The 228-year-old brewery has been at the centre of a city council-backed campaign to keep the beer's production in the North West since the firm announced the move following a consultation in September.
Inbev, the world's biggest brewer which bought Boddington's in 2000, confirmed that it would now be produced at breweries in Glasgow, south Wales and near Preston.
The changes have caused a massive blow to Manchester's pride and has been opposed by many who say they feel badly let down by the decision.
A high-profile advertising campaign featuring Melanie Sykes in the 1990s was dropped by then owner Interbrew five years ago. It played heavily on Boddingtons' Manchester heritage and is one of the reasons that so many eyebrows have been raised about the decision to close the brewery there.
Phil Malpass, director of corporate affairs for Inbev, said: "We have been heavily criticised but the brewery in Manchester is based in a Victorian building and with the ale sector in decrease the future wasn't looking good. To put the ale in kegs meant it would have to be transported to Wales and this wasn't beneficial in the long run."
As for jobs, out of the 56 losses, 17 people have already been found new work around the site near Preston and 20 are being interviewed.
Malpass said: "We are confident that by February the remaining number will also find new work within the company so the impact locally should be relatively small. We will continue to produce traditional cask ale at a family-run Hydes Brewery in Moss Side, Manchester."
Manchester City Council deputy leader Cllr Val Stevens said: "This is
extremely disappointing news for the city. We don't believe this closure
can be justified, either on economic or social grounds. Boddingtons is an
international brand, which is synonymous with Manchester. The brewery has proved a profitable operation with committed staff who we feel have been badly let down.
"We will do everything we can to help those who lose their jobs and to
ensure that the Boddingtons brewery site remains in employment use."
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