ABOUT US

Hopfrog began in 2017 as a sales agency, to formalise an arrangement to launch the Australian craft beer brewery – Pirate Life in the UK. From there a select number of other breweries were added to the portfolio, including Scottish brewery of the year 2020, Loch Lomond Brewery. The business continues to represent and work with breweries, selling on their behalf to the trade – wholesale distributor, bar and pub groups, and individual venues, who are looking to expand their reach and profile and to increase their sales here. Hopfrog works alongside existing sales forces as part of the brewery’s team.

A wholesale/distribution business was added to the Hopfrog business in 2020. In response to the Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting severe reductions in hospitality sales a couple of craft beer market stands were then introduced. The success of these led to the opening of a permanent venue - Hopfrog Beer Shop at Hornsea Freeport - The original site of the iconic Hornsea Pottery. This acts both as a shop and a taproom/bar and the base for an online shop with full national delivery.

In 2020 Hopfrog launched a range of craft glasses with the three of the most loved John Clappison Hornsea Pottery designs - Heirloom, Saffron and Hornsea cat. The huge success of these has led to Hopfrog expanding its range of designs and products with a new bigger venue to showcase these coming soon.

Hopfrog is now the UK licensing partner of Hornsea Potteries Intellectual Properties USA LLC.

Nick Burton is the sole director of Hopfrog. His experience includes over 20 years in the beer trade across wholesale and brand management. Nick has worked with and represented some great beer brands, including Budweiser Budvar, Paulaner (as UK Sales Agent and Brand Manager) and Früli, to name but three. 

Nick also is also joint owner of Möbru, producing a range of UK-brewed, Belgian-style fruit beers.

Business partners Nick Burton and Alan Gilchrist developed a love of fruit wheat beers during their many years of working in the drinks trade. Nick’s main experience is as a brand manager for a number of great beer brands and then as owner of Hopfrog – beer shop, bar, wholesaler and sales agency. Alan’s background began with confectionary and then moved into beer – hosting huge Oktoberfest, Christmas Market and other events across the UK. He has now added Feral North Drinks to his business – compromising a North East beer shop and soon to be bar, alongside his own beer and cider brands.

Nick originally supplied Alan with fruit beers for the events and they both desired to one day produce their own UK brewed, Belgian style fruit wheat beer range that was as good as, if not better, than its Belgian counterparts, whilst being more accessible to the UK consumer.

After four years of tireless tasting and testing (it’s a hard life!) they hit upon a wonderful wheat beer base and fruit supply and Möbru was born.

Mö fruit beers first hit the market on draught in July 2019 to a great response, featuring on bars across the whole country. The range was then released in bottles and has been selling very well ever since. The Covid restrictions have had an effect but the beers continue to grow in volume, with sales increasing through beer shops and online sales.

Watch this space for further developments in Mö Town.