Boston Beer Co., the brewer of Samuel Adams, has pulled its sponsorship from the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade amid controversy over the organizers’ refusal to let gay veterans march, the company announced in a statement.

“We have been participating in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade for nearly a decade and have also supported the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast year after year,” the company said in a statement. “We’ve done so because of the rich history of the event and to support veterans who have done so much for this country.”

Company representatives have marched in the parade in past years, but annoucned today they will not participate this year because of the breakdown in communications between gay-rights group MassEquality and the parade organizers, Allied Veterans War Council.

“We were hopeful that both sides of this issue would be able to come to an agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of orientation, to participate in the parade. But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize this may not be possible.” the company said.

Yesterday, the South End bar Club Cafe threatened to stop selling Samuel Adams “until such time as either the Parade organizers change their position, or Sam Adams removes its support of the St. Patrick Day Parade.”