Scotland's BrewDog Soars 70% and Doesn't Give a S***

BrewDog, Scotland's largest independent brewery, saw turnover surge 70% in 2013 despite claims its irreverent marketing policies encourage anti-social behaviour and irresponsible alcohol consumption.

BrewDog said in a statement that annual turnover increased to over £18m (€22m, $30m) while net profit rose by 383% to £2.3m from 2012.

However, The Portman Group, a social responsibility body which regulates the British alcohol trade, ruled that the label used to market Dead Pony Club bottles "encourages both anti-social behaviour and rapid drinking".

The brewery, which employs 300 people, said its new Aberdeenshire brewery allowed it to increase its production capacity from 25,000 hectoliter (HL) to 250,000HL per annum.

It is also currently undergoing a £4m expansion to meet increased demand. The expansion is due to be completed by August 2014 and will include a new visitor centre and tap room.

BrewDog cited its crowd-funding scheme "Equity for Punks" which completed its third round in 2013 raising £4.25m in less than six months, for its successful expansion plans.

"2013 was a brilliant year for us and our financial results show that. We launched our new state-of-the-art brewery part funded by Equity Punks, opened three more awesome bars including our first international bar, and welcomed 8,000 new Equity for Punks to our business," said BrewDog co-founder James Watt.

"While tired pubs are facing closure and big breweries are reporting disappointing sales, the craft beer revolution has never been stronger and our continued growth shows just how much the UK beer scene is changing. And we are determined to change it much, much more."

Over the last year, BrewDog launched three new bars, including its first international bar in Stockholm, and plans to set up seven more in regions, such as Dundee, Clapham, Liverpool and Rome.

In April, the outspoken founders at BrewDog apologised for its "indifference and nonchalance" towards a ruling by the Portman Group against its Dead Pony Club pale ale.

Watt said in a statement: "On behalf of BrewDog PLC and its 14,691 individual shareholders, I would like to issue a formal apology to the Portman Group for not giving a s*** about today's ruling.

"Indeed, we are sorry for never giving a s***about anything the Portman Group has to say, and treating all of its statements with callous indifference and nonchalance.

"Unfortunately, the Portman Group is a gloomy gaggle of killjoy jobsworths, funded by navel-gazing international drinks giants. Their raison d'être is to provide a diversion for the true evils of this industry, perpetrated by the gigantic faceless brands that pay their wages."