Barrels and barrels of beer made by the celebrated indie craft beer makers Beatnikz Republic are to be sold off for a fraction of their retail price, after the brewer folded earlier this year. The company dealing with the liquidation of the brewery’s stock is looking for as little as £1 a pint for the beer, which would usually sell for £6 in pubs and bars.
Accountants Begbies Traynor say that there are more than 300 barrels of beer to be sold, and hundreds of cans, working out as something like 20,000 pints in all. The stock, which is all being housed at at a warehouse near Strangeways, is made up of Beatnikz ales, IPAs and stouts like Beach Bum, Oblivion Now, Miami Amor and Chocolate Fudge Cake.
Paul Stanley of Begbies Traynor said: “We’re looking for someone in the trade to see the opportunity, step forward and buy the bulk of the stock that’s left over in this treasure trove of ale. At this stage we estimate there’s almost 20,000 pints of craft ale sitting here and we’ll supply a full inventory upon request. It would be good for a trade buyer such as a freehouse, independent bar or organised beer festival.
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“Plenty of the beer has a 2023 ‘best before’ date. Buyers would have to collect the barrels and kegs and the price of the beer reflects this logistical challenge. This beer was commonly retailing at around £6 a pint in the Northern Quarter but we’re looking for around £1 a pint which includes the duty that needs to be paid.
“The company was hit hard by the impact of lockdown restrictions, rising transport costs and inflation. Its primary customers were licensed premises across Manchester city centre and in particular in the Northern Quarter from where they were able to grow good awareness of their brand locally and even internationally.
“This case highlights the challenging times faced by many in the hospitality trade. It’s not the first brewery we’ve been appointed to in recent times and it certainly won’t be the last in this kind of inflationary economic climate.
Beatnikz, which started out in 2017 under a railway arch on Red Bank, sadly folded in April this year. Its owner Paul Greetham described difficult trading conditions caused by both lockdown and export issues due to Brexit.
He said: “It’s with great sadness that we announce that Beatnikz Republic Brewing Co. has ceased trading. It has been a painful decision, but the right one. It’s an incredibly sad time and closing is something we never wished we had to do.
“There are a number of reasons why we’ve had to make this difficult decision. We tried our best to make it through Covid, but the negative impact over the last two years has proven too much. From the initial shock, to constantly starting/stopping production due to the various lockdowns, to lower sales this year, the financial implications have been disastrous.
“Our ability to export in volume had also reduced due to increased transport costs; and now with increased utility, ingredient and packaging costs, it’s simply not possible to continue. From the start, Beatnikz Republic has been a project of passion and one that I have worked on for 10 years; from home brewing, to a side hustle alongside the day job, to a nationally/internationally recognised brewery.
“I’m proud of the beers we’ve produced and the growth we’ve experienced over the years. We can only attribute these excellent beers and growth to our amazing team members; this has been made possible due to their tireless dedication, effort and craftsmanship – so a very big thank you to them all.”
The brewery’s bar on Dale Street in the Northern Quarter is still open, however. Interested parties can contact Mark Dyer at Begbies Traynor on mark.dyer@btguk.com
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