Whiner Beer Company to Close Back of the Yards Brewery and Taproom as Chicago Loses Another Beloved Brewpub

whiner beer company announced it will close its Back of the Yards brewery and taproom on March 29, ending roughly a decade of operations in the Southwest Side neighborhood. The announcement underscores ongoing pressures on small craft brewers that have intensified since the pandemic.

Whiner Beer Company: closure details and immediate timeline

The brewery at 1400 W. 46th St. said the last day of service will be March 29, with a final community gathering planned for March 28. Brian Taylor, co-founder and brewmaster, shared the decision in a social media post noting that the last few years had been especially difficult despite many efforts to stabilize the business.

Whiner built its reputation on light, mixed-fermentation and barrel-aged beers inspired by Belgian and French traditions, with a flagship blended barrel-aged wild saison called Le Tub and distinctive illustrated labels that often featured cats. The brewery opened its Back of the Yards space in 2016 and became a neighborhood fixture over its decade of operation.

Why the closure happened: distribution, taproom losses and local factors

Leadership cited a sustained lack of growth since the pandemic, reversing prior annual spikes in business. By the end of 2024, distribution volume "dropped considerably, " forcing greater reliance on taproom revenue that ultimately failed to cover labor, space and equipment costs. The brewery had pursued contract brewing for other brands and brought in a woman- and Mexican-owned startup, SomosMonos Cerveceria, to help bolster taproom offerings as recovery efforts continued.

Local disruptions also played a role: a downturn in taproom traffic followed immigration enforcement activity in the neighborhood during late summer and early fall, which was described as turning the taproom into a ghost town. Speculation about a closure surfaced earlier in the week when an online auction notice listed the brewery’s 30-barrel equipment as available.

What this means for Back of the Yards and the Chicago craft scene

The Whiner closure is the third announced by a Chicago brewery in a short span. Earlier this month, a long-running North Side brewery closed its taproom after ten years, and another announced it will shutter later in the year. The cluster of closures highlights a changing landscape for Chicago craft beer: pandemic-era disruptions, shifting drinking habits and financial pressures are squeezing smaller players that once thrived.

For Back of the Yards, Whiner’s departure removes a longtime cultural and creative hub. The brewery’s collaborations, events and distinctive beer styles contributed to the neighborhood’s nightlife and attracted patrons from across the city. The involvement of SomosMonos in recent months signaled attempts to sustain a community-oriented space even as flagship operations waned.

Final weeks and next steps for staff and patrons

Patrons have been invited to visit in the brewery’s final weeks for scheduled events and one last gathering on March 28. Management has not outlined longer-term plans for the location beyond those final community-focused activities. Staff and local collaborators who worked with the brewery now face the immediate challenge of transitioning as the business winds down.

Recent developments indicate this story will continue to evolve as the final days approach and the local beer community responds. Details about future uses of the space or the fate of equipment and remaining inventory may emerge in the coming days.