After a decade in operation, a beloved brewery in Orléans has bid farewell to its customers.
Owners of the Orléans Brewing Co. announced on social media Wednesday that they had made the “difficult decision” to close their doors that same day, Aug. 5.
“This wasn’t something we wanted — but rising costs, increased rent, mounting pressures and circumstances beyond our control have left us with no other path forward,” the OBC owners wrote.
Even though goodbye “hurts,” since the brewery opened in 2016 owners said they’d watched “first dates turn into marriages, kids grow up at these tables, milestones toasted over pints.”
There was an outpouring support for the family on social media.
“ The brewing tanks may fall silent, but the friendships, the laughter, the music, the conversations and the memories you’ve given your community will continue to echo for years to come,” commenter Dennis Lapin wrote under the owners’ Facebook post.
Others shared memories they had made at the brewery.
“Very sad to hear of this and thank you for the great beer. Our Wednesday group rides will not be the same without leaning our bikes outside OBC and taking over part of your patio for juicy Mchazys, Apple juice for some, wings and so many jugs of water. Best wishes for a resilient future, it must be so hard for you and you will be missed,” Cindy Strugnell wrote.
OBC owners said their customers made the brewery a “second living room,” which they described as being warm, familiar “and full of stories we’ll carry with us forever.”
This was the second Ottawa brewery to close this year. Kichesippi Beer Co. shut down in March.
The OBC owners did not respond to requests for further comment.
