Craft brewer Brick Lane is stepping up a $50 million expansion, which will more than double production capacity at its outer Melbourne brewery by the end of this year, as part of a dual strategy of making beer for other players while growing its own stable.

The group has some high-profile investors including National Australia Bank chief executive Ross McEwan, comedian and radio host Mick Molloy, former president of the Collingwood AFL club Eddie McGuire and Dan Carter, a former All-Black rugby union star. They are among about 40 investors.