A BEER war is brewing that could see craft brews on tap phased out in Aussie pubs.

Foreign-owned alcohol giant SAB Miller — which controls Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) — is attempting to take a stranglehold on the booming craft beer industry by locking out homegrown makers.

Consumer group Choice said a contract it had obtained showed CUB demanding it be the provider of all beers.

This includes draught, low carb, domestic premium and sub-premium draught beers, imported draft beers, speciality and craft beers and draught spirits and cider.

In exchange for the beverage giant receiving full control of the beer range, publicans are being offered money, rebates or other lures.

CUB spokesman Jeremy Griffith said a majority of pubs and clubs do not have contractual arrangements.

“Overall, around 70 per cent of our on-premise (pubs and clubs) customers do not have contracts, so overwhelmingly it’s an open market,’’ he said.

“In regards to beer, many of these contracts provide discounts on the keg price, as well as investment in the pub such as cool rooms, tap lines and fridges.’’

But Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said the issue was coming to a head, prompting an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for anti-competitive behaviour by brewing giants.

“While it might seem like you have a huge choice when buying tap beer in your local pub, the fact is most taps are controlled by one or two international brewing giants, SAB Miller or Kirin at the expense of Australian craft brewers,’’ he said.

“It’s not uncommon for the big brewers to offer more money, rebates or other incentives for exclusive access to 80 per cent or even 100 per cent of pub taps making it hard for independent brewers to get a fair go.’

“It might also come as a surprise to many consumer that their favourite craft brews are now foreign-owned including Little Creatures (owned by Kirin), James Squire (Kirin), Fat Yak and Matilda Bay (both SAB Miller).’’

Mr Godfrey said 83 per cent of beverage revenue in Australia goes into the pockets of Kirin and SAB Miller.

The Australian Real Craft Brewers Association’s chairman David Hollyoak hit out at the big brewers and said they were hogging the nation’s beer market.

“The big brewers have stifled the Australian beer market for many decades and they’ve done it by locking up the taps,’’ he said.

The ACCC said it was continuing investigations into the wholesale beer market and would not comment further.