USA, OK: Equity Brewing Company to serve its last beer on June 8

For the last three years, mother-daughter team Suzette and Hannah Grillot have run Oklahoma's only entirely woman-owned brewery, Equity Brewing Company — 109 E Tonhawa Street, Suite 120 in Norman — but the brewery will serve its last beer Saturday, June 8 when it closes its doors, the Oklahoman reported.

The Grillots initially began scaling back hours in November 2023, before they announced plans for closure in February. At the start, the plan was to remain open until July, but the owners said in a social media post on May 16 they would close in June "for a multitude of reasons."

"We want to thank all of you from the bottom of our beer soaked hearts for the tremendous support you have offered to us since we announced our impending closure three months ago. You all have shown up for us in ways we could not imagine, and we are beyond grateful," the post states.

Equity is the first Oklahoma brewery to close in 2024 following a year of turmoil and a slate of closings in the industry that began in late 2022. Elk Valley Brewing closed, followed by Winnicki, Black Mesa, Twisted Spike, and Cross Timbers, to name a few.

Still, Equity held on, despite the stresses facing the industry, trying to continue their work of providing a space where everyone could belong.

However, by February The Grillots had seen the writing on the wall, despite notable attempts to grow the brewery's presence and offerings with the launch of a full kitchen in May 2023.

Equity's taproom will be open 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday for its final two days of business, with sales, tunes from DJ Zora and a final cheers at 8 p.m.

The brewery will also be on hand for a final event experience during Oklahoma City's Juneteenth on the East Festival on NE 23rd Street on June 14.

08 June, 2024