Northern Monk Brewing Co is asking members of the public to join the next phase of the brewery’s journey as it looks to raise more than £500,000 through crowdfunding.
Already one of the fastest growing food and drink businesses in the North, the brewery is planning to triple capacity and install a new packaging line, as well as expanding its wild beer and barrel ageing program, and fasttracking plans for additional taprooms.
The Leeds-based company started in a parent’s cellar in 2013 with just £5,000. In 2014, they renovated The Old Flax store (pictured), and with just three full-time staff members and three brewing vessels, began making beer in their new home.
Fast forward to 2018 and the business has 30 members of staff. Northern Monk has sold its beer to 22 countries (including the USA, New Zealand and Japan), effectively doubled turnover each year for the past three years, and is set to brew more than 3 million pints in 2018.
Northern Monk has produced at capacity since it launched. With the new investment, eight 10,000-litre fermentation vessels will be purchased, and a new state-of-the-art packaging line will improve quality, efficiency and speed. If the £500,000 target is exceeded, a second taproom will open, with London or Manchester the preferred locations.
Awards
In 2018, Northern Monk has already featured in the RateBeer Awards, making it into the top 100 of 24,000 breweries worldwide, as well as having a beer rated as one of the world’s top 100.
The brewery has won awards at local, regional, national and international level, as well as having many of its beers being rated as the best examples of their style in the world. In 2016, it was also the first English brewery to receive a medal for an IPA in the World Beer Cup.
“In 2013, we set out to make some of the best beer in the world with just £5,000. In 2014, we launched our own brewery.
“In the four years since, we’ve been rated one of the world’s top 100 breweries, we’ve sold beer to 22 countries across the world, and we’re hoping to turn over £4,000,000 by the end of this financial year. It’s been a wild four years. This is your chance to join us for the rest of it.”
The first round of investment launches on Monday, February 26. For more information, visit www.northernrising.com
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