Curious Brewery acquires Wild Beer Co

Wild Beer Co, which fell into administration in December after ten years of trading, has been bought by Curious Brewery.

Curious is backed by Luke Johnson’s private equity firm Risk Capital Partners and was acquired from the Chapel Down English wine business in April 2021.

The addition of Wild Beer Co will double the capacity of the existing Curious operation in Ashford, Kent. The company said it currently produces five million pints per year with potential to expand upwards of 15 million.

The acquisition will also see Wild Beer Co’s portfolio, including its flagship brew, Wild IPA, sit alongside Curious products such as its premium English lager and Curious Brew with Champagne yeast.

Curious have reassured members of Wild Beer Co’s Secret Cellar Club that it intends to honour their subscriptions and regular discounts.

Mark Crowther, chairman of Curious Brewery, said: “The Wild Beer Co acquisition brings a lot of positives including high-quality beers and distinctive brands, impressive distribution in both the on and off-trade, as well as a significant direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation.

“This new chapter for Wild Beer Co will bring some stability, placing the business on a sure footing. For Curious, this is an important step in our journey to become one of the UK’s leading brewers of specialist, premium beer and ciders.”

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