WREXHAM — Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have bought another piece of Wrexham — its brewery.

Four years after their out-of-the-blue purchase of Wrexham’s struggling soccer team, the Hollywood celebrities have further invested in the city in north Wales by becoming co-owners of Wrexham Lager.

Wrexham Lager, which is one of the soccer team’s sponsors, was founded in 1882 and says it is the oldest British lager brewery still in existence.

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Boosting International Expansion

The presence of Reynolds and McElhenney will boost Wrexham Lager’s efforts to expand its international production and distribution.

“As co-chairmen of Wrexham AFC, we have learned a lot,” Reynolds and McElhenney said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. “The connection between club and community, the intricacies of the offside rule and the occasional need for beer — especially after finance meetings.

“Wrexham Lager has a 140-year-old recipe and a storied history and we’re excited to help write its next chapter.”

The brewery didn’t disclose financial details but said Reynolds and McElhenney have a majority stake.

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Red Dragon Ventures and New Investors

Wrexham Lager said the acquisition was made by Red Dragon Ventures, a joint venture formed by Reynolds and McElhenney and the New York-based Allyn family — which on Wednesday became a minority investor in Wrexham’s soccer team.

Since taking charge of the club following a $2.5 million purchase in late 2020, Reynolds and McElhenney have overseen Wrexham’s rise up English soccer’s league system. Wrexham has achieved back-to-back promotions and now plays in third-tier League One, where the team is in third place after 13 games.

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Global Visibility Through TV Series

Wrexham has been further thrust into the global consciousness by Reynolds and McElhenney launching a fly-on-the-wall TV series — “Welcome to Wrexham.” It has helped to boost tourism and trade in the city, with Wrexham Lager among the businesses gaining visibility through the show.

Reynolds previously owned a stake in Aviation Gin, which was sold to Diageo in 2020 for a reported $610 million. Diageo said Reynolds retained an “ongoing ownership interest” in the gin.

The Roberts family, which revived Wrexham Lager in 2011 after production stopped in 2000, will remain a co-owner of the brewery alongside Reynolds and McElhenney.