SEATTLE — The Elysian Brewing production facility in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood will close on Dec. 31, leaving dozens of jobs in question.
Elysian's parent company Anheuser-Busch confirmed to KING 5 that workers were informed of the decision on Thursday.
The adjoining taproom was shut down immediately.
A spokesperson for Elysian did not provide specific reasons for the closure, but linked the decision to a $1.7 million investment into the company's Capitol Hill location, which includes updates to brewery operations.
As a result, all beer currently produced at the Airport Way facility will move to Capitol Hill and other unnamed facilities owned by Anheuser-Busch.
"We opened the doors of our Capitol Hill Brewery & Pub in 1996, and since then, it's been the heart and soul of Elysian; this $1.7 million investment — the largest we've ever made in our flagship location — will ensure that our Capitol Hill Brewery & Pub continues to be a gathering place for beer lovers into the future and we're proud to continue brewing locally and serving our beloved Capitol Hill community," the spokesperson said.
It's unclear how many jobs are at stake, but representatives from Teamsters Local 117 say at least 30 workers are expected to be impacted.
"The workers are upset, fearful and pissed off quite honestly," said Secretary Treasurer Paul Dascher. "Doing this to workers during the holidays is an egregious act of greed, period."
Dascher said the workers they represent voted to unionize in August 2023 but negotiations between the two sides have been contentious.
The union was hoping to secure its first labor agreement with the company and had future meetings scheduled when Thursday's announcement was made.
"It's hard for them to feel like this is not retaliation for them exercising their rights to become a unionized brewery," Dascher told KING 5. "They've never alluded to the fact this facility may get shut down [for] a legitimate business decision."
The production facility in Georgetown opened in 2011. Elysian was purchased by Anheuser-Busch in 2015.
"We were completely blindsided by this," said Shannon Mullins, a quality lead at Elysian and member of the union bargaining committee. "We are out of a job because once again the company chose profits over the lives and careers of its workers."
It's unclear if workers will be given the opportunity to transfer to other facilities.
"We are committed to ensuring that this transition is as smooth as possible for our people," an Elysian spokesperson said.
Elysian Brewing was founded 1996 in Seattle, specializing in classic and experimental beers. According to Anheuser-Busch, citing market research conducted by Circana, Elysian Space Dust is ranked 11th overall among craft beers in the United States, and is the top-ranked IPA and craft beer in Seattle.
In addition to the investment into the Capitol Hill facility, Elysian Fields sports bar near Lumen Field will remain open.