It seems Jekyll Brewing will be the latest brewery to close in metro Atlanta. After news in February that the company had stopped producing kegs, rumors swirled that there was a deeper issue with the business. Those rumors were realized Tuesday when Jekyll Brewing owner Michael Lundmark confirmed the imminent closure of all Jekyll Brewing locations via a post on Atlanta Beer Society, a local Facebook page.
Although headquartered in Alpharetta, the brewery gets its name from Jekyll Island, which is believed to have been home to the first brewery in the Deep South, started by Major William Horton, friend and military aide to Georgia’s founder, General James Edward Oglethorpe. Horton was granted rights to Jekyll Island by the trustees of the Colony of Georgia in 1735, and years later purchased a “Great Copper” pot to brew barley into beer—considered the beginning of the region’s first brewery.
The duo expanded their production capacity with the addition of a second Alpharetta location, this one on the green at Alpharetta City Center, in November 2019. The roughly 6,500 square foot space includes a restaurant and rooftop patio as well as a brewery capable of producing about 3,000 barrels a year.
Rachel departed the business in early 2021 and would go on to open Hyde Brewing in Milton in early 2024.
The company expanded again in December 2022 when it opened a two-level location on Main Street in downtown Woodstock. Jekyll expanded into Florida in May 2023 with their opening in Jacksonville Beach, about 90 miles from Jekyll Island. The company grew again about seven months later, this time back in Georgia with a brewery and restaurant in Gainesville.
In confirming the closures, Lundmark made no mention of the reason behind the decision or whether it was related to the state regulations that many operators call "outdated."
On the heels of several brewery closures in 2024, Georgia Craft Breweries Guild said in a statement to Atlanta News First this past December:
“Georgia Craft breweries continue to close at an alarming rate. While these small businesses struggle under the weight of outdated and crushing state regulations, well-funded special interests like the Georgia beer wholesalers fight to preserve the status quo and kill efforts to provide desperately needed reforms. We should be doing everything we can to give these local hubs of community and development the flexibility they need to not just survive, but thrive.”
Steady Hand Beer Co., Torched Hop Brewing Company, Best End Brewing Company, Elsewhere Brewing, Schoolhouse Brewing (at Emory Point, Marietta remains open), Kettlerock Brewing, Eventide Brewing, and Urban Tree Cidery all closed in 2024, followed by Tucker's High Card and Blue Tarp and Marietta's Red Hare Brewing which shuttered this past February.
All Jekyll Brewing locations are due to close permanently as of the end of service this coming Sunday, Mother's Day, May 11.
Are you surprised to see so many breweries struggle under current regulations? What is your favorite local brewery? Who would you like to see open in place of the metro Atlanta Jekyll Brewing locations?
Please share your thoughts below.
41 comments:
Red Hare in Marietta also bowed out in January of this year.
Damn, sad. I was not a fan of the City Center restaurant, but enjoyed their beers and visited the Marconi Drive location every once in a while.
Schoolhouse only closed their Emory Point location. Nothing survives at Emory Point.
So sad.
There's too much groupthink involved with craft beers. Most craft beers suck, but people think they're good because everyone else supposedly thinks they're good; they're "crafted"; and they're served in stemware. So they must be good, right? LOL
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
^ this person knows! Haha
I'm guessing you're the kind of person that drinks bud light? Or are you more of a Coors guy?
The Georgia beer wholesalers lobby own the GA state legislature with their huge donations so expect the status quo will continue.
This place was very bland and overpriced and they charged you a "convenience fee" which is not part of tips. I hope something better comes along
I used to go with co workers to the original location in Alpharetta and my band played there a few times. Certainly nice people but not one time did I find a beer there worth drinking twice. Hot peppers, bad IPA and stouts...make a good product and they will come. Seemed like they were expanding for a long time to quickly close like this...not sure if there is more to the story.
Same with alcohol in general. And other shitty popular beers. This goes for almost everything. It's a social construct
Right! Lol! Everything sucks that you haven’t personally selected and invented Alex. You should be president
This is the dumbest thing I’ve read.
I disagree. I think they made some good beers. Southern Juice was excellent. Their Cooter Brown, Porters and Stouts were good in the winter, too.
The highest donation I found was around $6K to Jan Jones in Milton.
How is that?
Anon @ 9:01 AM: this entire society is groupthink. Very few support original ideas until they are mainstream
Anon @ 12:33 PM: you forgot about your birth certificate
Woodstock restaurant had terrible service every time I went there. From items priced wrong on the menu to forgetting to put cheese on a plain cheeseburger then 30 mins later asking if he still wanted the cheese on the untouched burger.
Bad opinions are still allowed
So true
Damn shame! I hate to see them close!! 😞
Schoolhouse could have done well at Emory Point if they had offered food. Everyone at CDC is desperate for a good happy hour or lunch place close by.
Monkey Wrench was another one that was shut down in 2025. Sad news about Jekyll - will miss them!
Literally says that in the article you dingus
Literally says that in the article
No, to many opening in such a short time. This lead to increased competition. They were betting on the legislature repealing the three tier system. That didn't happen, and is not likely.
LOL...I triggered a lot of delicate people on here with my comment. It only reenforces what I just said. Groupthink is prevalent.
So you think people selling and drinking Bud put this 3rd rate "craft" brewer out of business?
Bad IPA is redundant.
It seems they overextended and it finally caught up with them. I will miss the beer (never when to restaurants)
$24 burgers and beers out constantly are why they’re closing. Not politics, not politicians, not special interests, not anything but poor operations. Period.
And you are irrelevant. Bye boy!
I just want beer-flavored beer.
The whole craft beer thing just isn't a thing it seems here in GA, especially in Atlanta. Sure there are a few places that make good tasting craft brews like Porter Beer Bar and Wrecking Bar, both have remained small single locations with good food menu that changes. Prices have gone up, but still have a good atmosphere and vibe. I usually go to either place before seeing a concert at Variety Playhouse.
But very true about some of the really off flavor combinations. Just make a few solid great tasting beers, lagers and stouts.
Yep. $8/beer is simply not going to make it any more. The economy is taking and so will the luxuries like this. The craft beer fad is about over... Sad though. I'll miss my Southern Juice.
Yes, the craft beer fad us fading quickly.
One week notice to employees! Unbelievable but not surprising in this world! Think that when you are closing the employees should get more than a week notice. Selfish employer
I was in downtown Woodstock a few weeks ago and was shocked at how empty the Jekyll Brewing outpost was. Maybe halting beer production is the last thing a craft brewery should consider? I did like their beer, but was it ego that made them decide to go into Reformation's home turf and think they could win? Pontoon made the same silly decision in Tucker. Do something well (make great beer) and serve your audience well. Everything else, like food and restaurant expansions, is just noise. Noise that will distract you from your mission. I'm surprised the owner's fell into this trap.
No mention of the lawsuit....
The exotics hardly tanking. Slowing perhaps. You must be too young to even experienced a serious recession. There will always be a market for great tasting beer . Without it, the choices are Bud, Miller , or whatever puke you can think of.
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