James Watt, the co-founder and former CEO of BrewDog, announced on July 15 that he has submitted a formal offer to reacquire the craft brewery. The bid comes only months after the company was purchased by San Diego-based Tilray Brands in March 2026.
Tilray Brands acquired BrewDog’s operations in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia as the brewer faced potential insolvency. Following the acquisition, the company shuttered numerous locations, including 38 bars in the U.K. and several sites in Columbus, Ohio, which served as BrewDog’s primary U.S. hub.
In a social media statement, Watt confirmed that the offer was submitted through a new brewery entity he established in June. He stated his intention to “bring BrewDog home” and explicitly promised to grant a free stake in the company to former “Equity Punks”—the thousands of crowd-funding investors who saw their original investments wiped out during the March sale.
While Watt’s proposal aims to restore the brand’s original leadership, the bid has been met with significant public skepticism. Critics and former investors have questioned the viability of the offer and the sincerity of the promise, given the company’s prior financial challenges, which included debts estimated by the BBC at nearly $675 million.
Tilray Brands has yet to issue a formal response to the offer. The company currently continues to operate key BrewDog facilities, including the brewery and hotel complex in Canal Winchester, Ohio.