Brewery Owners Sued for $18.5 Million

Two Roads Brewing Company filed a lawsuit against Bald Birds Brewing and its founder following widespread financial issues.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Beer

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a solitary industrial brewing tank, symbolizing corporate and financial collapse. — Two Roads Brewing Company and founder W. Whitney George are suing Bald Birds Brewing and Joe Feerrar for $18.5 million following systemic financial failure. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Two Roads Brewing Company and W. Whitney George initiated legal action against Bald Birds Brewing and founder Joe Feerrar in June 2026. The plaintiffs are seeking $18.5 million in damages as the brewery faces a cascade of financial and operational failures.

Why it matters

The legal action highlights the severe financial strain facing the brewery after it defaulted on leases and failed to pay staff. These issues led to state-mandated wage settlements and the closure of multiple locations across the region.

The lawsuit names seven affiliated companies and comes after the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry required the firm to pay over $500,000 in unpaid wages to 50 employees.

The players

Bald Birds Brewing

This is a Pennsylvania-based brewery that operated multiple taprooms and a production facility.

Joe Feerrar

He is the founder of Bald Birds Brewing who was served with a lawsuit in July 2026.

Two Roads Brewing Company

This is a Connecticut-based brewing company that previously participated in the B3 Beverage platform.

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

This state agency enforced the payment of over $500,000 in back wages following employee complaints.

The details

Bald Birds Brewing operated four taprooms and a production facility in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, before widespread financial issues forced closures, including its site in Audubon. Two Roads Brewing has since exited the B3 Beverage platform as the company contends with merchant cash advances and lease defaults.

Joe and Abby Feerrar founded Bald Birds Brewing in 2018.
Two Roads Brewing joined the B3 Beverage platform in 2025.
Two Roads filed a complaint in confession of judgment in June 2026.
Defendants were served with the legal complaint on July 13, 2026.

Culture Shift

The aggressive pursuit of damages signals a broader shift toward greater corporate accountability in the craft beer industry. This reflects a transition away from rapid, debt-fueled expansion models that characterized the industry's growth during the mid-2010s.

Customers who frequented the Audubon taproom will see it remain closed as the facility continues to wind down operations. Those affected by the wage issues have already received state-mandated payments following the labor investigation.

The takeaway

The brewery's collapse serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of over-leveraging through merchant cash advances and unsustainable expansion. Consumers should remain aware of how rapid corporate growth can sometimes mask deep internal financial instability.