What Small Beer Brew Co. does

Small Beer Brew Co. is a London-based craft brewery founded in 2017 by Felix James and James Grundy, operating as the world's first and only brewery dedicated exclusively to mid-strength beer production (2.0-2.8% ABV). The company has built bespoke brewing equipment engineered specifically for the low-ABV range, distinguishing its process from competitors who either dilute or dealcoholise beers; the proprietary kit uses roughly twice the ingredients per percentage point compared to standard brewing and incorporates an industry-first "dry floor policy" that reduces water usage to approximately 1.5 pints per pint of beer versus the 8-10 pint industry standard.

The product portfolio comprises six core SKUs (Lager 2.1%, Session Pale 2.5%, Hazy IPA 2.6%, Gluten-Free IPA 2.3%, Amber 2.7%, and the recently launched Mexican Lager 2.5%), with all beers naturally vegan and free of fining agents through a minimum six-week lagering process. Revenue is generated through a hybrid four-stream model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce on Shopify (including the recurring "Big Thinkers Club" subscription offering 10-15% discounts), wholesale distribution to major UK grocers (Waitrose, Majestic, Whole Foods, Ocado, Amazon), on-trade sales to pubs and restaurants, and ancillary venue/taproom revenue from brewery tours, private hire (capacity up to 180 standing), and events. The company operates a single South Bermondsey brewery and taproom, serves the full UK plus Channel Islands, and has limited US penetration via Remarkable Liquids in New York and New Jersey.

Commercially, the business targets health-conscious drinkers aged 25-45 seeking mindful consumption, vegan and gluten-intolerant consumers, active lifestyle buyers, and on-trade operators looking for differentiated lower-alcohol menus. Distribution is concentrated among premium-positioned UK grocers, providing credibility and reach, while the subscription and DTC channels drive recurring revenue and customer data ownership.

Name

Small Beer Brew Co.

Legal name

Small Beer Brew Co.

Website

https://theoriginalsmallbeer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Small Beer Brew Co. is a London-based craft brewery founded in 2017 that operates the world's first dedicated mid-strength brewing facility, producing six core beer styles at 2.0-2.8% ABV for health-conscious UK consumers and on-trade customers, distributed via major grocers, DTC e-commerce, and a subscription service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Alcohol-Free & Low-Alcohol Beer/Wine/Spirits Production (AFAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• Mid-strength craft beer
• Low-alcohol brewery
• Sustainable beer production
• Beer subscription service
• Craft brewery taps

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through theoriginalsmallbeer.com. Customers can purchase individual beers, mixed cases, mini kegs, subscriptions, and merchandise. Free shipping on orders over £45.
2. Big Thinkers Club Subscription: Recurring subscription model delivering curated beer selections on configurable schedules (14-60 day intervals). Offers 10-15% discount and free delivery on all subscription orders. Minimum one case (24 cans).
3. Wholesale/Retail Distribution: B2B sales to retailers including Waitrose, Majestic, Whole Foods, Ocado, and independent bottle shops. On-trade sales to pubs and restaurants. Trade enquiries processed through dedicated trade page.
4. Events and Venue Hire: Taproom and brewery space available for private hire including weddings, corporate events, ceilidhs, and parties. Capacity up to 180 standing or 140 seated. Additional revenue from brewery tours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Small Beer Brew Co. is the world's first brewery dedicated exclusively to brewing mid-strength beers between 2.0% and 2.8% ABV using a proprietary brewing kit designed from scratch for this ABV range. The company produces a core range of packaged canned beers (Lager, Session Pale, Hazy IPA, Gluten-Free IPA, Amber, Mexican Lager), mixed cases, 5L mini kegs, gift bundles, and offers a subscription service called the Big Thinkers Club alongside taproom, brewery tours, and venue hire.

Product overview

Small Beer Brew Co. is the world's first brewery dedicated to mid-strength beer, exclusively brewing between 2.0-2.8% ABV. The core product portfolio consists of six distinct beer styles: Lager (2.1%), Session Pale (2.5%), Hazy IPA (2.6%), IPA - Gluten-Free (2.3%), Amber (2.7%), and Mexican Lager (2.5%). These core beers form the foundation of the business. The product line extends to mixed cases and bundles including The Core Four, The Hoppy Mix, The Session Mix, The Zesty Mix, The Selection Box, and Taster Packs for discovery. Draft beer offerings include 5L mini kegs in multiple styles. The company also offers gift sets such as the Cocina Mexicana Bundle, LSA Gift Pack, and various apparel bundles. A Big Thinkers Club subscription service provides recurring deliveries with 10-15% discounts. The company operates a taproom in South Bermondsey and offers brewery tour experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lager A classic Pilsner-style lager brewed with West Country malted barley and long-lagered for a clean, bright finish with subtle citrus notes and stone fruit palate. Brewed at 2.1% ABV with 73 kcal per 330ml can. Targeted at consumers seeking full-flavor beer with fewer calories.
• Session Pale A lightly tropical pale ale packed with fresh hop and bright citrus aromas with a juicy finish. Brewed at 2.5% ABV with 96 kcal per 330ml can. Contains wheat.
• Hazy IPA A juicy New England IPA bursting with tropical hop character featuring mango, guava and passion fruit. Brewed at 2.6% ABV with 84 kcal per 330ml can. Contains wheat and oats. Awarded a Great Taste Award.
• IPA (Gluten-Free) A traditional golden IPA using British organic ingredients and organic British hops. Naturally gluten-free with less than 10ppm gluten. Brewed at 2.3% ABV with 83 kcal per 330ml can.
• Amber A revival of the Steam beer style brewed with British rye. Features dried fruits, subtle spice and rounded hop finish. Brewed at 2.7% ABV with 79 kcal per 330ml can.
• Mexican Lager A crisp, clean Mexican-style lager brewed with Mexican and homegrown corn in collaboration with chef Adriana Cavita and artist Paola Estrella. Crafted at 2.5% ABV with 82 kcal per 330ml can.
• The Core Four Mixed Case A mixed case containing all four core beer styles (Pale 2.5%, Lager 2.1%, Hazy 2.6%, IPA 2.3%) in 24x330ml or 12x330ml cans. Designed for discovery and variety at £55 for 24 cans.
• Pale Mini Keg A 5L mini keg of Session Pale (2.5% ABV) containing approximately 8-9 pints. Hand-filled fresh from the tank with no equipment required. Priced at £25 per keg.
• IPA Mini Keg A 5L mini keg of IPA (2.3% ABV) containing approximately 8-9 pints. Hand-filled fresh from the tank. Priced at £25 per keg.
• Mini Keg Party Bundle A bundle of 2 mini kegs for parties and events containing approximately 18 pints of draught beer. Priced at £47.50.
• Cocina Mexicana x Mexican Lager Bundle A bundle pairing Mexican Lager with a cookbook featuring vibrant Mexican recipes. Priced at £30.
• Small Beer x LSA Gift Pack A premium gift set combining award-winning Small Beer beers with LSA International glassware. Priced at £25.
• Big Thinkers Club Subscription A recurring subscription service delivering Small Beer products on a configurable schedule (14-60 day intervals). Offers 10-15% discount and free shipping on all subscription orders. Minimum one case (24 cans). Includes access to seasonal beers.
• Brewery Tour Experience An experience offering a one-hour guided tour of the Small Beer brewery in Bermondsey, including a welcome beer and tasters of five beers. Vouchers are valid for 12 months from purchase.
• Taproom and Brewery Venue Hire Private hire of the brewery taproom and event space for weddings, corporate events, ceilidhs, and private parties, with capacity for up to 180 standing or 140 seated guests.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water usage reduced to 1.5 pints per pint of beer vs industry standard of 8-10 pints
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• PackfleetcoreOthersPrimary delivery partner for London (M25 area). Provides next-day delivery service with 98% of orders before 2pm arriving next working day.
• APCcoreOthersDelivery partner for orders outside the M25 area. Provides 3-day delivery service across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Remarkable LiquidsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS craft distribution and importing company enabling Small Beer sales in New York and New Jersey. Brand Finder tool available on their website for locating stockists.
• Growth KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood delivery partnership allowing taproom customers to order restaurant-quality food alongside their beer purchases. Menu available through Growth Kitchen website.
• LSA InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Small Beer x LSA Gift Pack combining award-winning beers with premium glassware. Co-branded product sold through Small Beer website.
• Adriana CavitaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChef collaboration for Mexican Lager. Adriana's cooking is rooted in Mexican flavors; she contributed to recipe development and cultural storytelling for the product.
• Paola EstrellaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist collaboration for Mexican Lager label design. Created artwork inspired by Iztaccíhuatl (Sleeping Woman volcano) and Mexican culinary heritage.
• Brockley BreweryminorOthersLocal craft brewery guest taps occasionally featured at Small Beer taproom alongside their own beers.
• Southwark Brewing Co.minorOthersLocal brewery guest taps occasionally featured at Small Beer taproom alongside their own beers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Drop Brewing Co. UK-based craft brewery focused on low-alcohol (sub-2.8% and sub-0.5%) beer; founded with a similar premium-occasion thesis and competing in the same on-trade and online channels.
• Athletic Brewing Company: US-based non-alcoholic craft beer specialist with a large DTC and retail footprint; offers a directly analogous mindful-drinking proposition and competes for the same customer persona globally.
• Nirvana Brewery: UK alcohol-free craft brewery with an explicit wellness-led positioning; competes for the same health-conscious and mindful-drinking consumer at a 0.0% ABV.
• Drop Bear Beer Co. Low-alcohol (2.5%) UK craft brewery; the closest direct mid-strength analogue to Small Beer in ABV, proposition, and target customer.

Broad incumbents

• BrewDog: Large UK-based craft brewer with a broad portfolio including alcoholic and alcohol-free lines; competes for on-trade taps, supermarket shelf-space and consumer attention.
• Heineken 0.0: Global mainstream beer brand with a widely distributed alcohol-free variant; competing proposition for sober-curious consumers and on-trade draught placements.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company (Heineken): Established US craft brewer (now Heineken-owned) known for IPAs and Hoppy Refresher; a useful comparable for flavour-forward craft formats at scale.

Emerging players

• Toast Ale: UK craft brewer with a sustainability-led proposition; overlapping audience of ESG-driven consumers and similar retail distribution strategy.
• Pentire: UK-based low-alcohol drinks brand (non-beer) targeting the same mindful-drinking consumer; useful reference for category drift between mid-strength beer and adjacent sober-curious formats.

Regional players

• Innis & Gunn: UK craft brewery with national distribution and a strong sustainability story; competes for similar on-trade, supermarket, and gifting occasions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/smallbeertaproom
• Xx.com/origsmallbeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/small-beer-brew-co.-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Small Beer Brew Co.