The brewery was founded by Julian de Vere Whiteway-Wilkinson and Ian Burges, around the time of the 2011 London riots, with approximately £10,000 of capital. Prior to founding the brewery, Whiteway had been jailed for 12 years for his part in a cocaine smuggling organisations. When founding the company, Whiteway still owed the Crown £3.2 million, including £1.2 million in interest.