In news that calls for a beer, San Francisco craft brewery Speakeasy Ales & Lagers has reversed course after making an abrupt announcement last week that it would shut down all operations immediately and indefinitely.
"Speakeasy Ales & Lagers is working hard to maintain a future for their San Francisco brewery after agreeing to enter receivership on March 13, 2017," a representative from the brewery now writes. "The company’s tap room will remain closed, but the brewery continues to produce your favorite beers, in addition to the all-new Murky Business APA." Speakeasy "will continue" production with a sale to an as-yet-unnamed new owner "anticipated to close during the next 45 days."
Murky business indeed: Last week's news was that "difficulty securing capital investment and outstanding debt obligations" necessitated the "difficult and painful decision." The 1997-founded brewer employs 40 people and sends its beers, like Big Daddy IPA and Payback Porter, all over the region with 30 West Coast distributors. Its tasting room at 1195 Evans Avenue was opened in 2011, and in 2015 Speakeasy expanded to a new, larger facility capable of brewing 90,000 barrels per year. According to coverage in Inside Scoop, the majority of the brewery's employees have been laid off and a "skeleton crew" of just six employees will keep production rolling.
Previously: 'Financially Insolvent' Speakeasy Ales And Lagers Shutting Down