Brewdog boss James Watt denies inappropriate behavior after BBC documentary allegations

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The boss of beer giant Brewdog has denied any inappropriate behavior after allegations in a BBC documentary.

More than 15 former Brewdog employees in the US spoke about CEO James Watt on BBC Scotland’s Disclosure programme.

Former Brewdog USA employees said Watt’s behavior made female bartenders “uncomfortable” and “helpless.”

But Watt’s lawyers vehemently denied all the allegations, which were part of a disclosure documentary last night.

Katelynn Ising, who worked at DogTap, Brewdog’s flagship brewpub in Canal Winchester, Ohio, said female staff dress up when they know Watt will be at their bars.

Ising said he saw Watt taking female customers on night tours of the American Brewery, next to the DogTap.

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She told the BBC: “Sometimes there was a woman, sometimes there was a group of women.

“They were always intoxicated, they were usually in their twenties.

They were very pretty and he looks like he’s taking them on a private tour of the brewery.

Former duty manager Jackie English said Watt’s behavior made her “uncomfortable”.

She told the BBC: “There were three separate nights… [he’d] … enter the building with a girl, a young woman, you know, pretty little blondes and he would take them to the brewery … to show them around or whatever.

Brewdog is now a huge international hit

“You show your employees that you can do whatever you want because of who you are and your name. That’s what I felt often.

Another manager, Dylan Gray, said a female bartender discussed his concerns with him.

He told the BBC: “It didn’t make me feel good to have someone who is your captain to make you feel that way. It shouldn’t be like that.

“It was disappointing and I’m more or less disappointed in myself that I couldn’t get things moving sooner.” Brewdog was founded in 2007 by Watt – then just 24 – and his friend Martin Dickie and is headquartered in Ellon, near Aberdeen.

The company has over 100 bars and employs over 2,000 people worldwide. He claims to be worth around £2billion.

BrewDog launched its first operations in the United States in 2016 and now has eight bars in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

The BBC Scotland Disclosure team began investigating the company after nearly 300 former and current Brewdog employees signed a letter last year accusing Watt of presiding over a toxic culture of fear.

The Truth about Brewdog documentary features interviews with former Brewdog USA staff.

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Watt’s lawyer told the BBC the allegations against him were false.

He said: “Mr. Watt regularly takes women and men, friends and clients, on evening tours of the brewery.

“It is not true to say that those who accompany him are intoxicated.

“The claim he made was made by an employee in June 2021.

“This has been thoroughly investigated – allegations have not been substantiated – no further action was warranted by Brewdog USA HR.”

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