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The Windy City is set to lose another brewery, as the Southwest side's Whiner Beer Co will close its doors for good on Mar 29, reports Block Club Chicago. "We could write a bunch of reasons why we are closing but it's a familiar story in the brewing industry," co-founder and brewmaster Brian Taylor wrote on social media. While co had been struggling since 2024, more recent events made it impossible for the biz to continue, he added: "When ICE raids occurred in late summer, early fall, our taproom just became a ghost town." Whiner produced 2.5K bbls in 2024 per BA estimates. Oxnard, CA's Casa Agria Oxnard, CA sour beer specialist Casa Agria has closed its flagship taproom but is "not saying goodbye forever," reports the Ventura County Star. The co expanded to Santa Barbara in 2024 but was forced to close that location in Dec as that "space did not produce like we thought it could," said co-owner Ryan Exline. "In Oxnard, our lease is up, and the new rate that our landlord wants to get, it didn't make sense for the risk of a long-term lease." The taproom's final day was Feb 14.Casa Agria produced 1K bbls in 2024 per BA estimates and plans to find a new location soon, with the goal of getting fresh beer to the market in Apr. While sour beers will continue to be part of the product line, they won't be the main focus, due to the difficulty in their production. And Ryan is keeping a stiff upper lip about the whole thing: "I'm optimistic that this is just a cycle," he said, "and that the people who make good beer will be all right."Charleston, SC's Frothy Beard A similar situation is playing out in Charleston, SC, where Frothy Beard Off World will close on Feb 28 with eyes on reopening bigger and better, reports the Post & Courier. "As times change and we near the end of our lease on Hutchinson Square, we have made the calculated and difficult decision not to renew as we seek our next property," co wrote on Facebook. Recall, two yrs ago, co that produced 2.4K bbls in 2024 per BA estimates closed its location in Charlotte's South End.Buffalo's Steel Leaf Buffalo's Steel Leaf Brewing will permanently shutter on Feb 28, reports Spectrum Local. "This place has been more than a brewery. It has been a dream brought to life. A gathering hall. A stage for music and trivia. A refuge on cold Buffalo nights. A home for laughter, first dates, game nights, celebrations, and quiet pints at the bar," the 4-yr-old co, which produced 261 bbls in 2024 per BA estimates, posted on social media.Duluth, MN's Hoops Duluth, MN's Hoops Brewing closed Monday after 10 yrs in business, reports Northern News Now. Founder Dave Hoops started the business in 2025 after moving from San Francisco and has been credited with invigorating the local craft beer scene. An evangelist for a beer hall, Dave called it "a gathering place. It's a community center. It's for babies all the way to 100-year-olds. From day one, that's our business model, and it's worked extremely well."Ft. Collins' Jessup Farm Barrel House Becomes Saloon Fort Collins, CO's Jessup Farm Barrel House has nixed its brewing ops and become the Sugar Beet Saloon, reports Retro 102.5. Both Jessup Farm Barrel House and Funkwerks were co-founded by Brad Lincoln, and now both have closed their Ft. Collins locations within 6 mos of each other (see Oct 1 2025 issue). Jessup produced 391 bbls in 2024 per BA estimates and its titular farm house now houses a "western-style saloon," per report.

Closings/Transitions: Whiner in Chicago, Partially Due to ICE Raids; Casa Agria in CA; SC's Frothy Beard; Steel Leaf in Buffalo; Duluth, MN's Hoops; Fort Collins, Co's Jessup Farm Barrel House

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