BREWDOG has hiked profits by nearly 70 per cent to £4.9 million in a year which saw it expand its brewery in Ellon, open 12 bars and launch its first bottle shop.

The rise in profits came as turnover at the rapidly growing craft brewer grew by 64 per cent to more than £29.6m in 2014.

The Scottish brewer now has a global portfolio of 26 bars, having added 12 to the estate last year. Its latest openings included bars in Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Gothenburg, Florence, Bologna and Helsinki.

BrewDog plans to launch a series of bottle shops this year after launching BottleDog, its first craft beer shop, in London's Kings Cross last April.