Vault City Brewing

What Vault City Brewing does

Vault City Brewing is an Edinburgh-based independent craft brewery founded in 2018, self-described as the UK's largest dedicated sour beer producer. The company's core technology is a proprietary house mixed fermentation culture combining lactobacillus and saccharomyces, which has been used in every sour beer brewed since inception to produce tropical esters, juicy flavours, and tart acidity. Production is concentrated at a single Portobello brewery site with approximately 500,000 litres of annual capacity, processing over 200,000kg of fruit per year and supporting an extreme-fruit adjunct rate of up to 999g/L on flagship smoothie sours. Since founding, the company has brewed more than 450 different beers, with roughly 60-70 new releases per year across a structured portfolio: core range sours (Strawberry Sundae, Cloudy Lemonade), ice cream-inspired Scoop Series, Soda Series, Iron Brew Scottish variants, Imperial and Pastry Stouts, a Birthday series, the legal-limit 999g/L series, the 0.5% Stoopid AF low-alcohol line, and a Vegan sub-range. Customers include craft beer enthusiasts and sour devotees as the primary segment, with secondary segments in mainstream UK grocery shoppers via Tesco and Morrisons, hospitality businesses (100+ independent bottle shops, bars, gastropubs, hotels), and international consumers reached through export partners in Singapore and Europe.

Name

Vault City Brewing

Legal name

Vault City Brewing

Website

https://vaultcity.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vault City Brewing is an Edinburgh-based independent craft brewery founded in 2018 that produces and sells fruit-forward modern sour beers, stouts, and limited-edition releases through its own e-commerce site, an Edinburgh taproom, UK supermarkets, 100+ independent stockists, and international export partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Craft Beer Retail & Bottle Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAC)

Keywords

• Craft sour beer
• Mixed fermentation
• Fruit adjunct beer
• Craft brewery
• Imperial stout

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through vaultcity.co.uk web shop with DPD delivery across UK. Free shipping on orders over £50, with order processing within 2 working days.
2. Taproom Sales: On-site sales at The Wee Vault taproom in Edinburgh, featuring 24 taps with Vault City beers and rotating guest beers, meads and ciders. Open daily until 10pm.
3. Supermarket Sales: Core range products (Strawberry Sundae, Cloudy Lemonade) and supermarket sours sold at Tesco and Morrisons across the UK.
4. Wholesale to Retail: B2B sales to independent bottle shops, craft beer bars, taprooms, hotels and pubs through their B2B store on Sellar and Eebria Trade platform.
5. Subscription Partnership: Partnership with Brewser subscription service where Vault City curates monthly showcase boxes of 8 beers delivered to subscribers' homes.
6. Export Sales: International distribution through export partners selling Vault City beer to bars and bottle shops globally, including Singapore and European countries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vault City Brewing produces and sells modern, fruit-forward craft sour beers and imperial/pastry stouts brewed with mixed fermentation using its proprietary house culture of lactobacillus and saccharomyces. The company releases 60-70 new beers annually across a core range, limited editions, collaborations, and non-alcoholic variants, and distributes through its own e-commerce site, Edinburgh taproom, UK supermarkets, independent stockists, B2B wholesale, and export partners.

Product overview

Vault City Brewing is an Edinburgh-based independent craft brewery and the UK's largest dedicated sour beer producer. Founded in 2018, the company operates a core sour beer range (including Strawberry Sundae and Cloudy Lemonade) alongside limited-edition releases—typically 60-70 new beers annually—spanning ice cream-inspired Scoop Series sours, Soda Series nostalgic variants, Imperial Stouts, Birthday Beer Series (Years 1-8), the maximum-fruiting 999g/L series, non-alcoholic Stoopid Series, and seasonal collaborations. The company also offers vegan-friendly options, mixed cases, merchandise (apparel and glassware), and operates The Wee Vault taproom in Edinburgh. Distribution includes direct-to-consumer UK shipping, a network of 80+ UK stockists, and international exports through distribution partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sour Beers (Core Range) Modern sour beers brewed with mixed fermentation using Vault City's house mixed culture of lactobacillus and saccharomyces, featuring real fruit additions and a sliding spectrum from sweet-tart to super sour, targeted at craft beer enthusiasts and mainstream supermarket shoppers.
• Stout Beers Imperial and pastry stouts including Double M*rs Imperial Stout and the Mint Choc Chip Quadruple Scoop series, featuring chocolate, caramel, and biscuit-y sweetness from chocolate malt, DRC Crystal, and toasted oats, for craft beer enthusiasts seeking rich, decadent beers.
• Vegan Beers Plant-based sour beers free from lactose and milk ingredients, including Triple Fruited Mango, Jungle Juice, and Mango Pineapple Passionfruit Vegan Sorbet, for vegan and dairy-free consumers.
• Mixed Cases Curated selection boxes of 12 beers, including the Mega Mixed Case featuring latest releases and the Session Sour Mixed Case of sessionable ABV sours, sold direct-to-consumer via the web shop.
• Ice Cream-Inspired Sours (Scoop Series) Smoothie sours inspired by ice cream desserts, including PBJ Ice Cream Sandwich, Mango/Pineapple/Passionfruit Sorbet, and Raspberry Ripple, available in single, double, triple, and quadruple scoop intensities, targeted at craft beer enthusiasts.
• Soda Series Nostalgic soda-inspired sours including Bigger Zestier Cola, Grape Soda, and Iron Brew variants designed to evoke childhood memories of classic soft drinks, targeted at craft beer enthusiasts.
• Iron Brew Variants Scottish Iron Brew-inspired beers including Fiery Brew (ginger spiced) and Iron Brew Float (with vanilla ice cream), plus Blue Brew and World Cup 2026 edition variants, for craft beer enthusiasts seeking regionally-inspired novelty beers.
• Birthday Beer Series Annual birthday celebration beers including the 8th Birthday Gift Box featuring 8 beers from Years 1-8 (2018-2025), with each year representing a different recipe and twist, for craft beer enthusiasts and gift purchasers.
• 999g/L Series Maximum fruiting rate smoothie sours with 999 grams of fruit per litre, featuring apricot, mango, guava, and pineapple at the legal limit for beer classification, for craft beer enthusiasts seeking extreme fruit-forward innovation.
• Stoopid Series (Low/Non-Alcoholic) 0.5% ABV smoothie sours with tropical fruit intensity including banana, peach, mango, vanilla, and coconut cream, for consumers seeking low/non-alcoholic craft beer options.
• Collaborations Guest beer collaborations with artists (Insane Magic for Razzle Dazzle), bakeries (Babyfaced Baker for Double Bun Pastry Sours), and other breweries including Brewtoon, Dois Corvos, L'Atalante, and Væskebalancen, for craft beer enthusiasts.
• Merchandise Branded apparel including t-shirts (Sour to the Core, Toxic Waste, Planet Stout, Piracy Black), hoodies, sweatshirts, glassware (Teku Taster Glass, Vault City Stout Glass), prints, and accessories, sold direct-to-consumer via the web shop.
• The Wee Vault Taproom Edinburgh taproom and bottleshop at 7a West Maitland Street near Haymarket featuring 24 taps with Vault City draught and rotating guest beers, meads, and ciders, plus takeaway bottleshop collection and table booking, for consumers visiting Edinburgh.
• Brewser Subscription Partnership Monthly Vault City showcase box via partnership with Brewser beer subscription service, delivering 8 hand-picked sour beers to subscribers' homes from £29/month.
• Gift Vouchers Digital gift vouchers valid for 12 months for use on the web shop or Edinburgh taproom, delivered via email with QR code for in-person redemption.
• UK Distribution and Export Direct UK shipping via DPD with free delivery on orders over £50, network of 80+ permanent UK stockists across bars and bottle shops, and international export through distribution partners to Singapore and European countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projected £10 million turnover by end of 2027
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BrewsercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with UK's top-rated beer subscription service. Brewsercurates monthly Vault City showcase boxes of 8 beers delivered to subscribers' homes. Subscription starts from £29/month with orders processed every two weeks.
• Insane MagiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey - the Edinburgh Fringe magic trio behind Insane Magic. Created limited-edition Razzle Dazzle beer featuring edible glitter for their biggest-ever show at Edinburgh Fringe.
• Babyfaced BakerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdinburgh bakery collaboration creating Double Bun Duo - dual release pastry sour series inspired by doughnuts. Next evolution of their doughnut duo pastry sour series.
• L'AtalanteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench collaboration creating Tarte Tatin pastry sour inspired by French cuisine. Beer puts the pastry in pastry sour, inspired by the iconic French dessert.
• Dois CorvosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLisbon brewery collaboration creating Imperial Pastel De Nata - decadent pastry sour inspired by Portuguese custard tart with vanilla, caramelized sugar, cinnamon, peach and apricot.
• VæskebalancenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish brewery collaboration creating Kjøbenhavner Stang - mixed fermentation sour inspired by iconic Danish ice lolly with pineapple, lemon and vanilla.
• BrewtoonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration creating Radler - Lemon, Grapefruit & Pineapple light and fruity fusion beer brewed to super sessionable strength with Saphir hops.
• DPDcoreOthersUK shipping partner for direct-to-consumer deliveries. Offers next-day delivery with tracking, plus free DPD Pick-Up option with no minimum spend for collection from local parcel shops.
• SellarcoreTechnology or IntegrationB2B e-commerce platform for wholesale orders from bars, bottle shops and hospitality businesses. Online ordering system for Vault City's trade customers.
• Eebria TradecoreTechnology or IntegrationTrade platform for B2B wholesale distribution. Allows bars and retailers to order Vault City products for their businesses.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cascade Brewing: Portland, Oregon craft brewery widely regarded as a pioneer of barrel-aged and fruited sours in the US. Directly comparable to Vault City as a dedicated sour specialist with a deep barrel/mixed-fermentation programme and a library of fruit-forward releases targeting sour beer devotees.
• Omnipollo: Stockholm-based craft brewery famous for fruit-forward smoothie-style beers, pastry sours, and adjunct-heavy IPAs with global distribution. Closely comparable to Vault City in product philosophy (flavour-forward, dessert-inspired, fruit-heavy), target audience (craft enthusiasts), and willingness to push fruiting/adjunct rates to extremes.
• J. Wakefield Brewing: Miami-based craft brewery renowned for extreme fruited sours, adjunct-heavy IPAs, and bold can art. Comparable to Vault City for pushing fruit adjunct rates, dessert-inspired flavour profiles, and operating as a hype-driven craft brand with a strong social-media-savvy consumer base.
• Other Half Brewing: Brooklyn craft brewery known for hazy IPAs and fruited sours with massive cult following and high release velocity. Comparable to Vault City in driving demand through limited drops, strong Untappd/community engagement, and treating new releases as collectible events.
• Holy Mountain Brewing: Seattle craft brewery focused on mixed-fermentation and barrel-aged sours alongside IPAs and lagers. Comparable to Vault City in its use of mixed cultures, fruited sour programme, and positioning as a quality-led craft producer with strong Untappd following among sour enthusiasts.

Regional players

• North Brewing Co. Leeds-based UK craft brewery with a rotating IPA/sour/stout portfolio, taproom locations, and B2B distribution. Comparable to Vault City as a UK regional craft peer with multi-channel distribution and an experimental, flavour-forward product cadence.
• Siren Craft Brew: Berkshire-based UK craft brewery with a broad portfolio spanning IPAs, stouts, and a notable mixed-fermentation sour programme. Comparable to Vault City as a UK craft peer with quality-led positioning, B2B/wholesale distribution, and limited-edition sour releases.
• Verdant Brewing: Cornwall-based UK craft brewery popular for hazy IPAs and fruited sours with strong UK taproom and wholesale presence. Comparable to Vault City as a UK craft brand targeting similar enthusiast consumers with fruit-forward and experimental releases.

Broad incumbents

• Magic Rock Brewing: Huddersfield-based UK craft brewery (now owned by Lion) producing IPAs, sours, and lagers with national UK distribution and taprooms. Comparable to Vault City as a UK craft peer with broader portfolio, supermarket listings, and a sour/stout sub-line, though at a more established scale.
• Beavertown Brewery: London-based UK craft brewery (part of Heineken) with a flagship IPA-led portfolio and growing sour/stout experimentation. Comparable to Vault City as a UK craft brand with national distribution, distinctive can art-driven identity, and a younger-skewing consumer base, though operating at much larger scale across multiple styles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/vaultcitybrew
• Facebookfacebook.com/VaultCityBrewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/vaultcitybrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vault-city-brewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Vault City Brewing