Tilray purchases BrewDog’s UK assets, US and Atlanta locations unaffected

Beleaguered Scottish-based brewpub chain BrewDog made the news again this week. 

On March 2, British and Scottish news outlets reported that US cannabis and drinks company Tilray purchased the brewpub’s UK and Irish assets for £33 million (roughly $44 million). The sale resulted in the immediate closure of 38 bars across the UK and Ireland and the loss of 484 jobs. Eleven “strategic” bars remain open in the UK and Ireland, and 18 franchise bars of BrewDog remain open in the UK and internationally. 

Adding to the sting of the UK deal, The Guardian reports that more than 200,000 BrewDog “Equity for Punks” crowdfund investors would likely not be able to cash in due to the Tilray acquisition.

“No offer was made at any stage of the sales process, from any prospective bidder, which would have preserved BrewDog in its entirety,” AlixPartners, administrator for BrewDog, said in a prepared statement.

UK trade union Unite Hospitality, which represents BrewDog employees, wasn’t having it. 

“The way in which senior management have conducted themselves throughout this sales process has been nothing short of a national disgrace – both the press and Tilray announced the deal before workers were told,” a spokesperson for Unite told The Guardian.

“A company does not lose 97% of its value in the space of nine years without catastrophic mismanagement. Directors past and present pursued reckless expansion and failed strategies, and now workers are paying the price for boardroom failure,” Unite added.

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Why the sale matters to Atlanta

So why does the sale of the UK assets of BrewDog matter to Atlantans? 

An Atlanta location of BrewDog opened in 2022 across from Krog Street Market in the Krog District. While completely unaffected by the Tilray purchase and UK closures on Monday, Tilray is conducting separate negotiations to purchase certain Australian and US assets of BrewDog. 

In addition to Atlanta, BrewDog includes locations in Las Vegas, Cleveland, Denver, and the Columbus, Ohio area, where US operations are based.

Tilray also owns Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing, which it purchased in 2021 via a merger with Aphria. Tilray purchased a majority stake in Athens-based Terrapin Beer Co. in 2024.

Rough Draft reached out to 26 Street Partners, the owners of the Krog District, for comment on the UK sale of BrewDog and ongoing negotiations.

A history of controversy

Founded in Scotland in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, BrewDog has weathered a number of controversies, including toxic workplace and harassment complaints, misrepresentation of financial accomplishments, discrimination, and violating United States distribution laws.

Watt stepped down as CEO in 2024 under a cloud of allegations surrounding inappropriate behavior and fostering toxicity at BrewDog. He retained 21 percent ownership of the company and competed to buy back BrewDog in the sale process.

Dickie left BrewDog last year for “personal reasons” and started a cannabis company. 

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