Events

Bay Shore Taproom — A Farewell

In an all too familiar story these days, we find ourselves writing the words we never wanted to write.

After more than a decade in business, we are officially closing our Bay Shore taproom. This marks the end of a chapter that has defined our lives, our family, and who we are.

For over ten years, this brewery has been more than a business. It has been our home, our purpose, and our community. Together, we built something rare and real...a family. Not just the people who worked beside us day in and day out, but the customers who became friends, the regulars who felt like relatives, and the community that showed up again and again to support us.

I’ve dedicated a quarter of my life to this. Late nights, early mornings, missed holidays, constant pressure, endless problem-solving, countless hours, and immeasurable joy. That time is priceless and can never be replaced. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” We gave this everything we had and we would do it again, because of what it became.

But the reality is that being a sole owner, running a small, independent business in today’s climate has become unsustainable. Rising costs, economic pressure, and a changing industry have taken their toll on me, not just financially, but personally, emotionally and physically. At some point, you have to acknowledge when the sacrifice becomes too great, and when protecting your family means letting go of something you love.

This closing is final. It is the end of this version of the dream. And while that breaks our hearts, it doesn’t erase what we built or the impact it had. What we created together mattered. It still does.  

To every single person who walked through our doors, shared a beer, celebrated a milestone, worked a shift, or believed in us, thank you. You gave this place its soul.

Over the next few weeks, we will be winding down taproom operations. As we get closer to running out of beer, we’ll announce the date of our final service. Along the way, we’ll be tapping special beers we’ve been holding onto and clearing out our remaining inventory of packaged beer. Hours may change during this period so we can do our best to accommodate everyone who wants to stop in one last time.

As we step away, we want to sincerely wish the very best of luck to whoever comes next to take over this space. We hope they’re able to build upon what was created here and continue growing something meaningful for the Bay Shore community.

This goodbye is painful, but it is also filled with gratitude. We leave proud, exhausted, emotional, and forever connected to the family we created here.

Thank you, Bay Shore. Thank you for more than a decade of memories. 

Chris