On Monday, Scottish craft brewery BrewDog shuttered its Cincinnati outpost just some months shy of the taproom’s six-year anniversary. The corporate broke the information in a Fb put up.
“We’ve made the troublesome resolution to completely shut BrewDog Cincinnati,” the put up reads. “Thanks to our wonderful group members, loyal company, and native companions who introduced power, ardour, and good vibes into our taproom each single day.” The corporate additionally reassured followers that BrewDog beers will proceed to be out there at native retailers, bars, and eating places.
The 8,500-square-foot taproom opened in November 2019, and featured a 25-tap bar serving a mixture of beers from BrewDog and numerous Cincinnati-based craft breweries. The corporate cited slowing on-premise site visitors and spiking working prices as catalysts for the closure.
“With rising prices and altering on-premise tendencies, the bar was not producing the outcomes wanted to proceed to function,” BrewDog USA chief gross sales and advertising and marketing officer Eric Franco instructed Brewbound. “Whereas it’s a tough actuality to face, finally, we’re dedicated to specializing in the elements of our enterprise which can be thriving so we are able to proceed to finest serve our folks, companions and prospects.”
The taproom closure comes after BrewDog made the choice to lower its North American distribution footprint final 12 months. Based on Brewbound, the corporate pulled out of 19 U.S. states in 2024, shrinking its distribution community’s attain from 31 states right down to 14.
Regardless of the Cincinnati closure, Ohio nonetheless serves because the U.S. middle of operations for BrewDog. The Buckeye State is at the moment residence to 6 of the craft brewing firm’s 11 U.S. taprooms. Past Ohio’s borders, Brewdog has taprooms in Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Denver.
BrewDog was based in 2007 by Martin Dickie and James Watt, who stepped down from his place as CEO in Might 2024 following a tenure marked by criticism and controversy. However the controversy wasn’t restricted to Watt’s management. In April 2022, BrewDog closed its Indianapolis taproom simply over a 12 months after a supervisor fired 4 staff who belonged to the LGBTQ+ group, sparking an inside investigation.
Despite backlash and taproom closures, BrewDog skilled double-digit quantity progress in 2024, in line with Brewbound. Nevertheless, between the start of 2025 and Might 17, the corporate’s gross sales have declined 13.3 p.c in worth and its case gross sales quantity additionally declined by 12.8 p.c at off-premise retailers, signaling a possible slowdown for the model.
