The ad for Gales Best beer, which appeared on a beermat, had one side headlined "Food for Thought" and on the other side of the mat appeared the words "Vitamin Beer... I'll drink to that".
It quoted from a publication called Brewing Research International, saying: "Beer is an all-round food containing a balanced package of nutrients and minerals and can be considered to make a positive contribution to a healthy diet."
The ad takes a lead from an old Guinness campaign, which proclaimed "Guinness is good for you".
One member of the public, from West Sussex, complained that the ad was misleading, because it promoted beer as a source of food. She said it was irresponsible because she believed alcohol stops the body from absorbing vitamins.
Hampshire-based brewer George Gale & Co argued that it was a traditional brewer using only natural ingredients, and said it believed it produced high-quality, wholesome products.
In support of the claim, Gale submitted a review paper discussing the nutritional content of beer. However, the Advertising Standards Authority noted that alcohol inhibited the uptake of several vitamins and minerals. It concluded that the ad was misleading.
The advertiser said it had not printed any new point-of-sale material and that the campaign would be discontinued.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .