USA, VA: Steam Bell Beer Works pours its last beer after nearly a decade in business

A nearly decade-old Chesterfield brewery has poured its last beer, Richmond BizSense reported on August 26.

Steam Bell Beer Works planned to close Sunday, it announced last week. It had operated at 1717 E. Oak Lake Blvd. near Brandermill since 2015.

With Steam Bell’s lease expiring, the brewery was apparently unable to come up with a new location amid a challenging business landscape, according to a social media post on Friday that appeared to be written by owner Brad Cooper.

“A few months ago, we were informed by our building’s owner that they would not be renewing our lease. Since then, we’ve been searching for a way to move forward, but unfortunately, with the resources available to us, we’ve found ourselves at a dead end,” the post read in part.

It continued: “While this business has brought us incredible joy, it has not come without its fair share of challenges. The stress and sleepless nights have taken their toll, affecting both my mental and physical health. And while the past few years have been particularly tough for the craft beer industry—marked by declining sales and shrinking shelf space in grocery stores—I am deeply grateful for the experiences we’ve shared together.”

Further details weren’t available. Cooper didn’t return a phone call seeking comment Friday afternoon.

Steam Bell opened in the Oak Lake Business Park in 2015, and later expanded its space. In 2018, the brewery opened a satellite taproom in the city called Canon & Draw Brewing. That operation closed its doors in 2022 after a four-year run.

Cooper and his wife, Andrea, also helped launch Hidden Wit Brewing Co., which opened late last year in western Chesterfield. The couple were still listed as co-owners of Hidden Wit on its website last week.

Steam Bell’s closing follows a spate of local breweries shuttering within the last year.

Earlier this year, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland announced it would be closed indefinitely. Isley Brewing Co. closed late last year in Scott’s Addition. Castleburg Brewery and Taproom also shuttered around the same time.

Amid those closures, recent additions to the local craft beer scene include Brainstorm Brewhouse and a satellite location of Goochland-based Kindred Spirit Brewing, which took over the former Castleburg location in the city.

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