You’re obviously not from the UK otherwise you’d be aware that the idea of them doing a dis-service to craft beer is utter twaddle. Without BrewDog playing these games, no-one here would have heard of craft beer, let alone have the means (in terms of distribution and variety) with which to enjoy it. Yes they are a marketing juggernaut, but the UK Market needed just that to break down the barriers that have allowed hundreds more craft breweries, new and old alike, to focus on getting good beer into the hands of the consumer.

Look at Summer Wine Brewery, or Kernel – not only are they in many ways influenced by them, but do you think they’d have anywhere near the Market they have now without BrewDog crashing in on the scene? No. Hell, you couldn’t even get a sour beer on tap in the UK before BrewDog opened their bars. Unless of course you chose one of the many poorly maintained cask ales that you were told was “craft” simply through method of dispense rather than being an indicator of quality or care in production.

Also, I can personally refute the suggestion that they put the care of their beer second. The beer comes first, and these little stunts only support the rest of what comes out of the brewery. Does a single barrel in the back of a warehouse get all their attention? No. Production is laser focused on making sure the rest of the beer in the FVs is up to standard.

Apologies if this has come across as vitriolic, but watching and knowing how much effort James and Martin have put into building the UK craft beer scene up from almost nothing – without compromising their product – I can’t help but set the record straight.