USA, MO: William K. Busch Brewing Co. ceases all operations

William K. Busch Brewing Co. on July, 10 announced that it will cease all operations, effective immediately, the St. Louis Business Journal reported.

The brewer said it would be shutting down, dissolving and stopping the brewing of its Kräftig and Kräftig Light beers “due to the market demand.”

“After careful consideration, the William K. Busch Brewing Co. has decided to shut down,” said founder and CEO Billy Busch in a statement. “I want to thank all of our customers, retailers, suppliers and vendors who have supported us over the last eight years. I’ve always been passionate about brewing, because it’s in my blood."

After the announcement, Trish Cheatham, spokeswoman for the brewery, said it remains unclear how many employees will be affected by the closure.

Busch in November was granted approval from the St. Charles County Council for a new 20,000-square-foot brewery located at 4151 Benne Road in Defiance, Missouri, which was set to open in spring 2020.

Cheatham said the founder “may pursue the Defiance opportunity in the future, but nothing is certain and it will depend on numerous factors.” She did not share additional details.

On June 28, the brewing company filed a “Notice of Winding Up” with Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft’s office. The filing is required for limited liability companies that are seeking to close.

Billy Busch, the great grandson of Anheuser-Busch co-founder Adolphus Busch, founded William K. Busch Brewing Co. in 2011 as a way to continue the Busch family legacy, he said.

Busch in a written statement said he hoped to return to brewing in the future.

The company said its Kräftig beer will be available at retailers and outlets while supplies last, as the company winds down its operations. The company predicts its remaining inventory will last until September.

12 July, 2019