NYC’s Torch & Crown Brewing has closed its taproom in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. The shutdown follows an eviction notice from landlord SoHo AOA Owner LLC last month. 

Brewbound Insiders are digging into court filings and learning about the technicality that rendered half of Torch & Crown’s public space unusable for guests.

In addition to that story, Insiders are reading about these news items on Brewbound.com and in the Brewbound Insider Newsletter:

• Cider’s rare bright spot in the November Beer Purchasers’ Index;
• Tilray’s decision to shut down Revolver’s original TX location;
• The impact Siebel’s departure may have on underrepresented groups in beer;
• And a sneak peek at Goose Island’s planned Black Friday festivities for Bourbon County Brand Stout.

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Torch & Crown Brewing has shuttered its flagship location in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood after 5 years in business, after receiving an eviction notice from its landlord last month. 

The brewery’s inability to pay rent  – and subsequent eviction – stems from a 2024 ruling from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) that prohibited Torch & Crown from using the SoHo location’s outdoor beer garden, Torch & Crown co-founder John Dantzler told Brewbound. Despite being included in the brewery’s lease, the parcel belonged to a separate tax lot and could not be used to host guests.

Dantzler said: “This area accounted for over half of the public square footage and a similar amount of the location's total sales. 

“Without that space, we could not pay the rent for the full space, but had a temporary reduced-rent agreement while we navigated the DOB process and worked towards a long-term deal."

All affected employees are receiving severance payments, Dantzler said.

Insiders can read more about the closure and revisit Torch & Crown’s recent history.

Smog City Brewing co-founder Laurie Porter is a prepper. Even during craft’s days of double-digit growth in the middle 2010s, Porter, who calls herself “an incurable optimist,” was eyeing a future when that growth wouldn’t be there.

So Porter and her husband, Jonathan Porter, built Smog City (Torrence, CA) with diversified revenue streams – distribution, exports to international markets, four taprooms with over-the-bar sales and an intentional cap on production around 10,000 barrels – that allow the company to shore up its business if things go sideways. 

“At our level, between the 5,000 and 12,000, 13,000 barrel, a lot of our revenue is built off the taproom, direct-to-consumer, which has a little bit higher profit margin, it helps us float that wholesale. So if wholesale is struggling or we’re seeing dips and changes in seasons and customer changes, we have a little bit more buffer,” Porter said on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast, recorded on location at the California Craft Beer Summit.

Listen to the full interview, which includes discussion on consumers heading back to taprooms, the impending closure of the Steelcraft Long Beach facility and opening of a new restaurant. Plus, the Brewbound team’s take on the Siebel Institute of Technology leaving Chicago, Athletic’s big 2025 and 2026 plans, and A-B’s rumored acquisition of BeatBox.

Wholesalers remain in a holding pattern to avoid EOY overstocks, according to the latest Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) from the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA).

Total beer recorded a November BPI reading of 25, nearly flat from October’s record-low reading of 24, as wholesalers continue to cut back their ordering. November was the 4th consecutive month all tracked beer segments were in contraction, and was 25 points below the category’s November 2024 index of 50. 

Insiders can read more, including November readings for all beer segments.

Rogue Ales & Spirits, one of the country’s largest craft breweries by volume, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Monday, citing more than $16.7 million in debts.

Rogue abruptly shuttered on November 14 with little warning to its 60 employees or its landlord, the Port of Newport, to which it owes nearly $600,000 in back rent.

In Tuesday’s filing, Rogue lists secured claims for $1.408 million, priority unsecured claims of $576,786.05 and non-priority unsecured claims in excess of $14.77 million. The company claimed $4.9 million in assets, including $2 million for its intellectual property.

Insiders can read more about the filing, payments to current and former executives in the past year, what one of the co-founders said about the closure and how U.S. Beverage CEO Justin Fisch found out. 

With just 2 weeks to go, now is the time to lock in your spot for Brewbound Live (Dec. 10+11 in LA). 

Nearly every corner of beer and beverage-alcohol will be represented, from iconic craft breweries to fast-growing RTD and NA brands. You don't want to miss it.

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Brewbound Live 2025 is your opportunity to hear insights from and interact with 2 of the largest beer and beverage distributors in the U.S.

Hand Family Companies president and CEO JR Hand and Columbia Distributing chief strategy officer Jesse Ferber will share the bev-alc trendlines they’re watching, as well as how they’re approaching their respective portfolios.

Hand and Ferber will be joined by Bump WIlliams Consulting president Dave Williams, who will offer insights into how retailers are approaching their shelf sets and display space going into 2026, where beer falls on the priority list and how small brands can keep up with the big guys.

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We'll be back in your inbox Monday. Happy Thanksgiving!