Kilcullen will be taking on the role of brewmaster at the company’s HQ in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, after works on the brewery’s extension began today (Monday 16 January).
The project will help the company experiment with its wild and sour beer, farmhouse ales and mixed fermentations.
Kilcullen said: “The rise of craft beer in general has opened up the palate of beer drinkers in the past few years, and it seems that by looking for the newest flavours, people are beginning to look back across the lesser-known historical trends.
“It’s a fascinating and thrilling time to be a brewer, and I am excited to contribute to the craft revolution in the UK and further afield.”
‘Incredibly excited’
BrewDog co-founder James Watt, said: “We’re incredibly excited about Overworks, and couldn’t be more pleased to have a talent like Richard heading it up.
“Sours can take months to create and you can taste that time and layered development in the beer.
“Wild beers are something our loyal army of Equity Punks is constantly asking us for. The dedicated facility and new team will open up the brewing possibilities even further.
“It’s another surge for the craft beer revolution, and we’re counting down the days until the first sours hit our bars.”
Head-to-head with council
Last week the company hit back at Aberdeenshire council after the price of the land behind its Ellon-based brewery was marked for development for more than “60 times fair market value.”
BrewDog claimed the land was valued at £5,000 per acre by a surveyor and it submitted plans for a distillery and hotel to be built. The council, however, demanded £300,000 per acre.
Watt said the project would bring £5m in investment in the local area and create more than 80 jobs.
The council claimed it was disappointed that the company had broken the confidentiality agreement during ongoing discussions.
Chief executive Jim Savege said: “We are a proactive council with a commitment to working with local businesses. We also have a responsibility to ensure the best value for public money.”
Both parties are currently undertaking “proactive discussions” on the matter.
BrewDog, founded in 2009, raised £30m from more than 50,000 shareholders. The company plans to open new sites in Dalston, east London, Cambridge and Oxford in the next few months. Meanwhile, a new brewery in Ohio is set to open in the first half of 2017.