Chicago's Whiner Beer Co. to Close After a Decade

- Co-founders Brian Taylor and Ria Neri were both veterans of the Chicago beer scene before starting Whiner. Taylor was instrumental in developing the wine barrel-aging program at Goose Island, and Neri, a certified Cicerone, curated the beer program for the acclaimed bar Bangers & Lace. - The brewery specialized in barrel-aged, Belgian-style beers, a niche focus in the U.S. market. Their business name, "Whiner," was a playful nod to their use of wine barrels and a friend who called the founders "fucking whiners" for their critiques of the industry. - Whiner was a key tenant in "The Plant," a former meatpacking facility repurposed as a zero-waste, sustainable food business incubator in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Their operations were designed to be environmentally responsible, including using a boiler that could run on methane. - The brewery's business model was primarily focused on distribution, with approximately 80% of their sales coming from getting their beer into the market, rather than taproom sales. - The closure is part of a wider downturn in the craft beer market; between 2022 and 2023, about 10% of Illinois' craft breweries closed. Nationally, 2024 was the first year in nearly two decades that more breweries closed (529) than opened (430). - Other recent Chicago-area brewery closures preceding Whiner's include the award-winning Alarmist Brewing, District Brew Yards, and the massive Lagunitas production facility. - Economic pressures on the industry include rising costs for ingredients and aluminum cans, a consumer shift toward spirits and canned cocktails, and increased competition. Many small breweries are operating at just over half of their production capacity.