USA, TX: San Antonio’s Branchline Brewing Co. files for bankruptcy

San Antonio’s Branchline Brewing Co. has filed for bankruptcy protection after about four years of operation, My San Antonio reported on April 5.

The small brewer reported assets of less than $50,000 and liabilities ranging from $100,001 to $500,000 in a bare bones bankruptcy petition filed on April 5 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio.

Chapter 11 offers a financially troubled company protection from creditors while it seeks to reorganize its debts.

The filing comes a little more than a month after Branchline posted a notice on Facebook that it was “going through a restructure period” and closing its tap room on March 4.

“We don’t believe this is a good bye but rather a see you soon,” the Facebook post stated. “We need some time to regroup and hopefully come back stronger, with that original fire that we once had.”

Branchline sought bankruptcy protection to “restructure its existing business production model to reduce operating costs so that its pre-bankruptcy creditors may be paid from the proceeds of its streamlined operations,” Michael O’Connor, the brewer’s bankruptcy lawyer, said in an email.

“Branchline will continue operating and producing its high quality and popular line of fine beers and ales,” O’Connor said. “Same product, same great beer.”

Branchline’s bankruptcy petition lists the largest unsecured creditors and the amounts they’re owed as: San Antonio’s Accion Texas Inc., which is now known as LiftFund, $139,000; Pinnacle Capital Partners of Tacoma, Washington, $96,000; and the IRS, $50,000 in unpaid payroll taxes.

Branchline faced a number of challenges during its startup years, the San Antonio Express-News reported last year. Formerly known as Old Boxcar Brewing Co., it received a warning from Boxcar Brewing Co. in Pennsylvania over claims of consumer confusion in the two names.

Before it shipped its first beer, the San Antonio brewer changed its name to Branchline. However, the bankruptcy petition lists Old Box Brewing Co., doing business as Branchline Brewing Co., as the debtor.

Branchline’s beers have included the Silver & Black IPA, a homage to the Spurs, its flagship Evil Owl Amber and its Shady Oak Blonde Ale.

According to a posting by SA Beer Week on Twitter about two months ago, Branchline was the second production brewery in San Antonio and the first brewery in the city to can craft beer.

05 April, 2017