MobCraft, a Wisconsin brewery that opened a Denver outlet in September 2022 at 2403 Champa St., announced Thursday that it will close for good at 7 p.m. on April 23.
“The closure is due to circumstances beyond our control with our Denver lease and myriad unfortunate events,” according to a statement from MobCraft Beer CEO Henry Schwartz.
The brewery and its former restaurant partner Dee Tacko took over the former Liberati Brewing space in October 2021 before spending 11 months renovating the building (Dee Tacko moved out in mid-February, and MobCraft had been looking for another restaurant to fill in). Founded in 2013, MobCraft crowd-sourced its often unusual beer recipes before brewing them. The company still has locations in Wisconsin and is working on expanding there.
“It is very difficult to close less than one year after opening. We were just gaining traction, feeling supported by the neighborhood and community, and truly loved contributing to the Denver beer and food scene,” wrote Schwartz, who actually grew up in Colorado.
MobCraft branding specialist Ryan Doolan said one of the issues had to do with the brewery’s lease, but declined to comment further due to pending legal issues. “It has been a pretty frustrating battle,” he said. “But we have to make tough but smart decisions.”
During its time, MobCraft said it brewed 14 collaboration beers, paid more than $397,000 in wages to more than 30 employees, and paid $175,000 in taxes.
Schwartz said the brewery will continue to operate “at full capacity, hosting all of our planned events, parties and programming” through April 23. There also will be a closing party April 21-23 with some limited-release tappings, specials, merchandise and to-go product sales.
“We want to leave behind a part of the passion and independent spirit we hold for Colorado. We will be donating a percentage of sales from our final week to the Hispanic Restaurant Association, Curtis Park Neighborhood Association, Colorado Brewers Guild, and our employees who have worked so diligently to get us as far as we did,” Schwartz wrote.
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