This legal charge over the Balmacassie Commercial Park means the craft beer giant risks losing its primary production hub if it fails to find a suitable buyer or stabilise its finances. The move comes as the firm, which once defined itself through an anti-establishment “punk” ethos, navigates a high-stakes sale process managed by advisory firm AlixPartners.

Co-founder James Watt is reportedly assembling a rescue bid backed by £10m of his own capital and external investment.

Having stepped down as chief executive in 2024, Mr Watt intends to acquire the group in its entirety. However, he faces stiff competition from multinational brewers and private equity firms interested in the brand’s global reach and popular products like Punk IPA. While the company prefers a total sale, administrators are considering splitting the business into three distinct assets: the brand name, the international bar chain, and the brewing estate itself.

The potential sale has sparked significant anxiety among the “Equity for Punks” shareholders who fuelled the company’s rapid growth through crowdfunding. Experts warn that a compound return agreement with private equity firm TSG may ensure institutional investors are paid first, potentially leaving the original grassroots backers with nothing. Analysts suggest that the brand, which raised £75m across seven rounds, has transitioned from an edgy industry disruptor into a corporate entity mirroring the very incumbents it once challenged, City AM reports.

BrewDog maintains that the current sale process is a disciplined step designed to ensure long-term sustainability following a year of rigorous cost-cutting. Despite the pressure from macro-economic headwinds, the company remains confident that its technologically advanced facilities and strong brand presence will attract substantial interest during the second round of bidding.