from, and this slightly Orwellian conversation took place. It was like getting blood out of a stone.
Landlord: "It's an independent brewery." Me: "Oh great, that's good, where from?" "It's a family brewery." "Oh yes, where does it come from?" "Warrington". "Warrington? Is it from the Coach House? "No." "Oh, who brews it then?" "I'm not sure."
I felt like saying, so you're telling me you're selling a beer that you don't know where it's brewed?, but I thought I'd leave it because the atmosphere was getting a bit tetchy.
Asking my colleagues in CAMRA, it's actually Thwaites Lancaster Bomber. One frend says he delights in going into pubs with "Bridge Inn Bitter" for sale and asking for a pint of Lancaster Bomber.
I was wondering if there are other examples of breweries doing this, and why are landlords so reticent about its origins? Surely they don't think that we're so gullible to think that they're individual beers supplied to one pub only?