BrewDog to build US brewery in Ohio

Scottish craft brewery BrewDog is to invest £30 million in a brewery in the United States, which will be based in Canal Winchester in the Columbus Region of Ohio. The brewery was inundated with enquiries after it revealed preliminary plans for its American expansion earlier this month, with the BrewDog Facebook page noting unprecedented shares of the story, reaching more than 150,000 people.

BrewDog’s investment in the brewing facility in Columbus will include the construction of a 100,000 square foot facility in Canal Winchester, to be completed by August 2016. The site will be the main brewing site for all BrewDog USA’s beer production, as well as boasting a restaurant, taproom and visitor centre.

The launch of BrewDog USA will generate 125 jobs at the Canal Winchester site, and the brewery has announced that it is recruiting for some senior positions, including cheif executive, brewmaster, and heads of sales and finance.

The site in Ohio will initially serve the U.S. market with potential to export to other countries. It will produce more than 85,200 barrels in its first year of production, increasing capacity in years 2 and 3 until it reaches 852,000 barrels.

Economic development partners in the project include JobsOhio, Columbus 2020 and the City of Canal Winchester.

The crowdfunding revolution

BrewDog will fund the American expansion in part using finance raised via a U.S crowdfunding round; Equity for Punks USA. Last month it launched a landing page for more information about the scheme, which it hopes to open later this year. Interested potential investors can sign up for more information via brewdog.com/equityforpunksusa

Equity for Punks has enabled the brewery to expand as quickly as it has done, and the fourth round of funding opened in Europe in April this year. In the first three weeks after launch, the brewery raised a world record-breaking £5 million, a fifth of its £25 million target. The amount raised broke the previous record set by BrewDog in 2013, when it raised £4.25 million (less costs) in just over six months.

With the latest round of Equity for Punks, 526,316 shares in BrewDog have been made available, for a minimum investment of £95 for two shares. The capital raised from investors will be used to fund in particular the expansion of the BrewDog brewery and its international bar division, as well as launching new projects like a craft beer hotel, custom sour beer facility and a distillation plant.

Co-founder James Watt (see left with partner Martin Dickie) says: "The people of Ohio have bowled us over with their enthusiasm, passion for beer and warm welcome. Their reaction has been incredible. We'll be throwing a helluva party to thank the locals for their support.

"America has one of the world's most eclectic, energetic beer scenes imaginable. Planet BrewDog has just gained a continent!"