James Watt New Beer Brand May 23: Second Best Launch Sparks Investor Doubt | Meyka
James Watt's Second Best beer brand launches May 23, offering free shares to BrewDog investors amid skepticism over equity promises.
meyka.comHere’s the latest on James Watt and his new beer brand, Second Best, based on recent reporting.
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Watt has announced a new beer brand, Second Best, and says he intends to gift a portion of shares to BrewDog investors who were harmed by the Equity for Punks losses. This signals a comeback plan after BrewDog’s debt crisis and sale to Tilray. Sources reporting this include STV and BBC, which frame the move as a comeback with equity promises aimed at former investors.[1][4]
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Details on launch timing remain uncertain. Watt indicated licensing, regulatory approvals, and other permissions are likely to push any formal launch date back, with the project described as an “alcohol-adjacent concept” in the interim. This uncertainty has been echoed by multiple outlets.[4][1]
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The new venture, named Second Best, is described as initially producing three beers (two pale ales and a lager) and potentially opening two pubs in the UK (one in London and one in Scotland). Reports highlight that Watt plans to build the business from the ground up and aims to align with former investors who lost money in BrewDog’s decline.[2][3]
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Public reactions are mixed, with skepticism over the equity promises given BrewDog’s history and the complexity of delivering on those promises. Coverage notes regulatory delays and licensing hurdles as key uncertainties going forward.[2][4]
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In broader coverage, Watt’s return has been discussed in trade press and local outlets, with emphasis on the reputational challenges and the scale of BrewDog’s collapse as context for this comeback.[5][8]
Illustrative note:
- If Second Best launches as planned, early communications emphasize “ownership” by investors rather than traditional shareholding, with Watt presenting the brand as a mutual rebuilding effort. This framing has appeared in multiple reports.[3][1]
Would you like a concise summary of the key dates, the exact promised equity terms, or a quick table comparing Second Best to BrewDog in terms of product lineup and planned pubs? I can also pull the latest direct quotes from Watt and the outlets if you want precise wording.
Citations:
- Latest news on Second Best and equity promises.[1]
- Details on product lineup and launch uncertainties.[2]
- Exclusive reporting on founder’s return and investor gifts.[3]
- BBC coverage on regulatory timing and interim concept.[4]