A Popular West Coast Brewery Is Closing Both Its Locations (And Bankruptcy Isn't The Reason)

On May 31, 2025, one of Sacramento's favorite craft beer spots, Track 7 Brewing Co., shut the doors on both its Curtis Park and Natomas taprooms. In a brief Instagram post, the brewery announced the closure, before wiping its website and social media pages clean. Track 7 Brewing Co was based in Sacramento, and was known for its welcoming atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. It had a business model that specialized in creating unique, artisanal beers and one of its key attractions were its hosted events like Bingo Night and Comedy Night, which improved its street credibility and community involvement.

According to local outlet, KCRA, the brewery's staff found themselves suddenly out of work, and regulars — some who'd even put down deposits on events — received no refunds, and no explanation. Track 7 had been a community staple since 2012, known for award-winning IPAs and neighborhood events, so its sudden exit is especially jarring. Despite this, locals organized an impromptu gathering in the parking lot of the brewery's former Curtis Park location as a last hurrah to the business and staff.

Track 7's shutdown doesn't follow the usual story of a brewery closing under bankruptcy or landlord disputes. Just a few hours before opening on May 31, owners called staff together and gave a vague explanation about financial struggles as the reason behind the sudden closure. They paid out final paychecks and PTO, but offered no details — or notice — to the people who'd help built the brewery's success. Local news outlets KCRA and The Sacramento Bee report there were no bankruptcy filings, lawsuits, or public signs of money trouble before the closure. That sudden silence, with taps turned off and social channels gone, has left both employees and fans feeling blindsided and unsure why Track 7 chose to end its run.

There is much speculations on possible contributing factors to the brewery's closure — including undisclosed debt, previous and pending court cases, or even a case of burnout after 13 years in the business with a volatile economy. Plus, given the constant increase in the price of materials — not to mention how tariffs can and are affecting other brewery closures — the potential for internal conflicts and even shifting market pressures could all have been factors in Track 7's closure. Unfortunately, for members of the community, they're losing a space that hosted fundraisers, first dates, and neighborhood gatherings.

Track 7's sudden shutdown isn't unique. Across the country, independent breweries have been closing since the pandemic as supply costs keep rising. Track 7's shutdown follows another local Sacramento closure, Device Brewing, in 2024. In the food and beverages industry as a whole, closures have been recurring, with Bodacious Bar-B-Q closing for good, and Bar Louie filing for Chapter 11. Some of this can be explained when comparing the cost of core ingredients between 2020 to more recent years.

For instance, the volatile price of hops has affected operational costs for most smaller breweries. In 2019, the U.S. season-average hop price was $5.68 per pound. However, the average price rose to $5.97 in 2020, then $6.10 in 2022, before dropping to $5.40 in 2023, per USDA-NASS figures compiled by the Hop Growers of America. Plus, with tariffs currently affecting materials like steel and aluminum — materials key to the beer making and packing process — its no wonder smaller breweries like Track 7 are struggling to make it.