5 Breweries in 6 Weeks: Chicago’s Craft Beer Closures Have Brewers on Guard
Tough stretch for Chicago craft beer. Five breweries have closed or announced closures in the past six weeks: Alarmist, Whiner Beer Company, Illuminated Brew Works, Casa Humilde, and Flapjack. Our firm works with breweries and other licensed establishments across Chicago, and every closure raises important licensing and regulatory questions for both the outgoing and incoming operators. If you’re in the industry and navigating a transition, whether closing, selling, or taking over a space, we’re here to help.
Four Chicago craft breweries — Alarmist, Casa Humilde, Illuminated Brew Works, and Whiner Beer Company — have announced closures since the start of the year, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Rising aluminum costs, an oversaturated market, and historic lows in U.S. drinking rates are accelerating the trend.