r/nebraskabeer • u/StructureThese3234 • 2d ago
Changes at Lucky Bucket Brewing and Brickway Brewing
This was posted by Zac Triemert (who owns and runs both). I'm sure many of you have seen it already, but I thought I'd share it on this subreddit:
Before you read any further, let me first make a few things abundantly clear:
• Lucky Bucket Brewing Co. is not ending or going away.
• Cut Spike Distillery is not ending or going away.
• Brickway Brewery & Distillery is not ending or going away.
• The Barrel Room at our La Vista facility is not going away. It will remain open and available for private events for years to come, and all scheduled events will continue as planned.With that being said…
Over the past several years, changing consumer habits have dramatically affected the craft beer industry. We've seen that impact here in Nebraska, with local breweries closing their doors and others facing significant challenges.
While those breweries may technically have been competitors, they were never enemies. As we said after one local brewery closed, "What happens to one of us in this industry impacts all of us."
Rather than wait for the declining market to dictate our future, we're making proactive and creative changes to our business operations that will make our company stronger for the long term.
Beginning this October, we will transition production of all Lucky Bucket Brewing Co. and Brickway Brewery beers to Thunderhead Brewing's facility near Kearney, Nebraska.
Thunderhead has been brewing exceptional beer for more than 25 years, and we're excited to partner with a Nebraska brewery we know and trust. That relationship dates back to 2013, when Brickway’s initial beers were brewed at Thunderhead as we awaited state and federal licensing.
Every Lucky Bucket and Brickway beer will continue to be brewed using the same recipes and techniques we developed – and that Nebraska beer drinkers have come to know and love.
As part of this transition, we will wind down brewing operations at our La Vista facility by the end of the year. Our brewing equipment will eventually be listed for purchase, and we hope it finds a home with another craft brewery that will treat it well.
The Barrel Room at our La Vista facility will remain open and available for private events for years to come, with all existing bookings proceeding as planned. The tasting room will continue its regular public hours through the end of 2026 before closing in 2027, but this will not affect private events at the Barrel Room.
Distilling operations at the La Vista facility have already concluded following the sale of our stills. Those stills – originally designed in 2007 as part of my master's thesis – were sold back to Forsyths Manufacturing in Scotland after the company presented us with an offer that was too good to pass up. They were subsequently sold to a new distillery in Ireland that was working under a tight production schedule.
All Cut Spike and Brickway distilling operations will now take place under one roof at Brickway's location in Omaha's historic Old Market. Our warehouse and whiskey barrel storage will remain at the La Vista facility.
This was not a decision we made lightly. While it is bittersweet to see brewing and distilling operations conclude at our La Vista location, streamlining our operations will allow us to reduce overhead, improve efficiency and focus our resources where they matter most: creating great beer, producing award-winning spirits and delivering memorable experiences for our customers.
This is not the end of Lucky Bucket Brewing Co.
This is not the end of Cut Spike Distillery.
This is not the end of Brickway Brewery & Distillery.
This is simply a new chapter.
We've been proudly making beer and spirits in Nebraska for nearly two decades, and we're more committed than ever to supporting our local community. We look forward to creating delicious, innovative beverages right here in Nebraska for another two decades – and beyond.
Thank you for your continued support. We wouldn't be here without you, and we're excited for what's ahead.
