Craft beer giant BrewDog put up for sale

BrewDog has put itself up for sale and called in advisers to oversee a restructuring process that could see the craft beer giant being broken up.

 

In a statement, the Scottish brewer behind Hazy Jane and Punk IPA confirmed it had appointed restructuring experts AlixPartners to gather interest from potential bidders following initial reports on Sky News.

 

The broadcaster warned the deal could see many of BrewDog’s roughly 220,000 individual shareholders, who became investors through its ‘Equity for Punks’ crowdfunding scheme, left with little return from their average outlay of £400.

 

It has been suggested that co-founder James Watt, who stepped down from BrewDog in 2024 after 17 years at the helm, is considering buying back the company with the support of financial backers.

 

He remains a major shareholder alongside Martin Dickie, who launched BrewDog with Watt in 2007, but who also left the business last year, citing personal reasons.

 

BrewDog is 21% owned by TSG Consumer Partners, which invested £213m in the brewer in April 2017.

 

The Financial Times reported BrewDog’s estate of 72 bars could attract bids from rival leisure operators such as Mitchells & Butlers and Stonegate Group, while its four breweries across Scotland, the US, Australia and Germany could be taken up by leading beermakers.

 

In October last year, the craft brewer confirmed a round of job cuts, with chief executive James Taylor stating in a note to employees that it was necessary to “right-size parts of the business” as a result of a “tough and fast-changing market”.

 

In July, BrewDog had also closed 10 bars across the UK, including its Aberdeen flagship.

 

BrewDog reported a pre-tax loss of £37m in 2024, the fifth year in a row it had failed to make a profit.

 

A spokesperson for BrewDog said: “As with many businesses operating in a challenging economic climate and facing sustained macro headwinds, we regularly review our options with a focus on the long-term strength and sustainability of the company.

 

“Following a year of decisive action in 2025, which saw a focus on costs and operating efficiencies, we have appointed AlixPartners to support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business. This is a deliberate and disciplined step with a focus on strengthening the long-term future of the BrewDog brand and its operations.

 

“BrewDog remains a global pioneer in craft beer: a world-class consumer brand, the number one independent brewer in the UK and with a highly engaged global community. We believe that this combination will attract substantial interest, though no final decisions have been made.

 

“Our breweries, bars and venues continue to operate as normal. We will not comment on any further speculation.” 

 

BrewDog was founded in 2007 and employs roughly 1,400 staff.

 

Last month, its brewing arm, BrewDog Distilling Co, said it would cease distilling spirits at its base in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, in the coming months.

 

The group will phase out brands encompassing Duo Rum, Abstrakt Vodka, Lonewolf Gin, Duo Rum, Casa Rayos Tequila and Ron Bodega, but will retain its ready-to-drink cocktail line, Wonderland.

 

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