USA, VA: Castleburg Brewery and Taproom closing its doors in Richmond

Another Richmond brewery is closing its doors, the Richmond BizSense reported on November 13.

Castleburg Brewery and Taproom is preparing to cease operations next month at 1626 Ownby Lane after nearly eight years in business.

Owner Karl Homburg said rising costs, namely rent, led him to the decision to close. He said he was set to renew Castleburg’s lease at the end of the year when he got a notice that his rent would be going up 80 percent.

“The costs have gone up considerably on things like freight and the cost of goods,” Homburg said. “The big one that broke my back has been rent.”

Castlesburg is one of the region’s smaller breweries, operating in about 4,200 square feet in a strip center down the road from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s original location.

Castleburg built its brand on flagship beers like its Bishop’s Brown Ale and eponymous Cream Ale, and though it leaned primarily on taproom sales, it also had a limited distribution network throughout the Richmond and Eastern Virginia regions.

The brewery’s building is owned by an entity tied to downtown firm Crenshaw-Singleton Properties, which couldn’t be reached for comment. Other tenants in the strip center include a Sherwin-Williams paint shop, gym Colonial Fit RVA, print shop Sir Speedy and Soul Aerial and Performing Arts Center.

Homburg added that it’s about 30 percent more expensive to brew beer now than it was when Castleburg opened in 2016. All the compiling factors made him feel like now’s the right time to tap out.

“Inflation has really hit, and it’s getting harder. SBA loans and COVID relief loans are starting to come due. All that stuff is just tightening everybody’s budget,” he said.

Homburg said he is looking into selling the business, but in the meantime he said the plan is to sell all the beer that’s already been brewed.

Prior to launching Castleburg, Homburg was an award-winning homebrewer, something he pursued on the side while he earned his living in the IT industry.

Homburg’s post-Castleburg plans are to, “lay low for a little while and see what happens.” While he said he’d like to get back into homebrewing, he was less enthusiastic about returning to his previous career.

“Homebrewing? Definitely. IT? No, never,” he said, laughing.

Earlier this month, Isley Brewing Co. also announced it was closing in Scott’s Addition, though the exact future of Isley remains unclear. Other recent local brewery closures include Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in Short Pump, Molly’s Blind Dog Brewery in Chester and Canon & Draw Brewing Co. in the Fan.

However multiple new breweries have opened this year, and more are in the works. WayGone Brewery, another venture led by former homebrewers, just opened in western Henrico, and Local Pizza and Brewery recently debuted in Chester. Hidden Wit Brewing Co. is set to open soon in Moseley, and Trapezium Brewing Co. is also working on a Church Hill taproom.

Following Castleburg’s closure, there will be 45 breweries in the Richmond region.

13 November, 2023