BREWDOG has renewed its bid to build a craft beer hotel next to its Aberdeenshire base after its initial plans were snagged by a dispute over a land dispute.
The Punk IPA brewer has revealed plans to build a 22-room hotel and a new brewhouse on a 3.25-acre site next to its existing brewery. It acquired the site from Power Jacks, a screw jack manufacturer which will move to a new, purpose-built facility later this year.
The plans emerged after a previous bid by BrewDog to develop a hotel in Aberdeenshire foundered after it failed to acquire a 2.5-acre site from Aberdeenshire Council last year.
The company, founded by James Watt and Martin Dickie, claimed the council was attempting to charge 60 times the market rate for the land. The council, which had earmarked the land for a cemetery expansion, hit back, and accused BrewDog of breaching a confidentiality agreement to “weaken” the authority’s position.
Under the new plans, which have still to be submitted to the council, the rooms at the DogHouse Hotel would overlook the brewery, allowing guests to observe the brewing process. The rooms would also feature beer taps and a built-in shower beer fridge. Alongside the proposed hotel, BrewDog is planning to develop a 300-hectolitre brewhouse and a canning and packaging hall at the site. The additional brewing facility would boost the one-million-hectolitre-capacity BrewDog currently has in Ellon, where it added a sour beer brewing facility, The Overworks, last month.
The company, which last month revealed plans to build a brewery in Brisbane, Australia, hopes the hotel will be open in the first half of 2019. It now aims to open its hotel in the US, next to its brewery in Colombus Ohio, later that year.
A spokeswoman said the company was not disclosing how much it is investing in the Scottish expansion, but BrewDog noted in a statement that it would be funded by its Equity for Punks crowdfunding campaign. More than £53 million has been raised by the brewer from a series of crowdfunding drives since 2009, with its investor base now standing at around 73,000. Its fifth Equity for Punks drive has so far generated more than £12.5m from around 27,000 investors.
The company said its “punk” investors would get priority booking at its DogHouse hotel.
Mr Watt said: “The DogHouse is our gift to passionate craft beer fans making the pilgrimage to our brewery in Aberdeenshire.”
"The idea of opening a beer hotel has always been high on our agenda, and now we are finally able to realise that dream, right here at our HQ.
"This will be the ultimate destination for craft beer fans seeking hops with their holidays. This is a beer Nirvana.”
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