Cwmbran-based Brew Monster, which launched in September 2017, has established a profitable cask-focused micropub in nearby Barry as well as increasing its brewing operation to 3,000hl (hectolitres) per annum in its first 16 months of operation.
While primarily serving its local region of south Wales – including Cardiff, Newport and Swansea – the brewer launched a crowdfunding campaign earlier this year to raise an additional £50,000 to broaden brand reach and invest in more venues.
Upon concluding at the end of March 2019, Brew Monster’s campaign page on Crowdcube revealed that the microbrewer had received £100,630 in funding from 328 investors – 201% of its initial target.
Enormously exciting
Speaking to The Morning Advertiser, Brew Monster’s Glenn White commented: "The fact we've been able to smash our target is enormously exciting.
"We're in a bit of a bubble to an extent, the people we're speaking to are primarily local, know us and our brand. What has been really nice is we’ve been able to put the brand onto a bigger platform where you can really get some people to look at the business and the brand.
“The fact that people have been really supportive and really love what we're doing has been fantastic.”
White explained that the funds raised will help Brew Monster invest further in its brewing operation, while leaving the door open to a number of different routes to grow its pub portfolio.
“There’s loads of food for thought, but not any firm plans just yet as to what we'll do with the money. We're in a good place, have a good team, good product and are seeing sales grow all the time,” he commented.
“We're looking to grow the brewery sales into the trade and looking at things like wholesalers, there’s a lot that can be done that way. Then, on the other side, growing the retail offer. It’s exciting.
“We’ve already started to invest to increase our capacity further giving us a bit more flexibility so we can produce more keg products and up the quality and consistency of beer.
"We’re also going to explore additional venues. Where we’ve been quite lucky is that since we’ve established our first couple of venues, we’ve had people come to us and say ‘we love your beer and we love what you’re about, we'd love to work with you’. We've got someone who wants to work with us and open a micropub in our local area in Cwmbran, other people in Barry and Shrewsbury are talking to us about opening more micropubs in partnership with them.
“One of the things we're thinking about is a big ‘flagship’ bar in Cardiff where we can really showcase our beers in what is the biggest city in our region. Loads of competitors like Tiny Rebel and Crafty Devils have got some good bars.”
In November 2018, Signature Brew's John Longbottom discussed how and why crowdfunding has become a key feature of the craft beer industry after his company managed to raise £566,280 via Crowdcube – 141% of its original target.