There has been moving and shaking in the Los Angeles beer world as the clock runs out on 2022.
First was news that the original owners of Yorkshire Square Brewing in Torrance were leaving and that the brewery is in the hands of the Copley Family who are also involved with Project Barley.
Then the day after Christmas brought the news that King Harbor Brewing was closing up shop in its three locations after eight years in business.
Will there be a dip on top of three years of pivoting? The economic situation doesn’t look great for cost of goods plus a labor market that requires more pay with higher turnover. It is enough to make one look long and hard at opening and operating a brewery. And I do expect more new in Q1 of 2023.
Obviously, not a rosy picture but I was never under the impression that each and every Los Angeles brewery was going to last forever. Change is the only constant and maybe turnkey breweries or brewing equipment for sale or rents coming down as landlords choose lower rent over pie in the sky valuations will create a new surge next year or in 2024.