The esteemed 21st Amendment Brewery, a cornerstone of the Bay Area craft beer scene, has announced it will be shutting down both its brewpub in San Francisco and its production facility in San Leandro. Co-founders Shaun O’Sullivan and Nico Freccia revealed that they will wind down operations in the coming months after 25 years of business.

Founded in 2000, 21st Amendment Brewery initially started as a brewpub and became notable for canning its beers, pioneering a movement that has since transformed the craft beer industry. The brewery expanded significantly in 2015 when it opened a large facility in San Leandro, becoming widely recognized for distributing its products across the U.S. and even engaging in contract brewing for other brands.

However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted sales, coupled with a general decline in beer consumption post-pandemic. To adapt, they sought a financial partner and attempted to diversify their offerings with alternative beverages like energy drinks. Despite these efforts, sales never rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, prompting their financial partner to withdraw support.

In light of these challenges, O’Sullivan and Freccia have made the difficult decision to close both locations. They plan to celebrate their legacy over the next few months, with the brewpub’s closure possibly aligning with the San Francisco Giants’ last home game on September 28. Meanwhile, they are seeking potential buyers for the brand and brewery assets and will finalize their production of popular brews like “Brew Free! Or Die Blood Orange IPA” in the meantime.