BrewDog hits £3m as beer fans clamour for share in the firm

The brewery, which opened a bar in Leeds six months ago, is three-quarters of the way to reaching a £4m target in under a third of the time it allocated to the Equity for Punks scheme.

The company has achieved an average annual growth of 167 per cent over the past five years and is valued at more than three times the value it was given during the last Equity for Punks programme in 2011. It is Britain’s fastest growing food and drinks brand.

James Watt, BrewDog co-founder, said: “We are now well past our previous record of raising £2.2m in 2011, and fast approaching our £4m target, with over 10,000 individual investors now owning shares in BrewDog. Equity for Punks is rewriting the rules of business finance and it’s putting our customers right at the heart of our operation.”

In June, BrewDog made 42,000 shares available to online investors at £95 each. Unlike a number of other crowdfunding initiatives that seek donations in return for a range of fringe benefits, BrewDog offers equity in its business.

Shareholders are also given a lifetime 5 per cent discount at BrewDog’s 12-strong portfolio of craft beer bars and up to 20 per cent discount on its website depending on the size of their investment.

BrewDog plans to use the funds to further expand, including increasing the size of its bar division and a new series of bottle shops across the UK.

The firm exports to 38 international markets, employs 187 staff and is on track for a turnover of £20m in 2013.

BrewDog Leeds is at White Cloth Hall.

An outlet in Sheffield is planned for later this year.