Beer News: Redhook Closes Seattle Brewlab

(Head Brewer Nick Crandall, Redhook Brewlab 2017)

The craft beer biz is navigating difficult times and the closure of Redhook Brewery’s experimental brewery in Seattle is but the latest casualty.

Here’s the deal…

Redhook Brewery was founded in 1981 in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood by Paul Shipman and Gordon Bowker, making it one of the pioneering craft breweries in the United States. Initially inspired by European beer styles, Redhook quickly gained attention for its innovative brews, most notably the Redhook ESB (Extra Special Bitter), which became a flagship product and helped define American interpretations of British-style ales.

In the 1990s, Redhook expanded, opening a second brewery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to meet East Coast demand. The brand went public in 1995 and later entered into a strategic partnership with Anheuser-Busch, which took a minority stake and assisted with distribution, significantly expanding Redhook’s national reach.

In 2008, Redhook merged with Widmer Brothers Brewing to form the Craft Brewers Alliance, which became the Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) after adding Kona Brewing to its portfolio. Anheuser-Busch InBev became the majority stakeholder in CBA, and in 2020, AB InBev acquired the remaining shares, making Redhook a fully owned subsidiary.

Funded by Anheuser-Busch, Redhook Brewery Recommitting to its roots and its experimental heritage and opened Brewlab a much anticipated small-batch brewery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to much acclaim back in 2017, but that was almost a decade ago when craft beer’s potential seemed unlimited.

Origionally helmed by Head Brewer Nick Crandall, Redhook Brewlab, launched with plans to brew more than 100 different small-batch beers every year, that would serve as a testing ground for innovative recipes that might eventually reach a wider audience in Washington State and beyond.

A beer-focused working space and 8-barrell system, built around a striking custom mural by Sub Pop Record’s Grammy-nominated art director Sasha Barr, Brewlab featured 16 taps of rotating small-batch beers in every conceivable style, and artisan food from Executive Chef Adam Stevens.

It was a headier time and no one saw storm clouds coming…

On August 7, 2023, Tilray Brands, a Canadian cannabis and consumer products company, announced an all-cash purchase of eight beer and beverage brands from Anheuser‑Busch—one being Redhook—for approximately $85 million.

The deal closed by Oct 2, 2023, bringing Tilray into the top five U.S. craft brewers, with around 5 % market share. But with craft beer sales slowing in the US and cannabis sales softening for the company as well, it appears that Tilray is rethinking aspects of craft beer acquisition and has begun consolidating properties as a coat-saving measure.

On June 13^th, Tilray announced Brewlab’s closure….

“Redhook Taproom, formerly known as Redhook Brewlab, will be closing its doors as we search for a new location,” said a statement from the company. “Over the years, the Taproom has been a haven for craft beer enthusiasts, offering a diverse array of unique brews in a welcoming atmosphere.”

“Redhook has deep roots in Seattle, and our legacy here continues to inspire everything we do,” the statement continued. “We remain fully committed to delivering exceptional craft beer experiences to our loyal fans.”

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