Takeover target United Malt says there has been a big shift in beer tastes as lagers and pilsners come back into favour and the thirst for pale ale wanes.

United Malt boss Mark Palmquist remarked on flat craft beer sales in North America, where brewers were finding it hard to hire workers and having to pay more for labour. He said some craft operators had cut back opening hours in the lead up to summer in the northern hemisphere.