Sam Adams pulls out of Boston St. Pat's parade over ban of gays

The maker of Sam Adams beer says it is withdrawing its sponsorship of Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade because organizers exclude gay groups.

Boston Beer Co. said in a statement Friday that it is disappointed that an agreement couldn't be reached between the gay rights advocacy group MassEquality and parade organizers that would have allowed gay veterans to march.

The decision also came a day after a bar in Boston's South End said it would no longer serve Sam Adams beer because of the brewer's affiliation with the parade, which is scheduled for Sunday.

Mayor Martin Walsh has been trying to broker a deal that would have allowed a gay group to march, but those negotiations broke down.

The parade organizers' phone went unanswered Friday.