A popular award-winning brewery in Alexandria is looking to expand its business with the help of a massive crowdfunding campaign.

Loch Lomond Brewery, which is situated at Lomond Industrial Estate and run by Luss couple Fiona and Euan MacEachern, is trying to raise £350,000 to go towards doubling the capacity of its premises and its production, purchasing new state of the art equipment, and finding new investors in the business who are passionate about supporting its work.

To do this, its owners have taken to online investment and equity crowdfunding site Crowdcube, where they are offering to split around ten per cent of their business between those who choose to invest.

With around five days remaining, the brewery is nearing its target with over £200,000 raised through more than 300 unique investors.

Managing director Fiona told the Reporter: "We're almost at capacity with our floorspace where we are now, meaning that even though we have a shop, we can't serve on site, and we can't do tours of the brewery.

"With this campaign, we expect that we'll be able to move to our own, purpose-built place, and we only need a little bit more support to get over the line."

Each investor in the brewery receives shares in return for their support, as well as rewards that become more and more special as the business grows and they see greater return on their investment.

The brewery owners hope that, planning permission provided, they will be able to call the West Riverside development their new home by 2020, opening a new taproom, with a restaurant and visitor centre.

Fiona added: "We love the crowdfunding model because it gives our customers the opportunity to own a share in the business and in turn share in our future success.

"We've been so well supported locally and nationally, we could've perhaps gone for one private investor, but we'd prefer that lots of people join the journey and come along for the ride.

"We want to build a community of Loch Lomond Brewery investors and brand champions all over the UK and crowdfunding helps us achieve that."

The brewery, which has been around since 2011, has won multiple awards, is now stocked in major supermarkets across the country, and has even started to export its beers abroad.

Just last week, Loch Lomond Brewery's 'Southern Summit' beer, one of their biggest sellers, was declared Champion Bitter of Scotland 2018, and is up for the Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Champion Beer of Britain Award at a ceremony in London later this year.

Fiona added: "It's always so nice and such an honour to hear that we've won awards, and often we don't even realise we are being considered until CAMRA announces the winner.

"What is most lovely is that obviously people are enjoying the taste of our beers, and that's what matters most."

To find out more about Loch Lomond Brewery's crowdfunding campaign, visit www.crowdcube.com/companies/loch-lomond-brewery/pitches/b3MGRl.