Craft brewery news roundup: November 2–8, 2026
Verified brewery news for November 2–8, 2026: Sazerac buys Full Sail, Land-Grant closes its Nocterra deal, and taprooms set year-end last days.
This verified weekly roundup covers notable U.S. brewery developments that occurred, were announced, or received substantive new reporting from Monday, November 2, through Sunday, November 8, 2026. Ownership changes led the week. A spirits company bought Oregon's Full Sail and said the beer will not continue long term. Land-Grant finished its deal for Nocterra, and two well-known brands said they will leave their own breweries. A long list of taprooms set last days for November and December, and Illinois breweries cleared out THC drinks ahead of a state law that starts November 12. Where a date is a target rather than a confirmed plan, we say so.
Business and ownership
Sazerac buys Full Sail and plans to wind down the beer
Hood River, Oregon. Full Sail Brewing, founded in 1987, has been sold to Louisville-based spirits company Sazerac, which confirmed the purchase on Tuesday, November 3, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. A former brewing shift lead wrote on Facebook that he got word on Monday, November 2, that the brewery was closed and that all restaurant staff at the 506 Columbia St. brewpub had been let go, OregonLive reported. On November 5, a Sazerac spokesperson told KPTV that the company had closed the brewpub and does not plan to make or distribute Full Sail beer in the long term. Sazerac said the deal adds production capacity to its network. Double Mountain owner Matt Swihart, a former Full Sail brewmaster, told KPTV that 25 people lost their jobs; the companies have not confirmed that number.
Full Sail made close to 12,800 barrels in 2025 and sold its beer in seven states, OregonLive reported. Sazerac told KPTV it will work with employees to handle the limited remaining inventory, so Full Sail beer still on shelves may be some of the last.
Land-Grant completes its Nocterra purchase
Powell, Ohio. Land-Grant Brewing said on Thursday, November 5, that it has acquired Nocterra Brewing and its Powell taproom, 10TV reported. Nocterra beer will be brewed at Land-Grant's Franklinton facility. Land-Grant plans to reopen the Powell taproom as soon as late November with a Christmas pop-up, then close it again in January for renovation and expansion. Specific dates are still to come.
We covered the planned deal in last week's roundup. The news now is that it closed, and Nocterra beer is expected back on shelves around Columbus.
Wilding Brands will close its Denver brewery and use a contract brewer
Denver, Colorado. Wilding Brands, the company behind Denver Beer Co., Great Divide, and Upslope, is closing its 35,000-square-foot brewing facility at 4455 Jason St. in Sunnyside and will hire a contract brewer instead, BusinessDen reported on November 5. Stem Ciders will still be made in Lafayette. Chief development officer Charlie Berger told BusinessDen he is not sure the move saves money in the short term, calling it "a different business model."
Great Divide already stopped running its own taprooms in 2025, as our Colorado brewery guide notes. This move takes more of Denver's well-known beer out of Denver-owned brewhouses.
The Lost Abbey will leave its Vista brewery
Vista, California. The Lost Abbey co-founder Tomme Arthur has agreed to leave the brewery and tasting room at 1347 Keystone Way by the end of 2026 and is looking for a smaller North County home for 2027, How To Beer reported on November 5, citing Arthur's comments to San Diego Beer News. The plant can make about 10,000 barrels a year, roughly five times what Arthur wants to brew. Arthur said contract brewing for other companies filled tanks but "didn't really do much" for the bottom line. The four satellite tasting rooms in East Village, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, San Elijo Hills, and Miramar stay open.
The Lost Abbey built its name on sour and barrel-aged beer, so where that program lands next matters to collectors. Arthur expects a warehouse sale before the move.
Club West Brewing has a new owner and sold its production building
Charlotte, North Carolina. Club West Brewing, the former Sycamore Brewing, is now owned by out-of-state entrepreneur Kevin Hadall, who confirmed to The Charlotte Observer on November 5 that the sale closed September 30. The brewery's former production building at 217 W. 24th St. sold on Tuesday, November 3, to commercial real estate firm Browder Brown for more than $6.6 million, the Observer reported. Club West plans to lease the building back while it moves to a much smaller facility, where Hadall expects production to start in December. The Observer said Club West's core beers are available at the South End taproom at 2151 Hawkins St.
Terminal Gravity is for sale
Enterprise, Oregon. Terminal Gravity said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, November 4, that it is looking for new owners as its current owners plan for retirement, KOIN reported. The Eastern Oregon brewpub opened in 1997 and is nearing its 30th anniversary. The owners said finding the right fit is their top goal.
Closings and changes
Three Taverns will stop brewing at its Decatur flagship
Decatur, Georgia. Three Taverns announced on Monday, November 2, that it will suspend production at its New Street brewery in East Decatur and close the taproom there, Decaturish reported. No last day has been shared. Founder Brian Purcell said the site is no longer financially feasible "barring an angel." Imaginarium in Reynoldstown and the Ponce Brew Terminal on the Beltline stay open, and core beers will move to a brewing partner.
Three Taverns has been a Decatur fixture for 13 years. The beer is not going away, but the original taproom is.
Black Market Brewing sets its last day in Temecula
Temecula, California. Black Market Brewing, Temecula's longest-running brewery, will close after service on Sunday, November 15, San Diego Beer News reported on November 3. Owner Kevin Dyer announced the date on social media the prior weekend. The building was sold, and the brewery said its lease will not be renewed. Dyer's Texas brewery, Black Chapel Brewing in Johnson City, will continue.
Mile Wide Beer Co. looks for a buyer before year-end
Louisville, Kentucky. Mile Wide Beer Co. said on Monday, November 2, that its last day under its original owners will be December 31 and that it hopes to find a buyer, WDRB+WAVE reported. The Barret Avenue taproom stays open until then. The owners said most breweries are "hanging on by a thread."
Inbound BrewCo will close in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Inbound BrewCo will close its North Loop brewery at 701 N. 5th St. on December 31 after 10 years, KARE 11 reported on November 7. Its beer will stay in stores and bars until the remaining supply runs out.
Haggard Barrel Brewing ends its taproom run
St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Haggard Barrel Brewing said on November 3 that its taproom at 6413 Cambridge St. will stop operating when its licenses expire at the end of December, the Sun Sailor reported. The 20-seat taproom is one of the smallest in the state. The owners said the brand could return through a new space, investors, or a buyer.
Huff Brewing will close in Bellville
Bellville, Texas. Huff Brewing Co. announced on Facebook that its last day will be December 31 after nearly 15 years, KHOU reported on November 3. The owners did not give a reason and have events and beer releases planned before then. It is one more small-town closure in a state our Texas brewery guide covers.
Broken Strings and Hidden Springs close Florida taprooms
Orlando and Tampa, Florida. Broken Strings Brewery in Orlando's Parramore neighborhood will have its final pour on November 30, Bungalower reported on November 5. Its owners will focus on Three Odd Guys Brewing in Longwood. In Tampa Heights, Hidden Springs Ale Works will close its tasting room at 1631 N. Franklin St. on Sunday, December 20, after the building changed owners, Creative Loafing Tampa reported on November 3. Hidden Springs said its beer will stay in stores and bars while it looks for a new home.
Neither brewery appears in our Florida brewery guide, but both closings change the options for visitors in two of the state's busiest beer cities.
Grand River Brewery closes for good in Jackson
Jackson, Michigan. Grand River Brewery is closed for good, head brewer Caleb Moore announced on Thursday, November 5, MLive reported. The restaurant closed in September, and Moore had reopened the bar as a one-person, beer-only operation. He said sales were not enough to cover his salary.
Harbottle Brewing closes its Tucson taproom
Tucson, Arizona. Harbottle Brewing Company will close its taproom at 3820 S. Palo Verde Rd. and shift to wholesale and contract brewing, Tucson Foodie reported after an Instagram post on Wednesday, November 4. No final day was given. Brewing continues.
Openings and expansions
StillFire opens its third Atlanta-area brewery
Tucker, Georgia. StillFire Brewing held grand opening events at its Tucker location from November 6 to 8, after a soft opening the weekend of October 24, Rough Draft Atlanta reported. It joins StillFire's Suwanee and Smyrna locations, with 16 beers on tap.
Water Street Brewery shows off a renovated Delafield brewpub
Delafield, Wisconsin. Water Street Brewery marked the end of renovations at its Lake Country brewpub with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, November 5, and a reveal weekend through November 8, OnMilwaukee reported. The company, founded in 1987 as Milwaukee's first brewpub, turns 40 in 2027. See our Wisconsin brewery guide for more stops in the area.
Oliver Brewing moves to Millersville
Millersville, Maryland. Oliver Brewing Company, one of Maryland's longest-running craft breweries, has moved production from Baltimore to 8370 Jumpers Hole Road and plans to open a taproom there in late November or early December, the Severna Park Voice reported on November 2. The owners said the site will add 30 to 50 jobs. An exact opening date has not been announced.
Afterglow Brewing plans a second Norfolk location
Norfolk, Virginia. Afterglow Brewing has a purchase agreement for the former Bold Mariner building on East Ocean View Avenue, WTKR reported on November 4. Owner Josh Evans is aiming for the first quarter of 2027, pending renovations and approvals. The new site will add a kitchen and more brewing space.
Timberline adds a third Washington location
Cashmere, Washington. The team behind Blewett Brewing in Leavenworth and Timberline Brewing in Wenatchee announced a third location, Milepost Brewing, in Cashmere, Washington Beer Blog reported on November 2. It is expected to open next year.
King Jugg Brewing breaks ground in Noblesville
Noblesville, Indiana. Noblesville officials broke ground on November 2 for King Jugg Brewing Co.'s $4 million second location at 151 N. 8th St., which is scheduled to open next spring, Current reported. The first location is in Fishers.
Policy and legal
Illinois breweries clear out THC drinks before November 12
Illinois. Starting Thursday, November 12, a new state law limits hemp-derived drinks with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container to licensed cannabis dispensaries, according to Axios Chicago. Block Club Chicago reported on November 4 that Hopewell and Revolution were selling THC drinks buy-one-get-one, and that Revolution would stop selling its Reverb line at the brewery after Sunday, November 8. A federal limit at the same 0.4-milligram level is set to take effect December 11, CBS Minnesota reported, where breweries including Back Channel are discounting stock. In Ohio, Fifty West founder Bobby Slattery told WLWT the company is shutting down its Chillicothe facility.
Many breweries leaned on THC drinks to make up for slower beer sales. If the federal limit takes effect as scheduled on December 11, most THC drinks now sold at taprooms will no longer be legal to sell.
Brewers Association looks at the midterm results
National. The Brewers Association said on November 4 that Democrats won control of both the House and Senate, and that a lame-duck session before January could still take up federal spending and hemp policy, according to the trade group. It named the Brews to Barns Act and excise tax reporting changes as bipartisan ideas that could move in the new Congress.
Lawsuit alleges PFAS in Lagunitas beer
San Francisco, California. A San Francisco man filed a proposed class action against Lagunitas Brewing Company on Monday, November 2, in the Northern District of California, alleging that its beer contains PFAS, or "forever chemicals," at levels above EPA drinking-water limits, Courthouse News reported. The complaint cites testing the plaintiff arranged on four samples. These are allegations that have not been proven in court. A Lagunitas representative did not immediately respond to Courthouse News's request for comment. Lagunitas has been owned by Heineken since 2017.
Releases and recognition
Washington Beer Awards name breweries of the year
Washington. The 2026 Washington Beer Awards were announced on Monday, November 2, Washington Beer Blog reported. Judges reviewed 1,048 entries from 153 breweries and cideries. Brewery of the Year honors went to Haas Innovations Brewing, Ilk Beer, Fortside Brewing Company, and Icicle Brewing Company in their size groups.
Missouri Beer Cup winners announced
Missouri. The Missouri Craft Brewers Guild presented its Missouri Beer Cup awards on Monday, November 2, in Columbia, according to a press release on Brewbound. BKS Artisan Ales and Kansas City Bier Company won Brewery of the Year in their size groups, and Logboat Brewing's Dark Matter brown porter took Best of Show.
Highland marks 30 years of Cold Mountain
Asheville, North Carolina. Highland Brewing announced on November 5 that it will celebrate the 30th year of Cold Mountain Winter Ale from November 12 to 16, FSR reported. This year's lineup includes a 30th anniversary variety pack, two new flavored versions, and two barrel-aged releases on draft and in bottles.
Remembering George Hancock of Maritime Pacific
Seattle, Washington. George Hancock, who founded Maritime Pacific Brewing in Ballard with his wife, Jane, in 1990, has died, Washington Beer Blog reported on November 5. Maritime Pacific held only the 13th brewery license issued in Washington, and its Jolly Roger Christmas Ale is still a Seattle holiday tradition. The Hancocks retired in 2025 and handed the brewery to Rooftop Brewing.
Sources
- The Oregonian/OregonLive, Veronica Nocera, Oregon craft beer pioneer acquired by national spirits company, November 3.
- KPTV, Abby Davis, Popular Hood River brewpub suddenly closes after being sold to owner of 'BuzzBalls', November 5.
- 10TV, Land-Grant Brewing Company acquires Nocterra Brewing, Powell taproom, November 5.
- BusinessDen, Max Scheinblum, Denver Beer Co. parent to close brewing facility in Sunnyside, November 5.
- How To Beer, Nick Heid, The Lost Abbey is leaving its Vista brewery, November 5.
- The Charlotte Observer, Catherine Muccigrosso and Desiree Mathurin, Club West Brewing changes owners with plans for extensive South End brewery rebuild, November 5.
- The Charlotte Observer, Desiree Mathurin and Catherine Muccigrosso, Club West Brewing sells production site in NoDa amid new ownership, restructuring, November 5.
- KOIN, Longstanding Eastern Oregon brewery seeks new ownership, November 6.
- Decaturish, Dan Whisenhunt, Three Taverns Brewery announces closure of Decatur taproom, November 2.
- San Diego Beer News, Brandon Hernández, Temecula's longest-operating brewery sets closure date, November 3.
- WDRB+WAVE, Mile Wide Beer Co. to close after 10 years in Louisville's Highlands neighborhood, November 3.
- KARE 11, Naasir Akailvi, Inbound BrewCo to close Minneapolis brewery after 10 years in North Loop, November 7.
- Sun Sailor, St. Louis Park's Haggard Barrel Brewing to shut taproom at year's end, November 3.
- KHOU, Holly Galvan, Texas brewery announces closure after nearly 15 years, November 3.
- Bungalower, Broken Strings Brewery closing in Parramore after nearly two-year comeback, November 5.
- Creative Loafing Tampa, Ray Roa, Hidden Springs Ale Works plans to relocate Tampa Heights tasting room, November 3.
- MLive, Danielle Salisbury, After attempt at one-man bar, Grand River Brewery in Jackson closing for good, November 5.
- Tucson Foodie, Harbottle Brewing Company closes taproom to focus on wholesale and contract brewing, November 4.
- Rough Draft Atlanta, Katie Burkholder, StillFire Brewery holds grand opening celebrations in Tucker Nov. 6-8, November 4.
- OnMilwaukee, Lori Fredrich, Water Street Brewery celebrates renovations with Lake Country reveal, November 3.
- Severna Park Voice, Oliver Brewing Co. leaves Baltimore for Millersville, November 2.
- WTKR, Erin Miller, Afterglow Brewing plans a second Norfolk location in the former Bold Mariner building in Ocean View, November 4.
- Washington Beer Blog, Kendall Jones, Timberline Brewing announces that it is opening a third location, November 2.
- Current, Jessica Todd, City of Noblesville breaks ground on King Jugg Brewing Co. site, November 2.
- Axios Chicago, Justin Kaufmann, THC drinks disappearing from Illinois liquor stores Nov. 12, November 5.
- Block Club Chicago, Nick Kindelsperger, Time is running out for THC beverages in Illinois, and breweries are selling them fast, November 4.
- CBS Minnesota, Jason Rantala, Minnesota businesses scramble ahead of federal law limiting hemp THC products, November 8.
- WLWT, Daisy Kershaw, Could midterm results stop the clock on a looming national THC hemp ban?, November 5.
- Brewers Association, Michael Mohr-Ramirez, 2026 midterm elections: what they mean for craft brewers, November 4.
- Courthouse News Service, Margaret Attridge, Lagunitas Brewing faces class action over claims of forever chemicals in beer, November 3.
- Washington Beer Blog, Kendall Jones, Winners announced: 2026 Washington Beer Awards, November 3.
- Brewbound, Missouri Craft Brewers Guild announces winners of Missouri Beer Cup (press release), November 3.
- FSR, Highland Brewing celebrates 30 years of Cold Mountain with a weekend of festivities, November 5.
- Washington Beer Blog, Kendall Jones, In remembrance of George Hancock, Ballard's "Pirate King" of craft beer, November 5.
