The Crafty Brewing acquires LBC to expand brewing capacity

The Crafty Brewing Company has acquired The Little Beer Corporation (LBC).

Under the agreement, The Crafty Brewing Company will take over LBC’s lease and acquire its assets.

The company plans to continue employment for all LBC staff members.

The Crafty Brewing Company CEO Andrew McMorran said: “We owe our success to the loyalty of our customers in Surrey but with demand now coming from national restaurant groups, hotels and theatres, we need this extra capacity in Guildford to produce more beer.

“We launched an apprenticeship scheme with Godalming College in February so now we have the capacity to increase production we can recruit more local people to make, sell and deliver to new customers.”

Based in Surrey, The Crafty Brewing Company estimates that the deal would double its brewing capacity to 40,000l of beer per month.

The company also intends to further expand its range of craft beers.

Based in Guildford, LBC was founded by local entrepreneur Jim Taylor ten years ago. Commenting on this latest deal, Taylor said: “We closed Little Beer with a heavy heart.  However, our extraordinary beers and our former shareholders will be in excellent hands with The Crafty Brewing Company I look forward to seeing Crafty Brewing go from strength to strength.”

In addition to the acquisition, The Crafty Brewing Company is planning to redevelop its original brewhouse at Thatched House Farm near Dunsfold to create a new 4,000ft² brewery with a capacity of 100,000l per month.

The Crafty Brewing Company is a microbrewery that was established in 2014. Since then, it has been supplying craft beers to village fêtes and pubs in Surrey.

The microbrewery currently serves more than 260 bars, hotels, restaurants and theatres across Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire and London’s West End.