Carlsberg UK Acquires London Craft Brewery
Carlsberg UK has acquired London Fields Brewery, the English craft brewer, and will operate the business in a joint venture with Brooklyn Brewery of New York. London Fields Brewery, which was founded in 2011 in the London Fields neighborhood of Hackney, London, came to prominence through its range of craft beers including Craft Lager, Easy IPA and Shoreditch Triangle IPA.
The London Fields Brewery will operate as an independent business within the joint venture between Carlsberg and Brooklyn Brewery. Its craft beer range will become part of the Danish brewer’s core portfolio in the UK and will also form part of its House of Beers range – which caters for premium venues across London and other major cities, and which already includes the Brooklyn Brewery craft beer portfolio.
“We’re thrilled to add London Fields Brewery to our growing portfolio of great quality craft and specialty beers,” says Julian Momen, chief executive of Carlsberg UK. “Our customers, and specifically those in London and other major cities, are looking to us to offer them the best possible range of interesting craft beers – and we think that, with nurturing, London Fields Brewery has huge potential. It’s the right move for us as we build a credible craft portfolio.”
Currently, London Fields Brewery beers are brewed outside of Hackney by a brewing partner. Investment will be made to re-introduce brewing at its original home under the railway arches in Hackney, and to upgrade its tap-room and events space. As part of the joint venture, Brooklyn Brewery will work together with the London Fields Brewery’s team to continue developing innovative, tasty and well balanced beers.
Eric Ottaway, chief executive of Brooklyn Brewery, comments: “We’re excited to be able to work closely with this great London-based craft brewery. The range of beers, their eye-catching artwork and the great location of the brewery in Hackney makes for a fantastic platform. London Fields Brewery is surrounded by a thriving creative community that reminds us of home, and we’re looking forward to becoming part of it.”
