The UK’s largest independent craft brewer BrewDog has put itself up for sale, appointing AlixPartners to run a restructuring process that could involve breaking it up.
The Aberdeenshire-founded brewer confirmed it is undertaking a structured and competitive review that could potentially involve breaking up parts of the business. The process is understood to cover three core divisions- its brand portfolio, brewing operations and pub estate.
Industry sources indicate the process is at an early stage, with no valuations disclosed, Financial Times reported. BrewDog’s international brewing facilities, located in Scotland, the US, Australia and Germany, could attract interest from major global brewers, while private equity buyers may consider acquiring the group as a whole.
The move follows a difficult trading period. BrewDog reported a pre-tax loss of £36.7m in 2024, an improvement on the £59.2m loss recorded the previous year, but sales growth has slowed significantly.
The company cited a “challenging economic climate” and “sustained macro headwinds” as key factors behind its decision to explore strategic options.
Founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, BrewDog rose to prominence during the UK craft beer boom, building a strong consumer following with products such as Punk IPA and Elvis Juice.
The business also raised more than £80m through its high-profile “Equity for Punks” crowdfunding scheme, attracting around 130,000 small investors.
In a statement, a BrewDog spokesperson said the company had taken “decisive action” during 2025 to focus on costs and operational efficiencies before appointing AlixPartners to support the review process.
“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 leading 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.”
The company maintained that its breweries and bars continue to operate as normal and stressed that no final decisions have been made regarding ownership or structure.
For the wider drinks and convenience sector, the outcome will be closely watched. BrewDog remains a significant player in the UK beer market, and any change in ownership, particularly if assets are acquired by a major multinational brewer, could reshape competitive dynamics across both retail and on-trade channels.