LIVE ISSUE/BECK'S.(Brief Article)

The Beck's pitch may have been decided, but dust is still settling.

The green sailing ship at anchor outside the Beck's brewery in the German seaport of Bremen embodies the almost obsessional pride of those who work there.

Others, though, may see it as symbolic of the tensions that turned the pitch for the 5 million [pounds sterling]-plus Beck's business in the UK into one of the longest of recent times.

One industry source sums up the problem by recalling what happened at a meeting with researchers representing Braurei, the Beck's parent, and Scottish Courage, which markets, distributes and brews the beer under licence in the UK.

"The Braurei researcher went to great lengths to explain why ads using the green ship would work in the UK," he remembers. "The one from Scottish Courage complained that using the ship would un-sell the product faster than anybody could put bottles on shelves."

The ship has come to epitomise the cultural chasm between Braurei and Scottish Courage which turned the pitch process -- concluded last week with the appointment of M&C Saatchi -- into such a frustrating marathon.

One senior agency manager is still angry at being caught in the crossfire between Edinburgh and Bremen. "It's clear that if you let the Germans too close to the UK advertising they'll undermine all the good work done on the brand," he declares.