Scottish brewer of world’s strongest beer sees profits triple

MAVERICK craft beer firm BrewDog – which boasts Punk IPA and the world’s strongest beer Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32 per cent among its brands – has reported a 70 per cent increase in sales and a tripling of profits for 2013.

The Aberdeenshire firm, which employs about 300 staff, recorded a pre-tax profit of £2.3 million on £18million sales for the year in which it opened a new brewery in Ellon. This raised production capacity from 2.5million litres to 25million. It also opened three bars, one in Sweden.

James Watt, who founded BrewDog with Martin Dickie in 2007, said: ‘2013 was a brilliant year for us. While tired pubs are facing closure and big breweries report disappointing sales, the craft beer revolution has never been stronger.

‘Our growth shows just how much the UK beer scene is changing. And we are determined to change it much, much more.’

BrewDog is already investing in a £4million expansion of the new brewery and will open 11 bars this year. It is moving into the off-licence market too and will open five shops this year.

BrewDog is in part funded by a crowdfunding scheme ‘Equity for Punks’, which completed its third round in 2013 raising £4.3million in less than six months. More traditional brewers saw steadier growth. 175-yearold Stockport brewer Robinsons in Greater Manchester saw sales rise slightly to £58.6 million in 2013 while profits dipped to £3.1million. Cornish brewer St Austell revealed steady profits of £10.4million on a turnover of £116.6million.