The Spectator on craft beer: do they ever wish they were better informed
There is plenty of media coverage currently about what was once called ‘craft’ beer and now is more frequently known as Indy. There is a reason for the change of name. Not all craft beer is independent. Camden is owned by Belgian based ABInBev and Beavertown by Heineken. Magic Rock, Purity, Brick and Brew By Numbers are owned by Keystone.
Much of the media coverage is about Brewdog the most well known independent craft brewery although in reality its de facto owned by private equity outfit TSG.
The Spectator who one might think should know something about how capitalism operates has published a piece about Sarf London brewery Gypsy Hill. It bemoans that a sale might be forthcoming. In fact it was sold in October 2024 to Sunrise Alliance who also own Wild Beer, Curious and Portobello. Brewing remains in situ and the flagship beer Hepcat is still brewed, Sunrise was spun out of Suffolk brewery St Peters but the precise details are a little opaque.
The Spectator Editor Michael Gove is not unfamiliar with craft beer pubs. Perhaps its time for him to appoint a beer correspondent.
You can imagine my sadness, then, in reporting the decline of the Gipsy Hill Brewing Company, my own local. While the brewery won’t be filing for bankruptcy any time soon, my sense is its heyday is behind it, and with it the heyday of many great independent breweries.
The Spectator 20th August 2025
Gipsy Hill Brewery sold to St Peter’s Brewery owner Sunrise Alliance Beverages to avoid administration
It comes after the brewer failed to hit a £500k crowdfunding target last year
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The Grocer 30th September 2024
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