Memphis Made Brewing Co. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is exploring a potential sale, the company announced today.
In a press release, Andy Ashby, who cofounded Memphis Made with Drew Barton more than a decade ago, said the move will allow the brewery to better position itself to find a new owner.
“First and foremost, I’d like to emphasize that Memphis Made will continue as normal. The taproom will be open and you’ll be able to buy our beer at restaurants and stores throughout our distribution footprint,” Ashby said.
“After 12 years in craft beer, Drew and I are looking to try other things. This will allow us to reorganize the company’s debt and put us in a better position to find the right operator. We’ve already had some discussions with interested parties.”
Amid a broader slowdown in the craft beer industry—with U.S. craft beer volume dipping by about 4% in 2024—Memphis Made’s Chapter 11 filing underscores mounting pressures on independent breweries.
Consumers are increasingly gravitating toward alternatives like hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and non-alcoholic options, challenging traditional craft beer models. Rising ingredient costs and tariffs on equipment are adding to the challenges.
Just last week, Memphis-based Wiseacre Brewing Co. announced it was acquiring Nashville’s Bearded Iris, uniting two of Tennessee’s largest craft beer brands. Bearded Iris will retain its brand identity and taprooms, while production shifts to Wiseacre’s facility—a move that highlights how consolidation may become a path forward in a contracting market.
Barton and Ashby launched Memphis Made in 2013 in the Cooper-Young neighborhood, when the craft beer scene was in its infancy.
“When Drew and I started Memphis Made, we really wanted to help make the city’s beer scene better,” Ashby said.
“Back then, there was only one brewery and no taprooms. There wasn’t a lot of beer education going on. Now there are more than a dozen breweries and brewpubs in Shelby County, and we like to think we’ve contributed a small part to the growth of craft beer in this area. We look forward to finding someone to continue that legacy.”
Memphis Made’s flagship Fireside Amber Ale is among the best-selling beers in Shelby County.
In 2024, the company relocated to a larger brewery and 5,000-square-foot taproom space in the Edge District, a growing area between Midtown and Downtown. The bigger brewing space allowed Memphis Made to expand distribution across Tennessee, Missouri, and North Mississippi.
However, the new taproom has seen less foot traffic, limited free parking, and less of the tight-knit community found in Cooper-Young. At the same time, growing financial challenges added pressure that ultimately led to this week’s bankruptcy filing.
