What Weird Beard Brew Co Ltd does

Weird Beard Brew Co Ltd is a UK-based independent craft brewery founded in 2013 by Bryan Spooner and Gregg Irwin, operating from three units on Boston Business Park in Hanwell, West London, with a 10-barrel brewing capacity. The company produces hop-forward American Pale Ales, IPAs, stouts, mixed-fermentation wild-yeast beers, and barrel-aged imperial stouts, with a core range (Black Perle, Five O'clock Shadow, Kill Pils, Little Things that Kill, Mariana Trench, Bat Oat Of Hell) and an R&D catalogue exceeding 100 unique beers across collaborations, seasonals, and limited releases. Production uses bottle conditioning rather than force carbonation, an extensive bourbon/rum/whiskey barrel-aging program, and recurring co-brews with at least ten UK and international partner breweries (Anspach & Hobday, Wild Weather Ales, Brussels Beer Project, Pig & Porter, Left Hand Brewing, among others). The company has no external funding rounds and is founder/owner-operated; co-founder Gregg Irwin departed in 2017 leaving Bryan Spooner as controlling director, and the company announced it was "Under New Management" in August 2022.

The business operates four revenue streams: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce via the company's own online shop with UK-wide shipping, click & collect, and local delivery to six West London postcodes — this channel grew to 80% of sales during COVID-19 lockdowns; (2) trade sales to bars, pubs, and bottle shops through a direct sales team and the Eebria Trade platform, with typical 30-day credit terms; (3) on-site sales at the brewery during open days and taproom events; and (4) merchandise (apparel, branded items) sold through the online shop. Pricing is unit-based with tiered UK delivery (£4.99 under £50, free over £50, free local delivery over £20). Marketing relies on a content blog, email newsletter, organic social (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), beer festival participation, and brewery open days.

The company serves three primary customer segments: on-trade hospitality (UK bars and pubs as the primary segment), off-trade retail (bottle shops), and craft beer enthusiasts purchasing directly. It holds recognition as Rate Beer's 5th Best New Brewery in the World (2013) and was a Champion Beer of Britain Finalist in 2018. Operating geographies are London and the wider United Kingdom, with no claimed international footprint.

Name

Weird Beard Brew Co Ltd

Legal name

Weird Beard Brew Co Ltd

Website

https://weirdbeardbrewco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Weird Beard Brew Co is a founder-owned UK craft brewery founded in 2013, operating a 10-barrel facility in Hanwell, West London, producing hop-forward ales, IPAs, stouts, and barrel-aged beers. It sells through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, UK on-trade and off-trade channels (including Eebria Trade), and on-site taproom events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Small batch brewery
• Hop-forward ales
• Barrel-aged stouts
• Mixed fermentation beers

Headquarters

HQ city

Bury Saint Edmunds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Online Sales: Online shop selling beer direct to customers via website, accounts for 80% of all sales during COVID-19 pandemic. Includes local delivery to specific London postcodes and click & collect from brewery.
2. Trade Sales: Sales to bars, pubs, bottle shops, and restaurants through direct sales team and Eebria Trade platform. Trade customers typically given 30-day credit terms.
3. Merchandise: Sale of merchandise including T-shirts and other branded items through online shop
4. On-site Sales (Open Days/Taproom): Direct sales during open days and events at the brewery, with drink-in at Unit 5 and take-out from Unit 9

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Weird Beard Brew Co is a 10-barrel craft brewery in Hanwell, West London that brews and packages hop-forward American Pale Ales, IPAs, stouts, mixed fermentation wild yeast beers, and barrel-aged imperial stouts. The brewery operates a core range of six flagship beers alongside seasonal, collaboration and limited-release beers, selling through its own online shop, direct trade accounts, the Eebria Trade platform and brewery open days.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Champion Beer of Britain Finalist 2018 for Black Perle
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eebria TradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Online trade platform enabling trade customers to order Weird Beard products
• The Quiet ManminorOthers · 1 April 2017Whiskey barrel supplier for barrel-aging 'Mesca Ulad' Veda Porter
• Anspach & HobdayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration brewing partnership resulting in beers like '7th Church of the Apocalyptic Lawnmower', a Dark Cream Ale
• Wild Weather AlesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Multiple collaboration brews including Kwantum State, Coconhagen Interpretation, and Such a Bohr (blended beer)
• Brussels Beer ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration brews including 'Churchill's Delusion' (Tobacco English Mild) and 'Don't Worry Bee Heavy' (Wee Heavy)
• Against The GrainminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration brew 'Pig Smasher', a Honey Red Ale, brewed at ATG's brewpub in Louisville, Kentucky
• Pig & PorterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Multiple collaboration barrel-aged imperial stouts including Sadagothicko and Sadako variants
• Time & Tide BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration brews including Crossing Over (Reverse Black & Tan)
• Steel City BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration 'God of the Cold White Silence', a barrel-aged white stout
• Hereford Beer HouseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration 'Follow the Worms', an Agave Chili Mexican Export Stout
• Left Hand BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration 'Fade to Wit', a black Witbier brewed at Left Hand's Colorado brewery
• HasbeanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Coffee supplier collaboration for coffee stouts including Double Perle and Heavy Fuel

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• BrewDog: Largest UK craft brewery producing a broad range of IPAs, stouts, lagers, and barrel-aged beers. Competitor across many product categories but at significantly larger scale and with extensive own-retail and international footprint.

Direct peers

• Anspach & Hobday: London craft brewery producing porters, pale ales, and IPAs with similar on-trade and DTC distribution. Active collaboration partner of Weird Beard, indicating directly comparable product philosophy and market positioning.
• The Kernel Brewery: London craft brewery known for hop-forward pale ales, IPAs, and barrel-aged programs with similar small-batch, beer-geek positioning. Comparable target customer base and premium craft positioning.
• Pressure Drop Brewing: London craft brewery with strong reputation for hop-forward and experimental beers. Similar independent scale, target audience, and on-trade/off-trade dual distribution approach.
• Pig & Porter: UK craft brewery specializing in barrel-aged imperial stouts and limited releases. Direct collaboration partner of Weird Beard on barrel-aged projects, with comparable premium, beer-enthusiast positioning.
• Partizan Brewing: South London craft brewery producing small-batch IPAs, stouts, and mixed fermentation beers. Comparable craft positioning, experimentation focus, and independent scale.
• Fourpure Brewing: London craft brewery offering IPAs, pale ales, and lagers with comparable taproom and DTC operations. Similar scale and target market within the London craft beer scene.
• Camden Town Brewery: London craft brewery producing lagers, pale ales, and IPAs for UK on-trade and off-trade. Directly comparable as a London-headquartered independent-style craft brand with similar product portfolio and brewery operations.
• Beavertown Brewery: London craft brewery operating at larger scale with similar hop-forward American-style IPAs, pale ales, and stouts. Same target market (UK craft beer enthusiasts) and overlapping on-trade and DTC distribution model.
• Wild Weather Ales: UK craft brewery with experimental mixed fermentation and barrel-aged beers. Active collaboration partner of Weird Beard with directly comparable small-batch, quality-focused craft philosophy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/weird-beard-brew-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Weird Beard Brew Co Ltd