Bay Area craft beer leader 21st Amendment Brewery is shutting down

"The founders of 21st Amendment Brewery, with a production facility in San Leandro and a brewpub near the ballpark in San Francisco, announced today that they will be closing both locations, and winding down the business in the coming months. Co-owners Shaun O'Sullivan and Nico Freccia founded the brewery in 2000 25 years ago. The business began as a brewpub, but they later began canning their beer and were one of the first in both California, and the"

"Almost exactly 10 years ago, 21st Amendment opened a large brewing facility in San Leandro, and widely distributed their beer in cans across the United States. The brewery also began doing contract brewing, making beer for other companies. Like many breweries, sales suffered considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as people began drinking less both during and after the pandemic, they tried to figure out how to stay ahead of the curve with their business."

"According to O'Sullivan and Freccia, that worked for a time, but the drinks business has not recovered or returned to pre-pandemic numbers, so their partner decided to withdraw support. That resulted in the difficult and bittersweet decision to close the business, they said. O'Sullivan said in an interview that they are hoping to make the last few months a celebration of all they've accomplished over 25 years."

Co-owners Shaun O'Sullivan and Nico Freccia founded 21st Amendment Brewery in 2000 and built a brewpub near San Francisco's ballpark before expanding into canned distribution. The brewery pioneered full canned production in California and nationally, later opening a large San Leandro facility about ten years ago and doing contract brewing. Sales declined sharply during COVID-19, and consumer drinking patterns did not fully recover. The company diversified into other liquid products with a financial partner, but partner withdrawal followed ongoing weak drinks sales. The founders will close the San Leandro facility and the 2nd Street brewpub in coming months while seeking buyers for the brand or facilities.

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