BrewDog ditches Camden Town Brewery after ABInBev buyout

Camden’s brewery ‘s beers are available in more than 1000 pubs, and has sold 12 million pints in 2015.

The deal follows a successful bid by Camden Town Brewery to raise capital via crowd funding and will support the company’s plan to build a second brewery in London, employing 30 more people.

Founder Jasper Cuppaidge said: “Our growth has been phenomenal. To keep up with the demand for our distinctive beers we’ve had to look at expanding our brewing capacity and team.

“AB InBev is going to be our strategic partner, helping us maintain the character and quality of our beers, while giving us access to the investment we need to drive Camden to being ever more successful at home and abroad.”

The deal is expected to close by 7th January 2016 when Camden Town Brewery will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of AB InBev.

“Opportunities like this come rarely. We believe we must have the ambition to grab this opportunity and turn Camden Town Brewery, and the quality it stands for, from being an outstanding London brewer to being a world famous one,” Cuppaidge added.

But the deal has seen a swift reaction from BrewDog, and has become the latest beer to be dropped by the craft brewer as co-founder James Watt Tweeted that the bars ‘don’t stock ABInBev beers’.

We will no longer be selling any @CamdenBrewery in our bars. We don't stock @ABInBevNews beers.

— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) December 21, 2015

BrewDog also dropped Lagunitas after it was bought by Heineken.

Some have suggested the move to be controversial, as BrewDog continued to expand.

@BrewDogJames@CamdenBrewery@ABInBevNews thats great keep doing it. @theQclt has boycotted all AbInBev products. cant wait to try that BBQ

— Doug Fat Squirrel (@Doug6322) December 21, 2015

But some commend BrewDog for sticking to the strategy of stocking from smaller brewers.

@BrewDogJames@CamdenBrewery@ABInBevNews When does Brewdog become too big and corporate to stock its own beers?

— Peter Blackburn (@petermblackburn) December 21, 2015

From an original staff of three people, Camden Town Brewery now employs a team of 95.

Its beers are now stocked in pubs, bars, restaurants and retailers in Sweden, Australia and Japan.

Iain Newell, European director of specialities & craft, AB InBev, added: “We have a passion for great beer. Camden Town is a creative business with a great range of brands that will complement our existing portfolio.

“We will support their ambitious plans for the future, using our expertise and global distribution network to help them get their great beer to more people.”