A SUSSEX brewery planning to expand is launching a £330,000 crowdfunding campaign on the UK’s largest platform, Crowdcube, to supplement the £170,000 recently raised from shareholders and associates.

The initiative also benefits from being EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) registered, allowing for a 30 per cent tax rebate on any investment.

Bedlam Brewery – at Albourne Farm Estate, Albourne – is run by Paul Reed, former founder and MD of Dark Star Brewery, and Dominic Worrall, co-owner of The Bull pub in Ditchling.

Head Brewer Fabio Israel was recruited from London Fields brewery, having previously trained at Warsteiner in his native Germany.

Since the business was successfully relaunched as a commercial brewery at Craft Beer Rising in 2015, turnover has increased by more than 85 per cent, including securing its first export order.

Bedlam has recently secured distribution through market leader Matthew Clarke, as well as supplying Metropolitan Pub Co (Greene King’s London based operation), Marriott hotels and The Restaurant Group Plc.

The setting has proved one of the main inspirations for its successful range of beers.

Bedlam’s focus has been to brew pure-styled draft keg brews such as Pale Ales and Pilsner alongside a core cask and bottled range.

The Daily Telegraph cited its Pilsner as one of the “Top 10 Keg beers to watch”saying “it manages to achieve something that mass markets lagers can only dream of.”

Environmental credentials being crucial to Bedlam, the business runs its entire brewery operation from the solar energy they produce onsite.

They also grow and hand harvest Sussex and Pilgrim hops at their farm-based location, whilst spent grain is given away for free to a neighbouring farmer to use as cattle feed.

The brewery has been entirely self-funded so far between friends and family and they want to build a new state-of-the-art brewhouse enabling the capacity to increase by up to 600 per cent.

The new site will have stunning views across the South Downs National Park and will accommodate tours, tasting rooms and a shop.

MD Dominic Worrall said: “We are delighted to be the first brewery in Sussex offering not only an opportunity to invest in their local brewhouse, but a real chance to play an active part in our future.

“Demand for the beer has far outstripped what we believed was possible and together with our initial growth and the opportunities ahead, it makes absolute sense to future proof our quality and capacity. This is an exciting time for any new UK brewery and with the benefit of Paul’s experience at Dark Star, we are confident of making an impact in the craft beer scene.”