THE FAMILY which revived Wrexham Lager has said the takeover of the company by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney is a "proud moment for all of us". 

Brewed in Wales since 1882, the Wrexham Lager Beer Co is the oldest lager brewery in Great Britain.

The Roberts family stepped in to bring Wrexham Lager back to life in 2011, after brewing stopped in 2002.

Since its revival, Wrexham Lager is now being sold in pubs across the area, UK supermarkets and even overseas in the wake of Ryan and Rob's takeover of Wrexham AFC. 

In 2021, the Wrexham Lager brewery shop opened its doors in the centre of Wrexham. 

Ryan and Rob's takeover of the company represents a landmark moment for the brewery - which looked to have been lost forever before the Roberts family stepped in.

Martyn Jones, a Member of Parliament for the nearby Clwyd South constituency who had once been employed by the brewery, bought the original name and building for £1 in 2001. 

In 2010, local businessman Mark Roberts and his brother Vaughan Roberts expressed an interest in reviving the brand, and met with Ian Dale, who was the brewing manager at the former plant upon closure.

They negotiated for the brand from Martyn Jones, and after sourcing the original ingredients used in an older version of the lager and obtaining new brewing equipment from German firm Kaspar Schulz, Wrexham Lager was made available in October 2011.

​The Roberts family, who have owned and operated the business since 2011, will maintain an active role within the business following the takeover, continuing to oversee quality control across all markets, local brewery operations, and community engagement projects.

Reacting to Rob and Ryan's takeover, the Roberts family said in a joint statement: “As Wrexham born and bred, this is a proud moment for all of us. When we took over the brewery in 2011 our main goal was to keep a part of our local history alive, and we established ourselves as a credible Welsh brewer.

"With our new co-owners onboard, the opportunity to realise some of our more ambitious dreams of seeing Wrexham Lager enjoyed across the world is now very much a reality.” 

Recently appointed CEO James Wright will continue to lead the business after already overseeing rapid UK growth, as well as international expansion into Australia, Japan, and Scandinavia. Distribution in the US and Canada is set to go live in the coming months.

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“This is a brand with great heritage – the oldest lager brewery in Great Britain, once enjoyed across the world,” said James Wright, CEO of the Wrexham Lager Beer Co. Ltd. “So, to have Rob and Ryan onboard as we embark on international expansion is huge for us. They have been doing wonders for the town of Wrexham and strongly share our passion for once again seeing Wrexham Lager enjoyed in all the far-flung corners of the globe.”

Wrexham Lager Beer Co currently produces the award-winning 4% ABV Wrexham Lager, 5% ABV Wrexham Lager Export, and recently introduced 4.6% ABV Pilsener.

The 4% Wrexham Lager is produced using an original recipe from 140 years ago that was once available in the world-famous Harrods luxury department store in London, as well as chosen as the only lager to be served on the White Star Line’s Titanic.