Molson Coors buys London craft brewer Hop Stuff in rescue deal

United Kingdom | Molson Coors has saved the London craft brewer Hop Stuff from bankruptcy. Hop Stuff merely called it an asset sale. Fact is, Hop Stuff, which was started in 2013, entered into administration in early July 2019.

Molson Coors’ acquisition of the Woolwich-based craft brewer, announced on 15 July 2019, includes its brewery and two bars in London, as well as one in Ashford, Kent.

Employees will be glad, as per the terms of the agreement, Molson Coors will retain all staff.

Alas, Hop Stuff’s 1,300 or so investors will be crying into their beers. In three rounds of crowdfunding, they have ploughed a total of GBP 1.5 million (USD 2 million) into the brewery start-up, says The Times newspaper. Their money is gone. This may serve as a warning that crowdfunding is a risky investment.

The good thing is that Hop Stuff’s beers – sessionable, hop-forward ales and lagers – will continue to be available.

If that is little consolation to those, who have lost their investment, they should heed the advice found on Vine Pair’s website: “move on to your next favourite brewery.”