BrewDog has been put up for sale after the Scottish craft beer group appointed restructuring specialists to explore fresh investment and strategic options.
The Aberdeenshire-founded brewer has hired AlixPartners to oversee a structured process that could result in new investors coming on board or parts of the business being sold off.
Founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, BrewDog grew from a small Ellon-based brewery into an international brand with operations in the US, Australia and Germany, alongside around 60 bars across the UK. It currently employs approximately 1,400 people.
In a statement, the company said the decision followed “a year of decisive action” in 2025, including cost-cutting and efficiency measures, as it sought to strengthen its long-term sustainability in what it described as a challenging economic environment.
A BrewDog spokesperson said the appointment of AlixPartners was a “deliberate and disciplined step” aimed at evaluating the next phase of investment. The company added that it expected to attract substantial interest and that its bars and breweries would continue to operate as normal.
An internal email to staff said no decisions had yet been made and stressed that day-to-day operations would be unaffected while advisers reviewed strategic options.
The move comes after a turbulent period for the brewer. BrewDog reported a £37m loss last year and announced job cuts in October. Earlier this year it confirmed the closure of 10 UK bars, including its flagship Aberdeen venue.
Last month, the group halted production of its gin and vodka brands at its Ellon distillery as part of efforts to “sharpen” its focus on core beer operations.
In recent years BrewDog has frequently attracted headlines, both for bold marketing campaigns and for controversies over workplace culture. In 2024 it faced criticism after announcing it would no longer hire new staff on the real living wage, opting instead to pay the statutory minimum. Co-founder James Watt subsequently stepped down as chief executive, taking on a new role as “captain and co-founder”, while Martin Dickie exited the business last year for personal reasons.
AlixPartners declined to comment on the sales process.
The potential sale marks a significant turning point for one of Britain’s most recognisable craft beer brands, which once positioned itself as a disruptor to global brewing giants and attracted thousands of small-scale investors through its “Equity for Punks” fundraising scheme.
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