Inbound Brew Co. Closes Minneapolis Taproom
The North Loop brewery will shut its taproom and brewing facility on December 31 while continuing to distribute cans and kegs until supplies run out.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Beer
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Inbound Brew Co., which opened in 2016 near downtown Minneapolis, announced it will close its taproom and brewing facility at 701 N. 5th St. on December 31. The brewery will continue distributing its cans and kegs to stores and bars until supplies run out.
Why it matters
The closure is the first North Loop beer hub to shut down and follows a sharp, industry-wide rise in production and distribution costs for brewers. It also reflects slumping beer demand as many Gen Z consumers avoid alcohol.
Inbound Brew Co. is located at 701 N. 5th St. and was founded by John Messier and Eric Biermann, who previously operated Lucid Brewing in Minnetonka. The brewery added seltzer, the Petal Pounder nonalcoholic beer, and the THC sparkling drink Satellite to its lineup before announcing the closure.
The players
Inbound Brew Co.
A North Loop Minneapolis brewery that opened in 2016 and is closing its taproom and brewing facility.
John Messier
A co-founder of Inbound Brew Co. who previously operated Lucid Brewing in Minnetonka.
Eric Biermann
A co-founder of Inbound Brew Co. who previously operated Lucid Brewing in Minnetonka.
The details
Inbound announced the closure over a weekend through social media posts and a closure announcement. The operators cited retirement, other opportunities, or needing time as possible reasons for shutting down.
Timeline
2016: Inbound Brew Co. opened near downtown Minneapolis.
December 31: The taproom and brewing facility will close.
Culture Shift
The closure reflects a broader cost squeeze on craft brewers as beer demand slumps among Gen Z consumers who are avoiding alcohol. Inbound's shift toward seltzer, nonalcoholic beer, and a THC drink shows how small breweries are diversifying away from traditional beer sales.
Minneapolis beer drinkers who frequented the North Loop taproom will lose that local option after December 31. Cans and kegs will remain available at stores and bars only until supplies run out.
The takeaway
Local beer fans can support remaining Minneapolis breweries by visiting taprooms directly and buying cans while distribution lasts. Watching how small breweries adapt to rising costs can show which local spots are likely to stay open.
Further reading
Explore more local coverage in the Beer section for context on the region's changing brewery scene.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star Tribune.
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