A number of business aspects which can be impactful for a brewery to continue to stay in business: What is the cost of leasing space in Western Maryland? Maybe rent costs are inexpensive? A major cost of doing business can be debt load. If the brewery had to take out big bank loans to purchase their equipment, etc. this could result in the need to sell a lot of beer just to pay the monthly loan bills. Or if instead they were able to self finance, or have investors who don't demand periodic repayment, they can survive with not having to sell a lot of beer. And needless to say many other business/fiances aspects which can be impactful as well. Cheers!
Trying to find a place to go for happy hour last night, and found out two local places had closed bummer
I believe three local breweries in the Spokane area have shut down this fall. One of them, however, re-opened after about 6 weeks (it had sold to new owners who apparently didn't do the right paperwork to keep the state liquor authorities happy). Another brewery had to close it's downtown location to the public as it wasn't getting enough foot traffic to match the expense of being open, but the location still lives on as a production facility. A Seattle-area entity that was operating a ridiculous number of taprooms across the western US has closed it's Spokane location (plus several others in their would-be empire), presumably due to massively overextending themselves.
Just from what I saw in in western MD, eastern panhandle WV, NW VA- land is comparatively cheap compared to where people are coming from to visit, DC and its suburbs, maybe Baltimore. There also isn't much to do once you get your fill of hiking, antiquing, or spending time on Deep Creek or the upper Potomac. Most breweries are located on farms diversifying revenue streams or in the main strip of a small town looking to "revitalize", so may be somewhat subsudized. The fact that Landmade shut doors, and they were probably the best brewery in MD, tells me it's not as simple as having cheap rent.
Apparently there's a tiny brewery here in Michigan that is located on a farm, and if you want to go there to drink their beers you have to make an appointment. I wonder if they allow appointments during planting or harvest time?
Things in NYC mostly seem pretty good just as a consumer, I'm sure things are tough as they are in all hospitality industries, but probably more breweries to open than close in the last 3-4 years, and the losses all made total sense, as opposed to a place seeming popular but still not being able to swing it. But we were also hugely underserved here in terms of breweries per capita until the last 10 or so years, so it makes some sense that a city like NY could support the kind of brewery explosion that would have a shorter lifespan in a smaller city.
Long Island NY has lost a few this year, but there are some really thriving. Part of it is the ownership getting older and possibly not into the rigors of running a brewery as much. Others seem to be thriving here.
Combination of both for me....I'm lucky to live in an area where I have a bunch of good to great breweries within easy driving distance and I try to make time for all of them.
Correct me if I'm wrong but seems like a lot of the new ones opening up are gypsy brewing, at least starting out.
In terms of guys showing up on taps or shelves yea there's a lot you see brewing at places like 12% in New Haven without any location of their own, but just in the last few years we've had taproom openings from Echkart, Test, Round Table, and Niteglow, though granted Test and Round Table don't brew here.
Michaux is a solid brewery. I’ve stopped in the Waynesboro PA spot at least 3-4 times in last couple years and like the vibe, the food and the beers are solid and low prices that beat most all places in the area. I haven’t been to their satellite location in Gettysburg yet but will probably go soon. Thanks Besides Antietam and Cushwa is there anything else worthwhile up in Western Md?
Upper Stem is decent, but I don't know how they stay open. Thic-n-Thin was a great Vollks Fest party, but got into huge trouble serving underage. There is a new one opening up in Smithsburg, MD, The Hen and Hound. We will see, but as a local, it will get my patronage for certain. https://www.facebook.com/henandhoundbrewery/
From my end, I can really only speak to a few spots I’ve personally spent real time at, but all three give a decent snapshot of how things are going locally. Tonewood (Oaklyn, NJ) has probably been the most consistent for me. I made a point of trekking there pretty regularly over the last four years — especially fall through spring — and the place never felt like it was struggling. Beers were dialed in, crowds steadily came through, and there was always a good mix of regulars and new faces. I haven’t been to the Barrington location yet, but Oaklyn always felt healthy when I was there. Second District was almost the opposite vibe, but in an interesting way. I used to go a lot when I lived nearby — only a few blocks away — so it was an easy, frequent stop. The beer and food were consistently solid. I did have a brief conversation with the owner once, and he struck me as someone who genuinely loves his brewery but is very aware (maybe a little jaded, understandably) of how fast beer trends shift. That said, the place always felt genuine, not phoned in, and it clearly had a loyal neighborhood base. Most recently, Victory’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway location (1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway — couldn’t make that up if you tried) was hopping when I was there during a short anniversary getaway this past May. Obviously it’s a satellite spot for a much larger brewery, but the energy was there — good crowd, good service, and the beer was on point. It didn’t feel tired or coasting, which isn’t always a given with bigger names. I don’t have many true “walk-to” neighborhood breweries where I am now, but based on these experiences, the places I’ve actually spent time in seem to be doing alright — different scales, different vibes, but still very much alive.
Giovanni, you made mention of Tonewood. Do you have familiarity/experience with Kings Road Brewing? My understanding is they started in Haddonfield, NJ then Medford and a soon to be opened location in an old library in Moorestown. They are celebrating their 8th anniversary and the beer they brewed for this celebration is a Classic American Pilsner. The latest episode of What’s Brewing was filmed in the Moorestown location. Cheers!
Oh yes I am familiar with King's Road! I did not go as much as Tonewood but I did enjoy their beers! Oh and I DID forget Human Robot and their Passyunk location! I always enjoyed going here the times I went! Cheers!
The only Human Robot location I have been to (so far) is their new place in New Hope, PA. They call it Doubles since it is a 'unique' double business of a Human Robot taproom and a baseball card store. Kind of an interesting place. While I am on the topic of Human Robot a week+ ago I was able to purchase a four-pack of Human Robot beer (Hallertau Pils) at my local Retail Beer Distributor. I spoke to the owner/manager of the store and he informed me that periodically Human Robot will call him if they have some 'extra' beer available. He then drives to Human Robot (Kensington?) and picks up the beers. Cheers!
That’s really interesting — I had no idea about the New Hope “Doubles” setup or the way their beer occasionally gets picked up directly like that. Appreciate you sharing the insight. Cheers!
Here local to me in south central Connecticut 4-5 breweries are doing okay or well. Good beer and good atmosphere helps. A trivia night and some live entertainment nights seems to smooth out the dead times on some of them. Only a few of those seemed to have have attempted bar or store distribution. None have tried any expansion. Branching further out from my house (15+ miles but still inside CT) I can count 21 breweries that have closed in the last 3-yrs. At least a third of them I would rate as having mediocre beer, service, atmosphere or a combination of those. Two had extremely bad beer IMO. Visited a newly opened one 2-weeks ago and I would be surprised if they make it a full year.
I've always liked businesses that combine two seemingly disparate things. I've always wanted to open a dispensary/tabletop gaming shop with tables in the back for MTG/D&D/Warhammer etc. I don't partake, but I just know I would clean up on selling snacks and drinks with that combined crowd.
