Craft lager business raises funding for growth

CRAFT lager business Genius has secured backing from industry big guns ahead of a push for growth, in spite of the challenges the coronavirus has posed for the drinks trade.

Glasgow-based Genius Brewing has received investment from Mark Hunter, former chief executive of drinks giant Molson Coors and David Wither, founder of the Edinburgh-based Montpellier bar-restaurant group.

The value of the investment was not disclosed but Genius described it as significant.

The funding round comes as leisure industry firms grapple with the fallout from the lockdown that was imposed to try to slow the spread of coronavirus.

It provides a notable vote of confidence in a business that was launched in 2018 by entrepreneurs Jason Clarke and Charlie Craig.

The men developed a lager, called Gen!us, which has lower alcohol content than the norm but which they reckon has as much taste as stronger alternatives.

“There’s a lot of great work happening in the No & Low alcohol space and Genius Brewing is a brand that is paying attention to the evolving lifestyle changes of drinkers all over the world,“said Mr Hunter, who is a Strathclyde university graduate.

Mr Wither said: “I can see huge potential for Gen!us, especially when it launches in draft.”

Mr Craig, a former operations director at Fyne Ales, noted the coronavirus lockdown has hit on-trade sales of Gen!us. However, online sales have rocketed.

Mr Clarke moved into brewing after serving as an officer in the army and working in the film industry in Los Angeles.

Gen!us is three per cent alcohol by volume.

The beer is produced at the Eagle brewery in Bedford.