Local
Madison’s Delta Beer Lab will close Oct. 25 as costs and changing drinking habits take toll
The south-side brewery says rising expenses, inflation and weaker consumer spending made continued operations unsustainable. Delta Beer Lab also leaves behind a record of community giving, including more than $237,000 donated to nonprofits through 2024.
Delta Beer Lab, a south-side Madison brewery known for its community fundraising, plans to end operations Oct. 25 after nearly eight years in business.
Owner Tim “Pio” Piotrowski said the brewery could not overcome the lasting economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including years of inflation, higher operating costs, reduced consumer spending and shifts in drinking habits.
“We fought as hard as we could, but we ultimately ran out of resources,” Piotrowski said.
Since opening in 2019, Delta Beer Lab worked with more than 100 nonprofit organizations and donated more than $237,025 through 2024, according to the brewery’s website. It also hosted a free community Thanksgiving meal each year and pledged 1% of annual revenue to environmental causes through the 1% for the Planet network.
The brewery said it sought to pay workers a living wage and build a welcoming community through local craft beer. Its final new release, the West Coast-style IPA Supernova, came out a few weeks before the closure announcement.
Piotrowski plans to take time off and pursue work outside the brewing industry. Some prospective buyers have expressed interest in taking over the brewery, but no offers have been made. Without a buyer, the equipment may be sold separately.
Delta has scheduled farewell events, including Taylor Swift-themed trivia on Oct. 22. It expects to open for limited hours during the week of Oct. 26 to sell packaged products; details are available on the brewery’s website.