Two more craft breweries to close in Twin Cities suburbs

A year that has seen a string of brewery closures around the Twin Cities is going to take at least two more with it.

Schram Haus Brewery in Chaska and Invictus Brewing Co. in Blaine both recently announced that they will shut down their taprooms by the end of December. At least one of the brewery’s beers will live on elsewhere, though.

The mom-and-pop operators of Schram Haus are shuttering their spacious hillside taproom and brewing facility, which they opened in 2019, but plan to make and sell their beers on a smaller scale at their sister winery in Waconia, which recently expanded into a new building.

“This decision did not come easily, but it is a necessary one,” owners Ashley and Aaron Schram said in a post on their website and social media channels.

Talking separately to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Ashley Schram said, “Our challenges mirror what a lot of small Minnesota breweries and small-scale liquor producers are facing. But several issues compounded over time, making it clear that the business was no longer financially sustainable.”

Those compounding issues, she said, included increased costs of upkeep, taxes and rent on their 3-acre property; stringent regulations on the size of their Oktoberfest parties (which had to be downsized from 1,200 people to 300), and complex Minnesota licensing rules (such as the one that would not allow them to add their wine into the taproom).

“Regulation is necessary, but the system is not streamlined, and the burden is disproportionately heavy for very small producers,” Schram added.

Invictus’ owners Previn Solberg and Troy Wolter — pals who started home brewing together in a garage and went on to win Minnesota Brewers Cup awards — announced earlier this year that they had sold their building near the National Sports Center and were looking for a new home. Now they say “relocation is not feasible.”

“There are a number of reasons why, but mainly, the cost of any real estate, ingredients and supplies is significantly higher than it was when we built our building in 2018,” the Invictus partners said in their announcement.

The last beers at Invictus will be served on Dec. 21, and Solberg and Wolter promised to have “a decent selection all the way to our last day.”

“That is, unless you drink more than expected,” they rather wisely added.

Schram Haus’ closing date is Dec. 28. The owners promised “a few fun send-offs and specials throughout December,” with plans still in place to host a holiday market on Sunday along with weekly bingo, trivia and live music nights over the next few weeks.

Schram Haus beer lovers can head over to Waconia to enjoy the in-house brews at the namesake winery. The Schrams recently opened a large new hall on their 32-acre winery that houses the Bonfire & Barrel Restaurant & Lounge along with a store and rooms for wine tastings and other events.

“Building a brand-new space while running a winery and brewery and keeping a family running is not for the faint of heart,” the couple noted in a Thanksgiving post. “Thank you for cheering us on, spreading the word, and sharing Schram with your friends and family.”