Craft brewer closes doors after more than seven years in Austin
Colorado-based craft brewery, Oskar Blues, abruptly closed its door in Austin for good this past weekend after more than seven years as a fixture on Metric Boulevard.
News of the closure was not communicated on the company’s Instagram, Facebook or on X — formerly Twitter — however, many shared photos and video of a sign on the building's door that read "We are closed.”
The sign seen on social media also said:
"We have enjoyed being part of the Austin craft beer and music community, and we thank everyone who supported our business along the way. If you are still interested in finding our beer, it remains available at retailers across the state of Texas."
The Statesman reached out to Oskar Blues for more information on why the company decided to close its lone Austin location, but the brewery could not immediately be reached.
A craft beer classic closes its doors for good in Austin
Colorado’s Oskar Blues is known for Dale’s Pale Ale and for being the first craft beer to widely can its product — a decision the company made in 2002.
In 2016, the company made the decision to open a taproom in Austin where it would experiment with new recipes and be involved in various charity events over the years.
Closure comes amid similar closings in Austin’s brewing scene
The closure of Oskar Blues comes as Austin’s craft brewery scene has seen a spate of closures both over the years and in recent months. Notable breweries that have closed recently include Adelbert’s Brewing and Circle Brewery.
Bars and restaurants encountered significant hardships during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many breweries ultimately closing.
Additionally, the pandemic-related struggles hit the brewing industry as many companies were working to adapt to a disruption in the market, as the emergence of hard seltzers and canned cocktails gained popularity. Some brewers began producing their own seltzers or canned cocktails in attempts to regain lost market share — Oskar Blues being one of them.
Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Oskar Blues closes abruptly after over seven years as Austin brewery
