Carlsberg reported eyeing Scottish & Newcastle

Reuters is reporting that Copenhagen-based Carlsberg, the world’s sixth-larger brewing company, has a plan to take over Scottish & Newcastle, the fifth largest.

Carlsberg, which proclaims its brew is “probably the best beer in the world,” would be taking over Britain’s last big brewer in a move that would lead to an accelerated rate of brewery closures across western Europe, analysts said.

The new company would be the No. 1 brewer in Britain, France, Russia and the Nordic countries.