Vault City launches Wonka-inspired ‘Marvellous Liquids’ sour beer collection to help fund £1 million brewery expansion

SOUR beer brewer Vault City has unveiled a new limited-edition range inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as part of a major £1 million crowdfunding sale campaign to fit out its new state-of-the-art brewery.

The new collection of five 'Marvellous Liquids' nods to Roald Dahl’s beloved story, with playful names including Golden Goose Egg, Ultimate Gobstopper, Fizzy Lifting Juice, Dissolving Elixir, and Chocolate River Imperial Stout – guaranteed to transport drinkers to a world of pure imagination.

Designed to appeal to both seasoned sour fans and curious newcomers, each beer is rated either two or three on Vault City’s five-point Sour Scale.

The launch is part of a four-week crowdfunding sale to support the fit-out of Vault City’s new 34,000 sq ft brewery at BioCampus, part of the Midlothian Science Zone. Funds from each sale will go towards the campaign. Supporters can also gain access to exclusive rewards, including 33% off the Vault City website and the chance to become the brewery’s official Sourmellier – tasked with taste-testing new brews before they hit the market.

Landing just in time for Easter, Golden Goose Eggs (5% ABV) is a silky, dessert-inspired sour blending strawberries, raspberries, white chocolate, and rich caramel, topped off with a mini egg crunch. With a gentle sour rating of two, it's smooth, fruity, and indulgent.

Ultimate Gobstopper (4.5% ABV) packs a punch with bold blueberry notes swirled with bubble gum sweetness, delivering a lasting tang and a three-out-of-five sour hit.

For something lighter and fizzier, Fizzy Lifting Juice (6% ABV) is a nitro sour that combines juicy peaches and ripe raspberries, bursting with fruit intensity and a cloud-soft mouthfeel. It’s rated two on the sour scale.

Dissolving Elixir (6.3% ABV) is the thickest smoothie sour Vault City has produced to date – a vibrant blend of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries with a swirl of creamy vanilla, offering a marshmallow-like finish and a mellow sour rating of two.

Finally, the collection rounds out with Chocolate River Imperial Stout (12% ABV) – the richest and booziest of the bunch – pouring with deep malt character, velvety cocoa and a luxuriously sticky body.

Vault City’s new brewing site will increase production capacity to over 10 million litres annually – more than an eightfold increase. With room for expansion up to 20 times its current output, the new facility represents a major leap forward for the independent Scottish brewery.

Co-founder Steven Smith-Hay said: “We’ve gone full Wonka with this latest batch, and we hope every sip brings back the magic of childhood favourites. We’ve always loved experimenting with flavour, and this range is a celebration of that playfulness and nostalgia – as well as a thank you to our fans.

“It’s apt we’re doing this to help fit out our own factory – where we’ll continue to make our own marvellous creations. This crowdfunding campaign is about building Vault City’s future. We're pouring everything into creating one of the world’s best sour beer breweries – and now we're asking for a little help to make that vision a reality.”

The new brewery is expected to open its doors in October 2025.

To explore Marvellous Liquids and learn more about Vault City’s crowdfunding campaign, visit vaultcity.co.uk.