Duck Rabbit Brewery has closed after 20 years in Farmville, North Carolina.
Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery, a fixture of North Carolina’s craft beer scene since 2004, has ended its 20-year run. The Farmville-based brewery, finest identified for its Milk Stout and Baltic Porter, cited mounting monetary pressures as the rationale for its closure.
Based by Paul Philippon, a former philosophy professor, Duck Rabbit made darkish beers its major focus. At its peak, the brewery was distributed throughout six states and produced an estimated 3,000 barrels yearly. Against this, the city of Farmville, North Carolina, had a inhabitants of 4,546 in 2023.
The closure was pushed by rising prices of hops, malt, and packaging, in addition to provide chain disruptions and shifting client preferences towards seltzers and low-alcohol choices.
The brewery’s identify, “Duck Rabbit,” was impressed by the rabbit-duck phantasm, an ambiguous drawing that may be seen as both a rabbit or a duck. First revealed in 1892, the picture sparks philosophical discussions about notion, reflecting Philippon’s roots as a philosophy professor.
Duck Rabbit’s property will likely be offered at public sale to repay excellent money owed. The brewery’s ultimate weekend of operation was April 26–27, 2025, marking the top of its legacy in Farmville.