Wells and Young MD McNally to purchase Kestrel beer brand

Wells and Young’s MD Nigel McNally is buying the brewer’s Kestrel beer brand and leaving the business to go it alone.

McNally intends to brew, distribute and sell Kestrel through his new company Brookfield Drinks. The sale of the brand is expected to be completed on 1 October.

“I’m excited about taking ownership of Kestrel and applying some of the successes at Wells and Young’s into my own business,” said McNally, who has headed up Wells and Young’s since 2006.

Wells and Young’s said selling Kestrel fitted its strategy of concentrating on its core brands. “His new venture means we’re able to focus on developing our range of beers,” said Wells and Young’s chairman Paul Wells.