The Oskar Blues brewery and taproom in Austin, Texas, has closed.
Monster-owned CANarchy confirmed the Austin brewery’s closure to Brewbound today, issuing the following statement:
“After more than seven years of producing and serving our beers from the Oskar Blues Brewery and taproom in Austin, Texas, we’ve made the very difficult decision to wind down operations at the facility. Austin’s current production will be shifted to other CANarchy facilities, and all our products will remain available for sale at retail in the state of Texas.
“We have enjoyed being part of the Austin craft beer and music community and we thank everyone who has supported our business along the way. We will always consider this chapter and our time in Austin an important part of the Oskar Blues and CANarchy legacy. At this time, our top priority is communicating with and supporting our internal team through this transition and therefore, we have no further comment.”
Eater Austin and Craft Beer Austin both reported the closure this morning, with the latter calling the it “a surprise move” and noting that all employees were let go.
A Reddit thread from one day ago predicted the closure, citing an “insider.”
Social media profiles and references to the brewery have been removed.
The 50,000 sq. ft. Oskar Blues Austin brewery and taproom opened in August 2016, about a year after plans were first announced.
Oskar Blues continues to operate breweries and taprooms in Longmont, Colorado, and Brevard, North Carolina. The Oskar Blues brand and the CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective were sold to energy drink maker Monster in January 2022 in a $330 million cash deal.
Several Austin breweries have closed over the last two years, including Circle Brewing Co., Thirsty Planet Brewing, Hedgehog Brewing, Koko’s Bavarian Brewery and Biergarten, 4th Tap Brewing Co-Operative, Adelbert’s Brewery, Hitmaker Brewing and Hawkins Farmhouse Ales, Craft Beer Austin noted. Starbase Brewery also closed its taproom to focus on distribution.
Ninkasi Shutters Better Living Room Taproom
Ninkasi Brewing has shuttered its Better Living Room taproom in Eugene, Oregon. The company said all proceeds from sales last weekend were split among its staff.
The company cited increasing costs leading to challenges in making “the BLR experience profitable while maintaining our commitment to local sourcing, high standards and employee benefits.”
“As we prepare to endure the anticipated challenges of the winter months, the Better Living Room can no longer continue to weather these storms without putting the rest of the Ninkasi Brewing Company employees in jeopardy,” the company wrote. “Multiple other local breweries, restaurants and small businesses have had to make similarly difficult decisions in the last couple weeks and months. The larger craft beer industry is continuing to experience headwinds like we have not experienced …”
The company encouraged consumers to “drink your favorite beers and support your community.”
Ninkasi opened the Better Living Room in February 2020.
Earlier this year, Ninkasi merged with Wings & Arrow, the parent company of Ashland Hard Seltzer, to form Great Frontier Holdings.