Citing multiple business challenges, The Alementary is closing, underscoring the difficulties New Jersey’s craft brewing industry faces.

In a Jan. 29 social media post, the popular Hackensack-based beermaker said the decision to shutter after eight years in business was for several reasons. The biggest: that a deal with a buyer for its contract business fell through.

Combined with “continued softness in the distro market,” a “not great” fourth quarter of 2023 and “downward regional industry trends,” The Alementary’s co-owners Blake Crawford and Michael Roosevelt said they were left “in an irreconcilable situation.”

“Our biggest error was one of timing and trusting. We are proud of what we’ve done. This is not undertaken lightly. We’re proud of the space you’ve all helped us to create. We never expected to gain family, but here we are. And we’ll stand behind every drop of beer we made,” they said.

After Roosevelt, a former molecular biologist, and Crawford, a former chemical engineer, opened The Alementary in 2016, the business became known for its original craft beers and award-winning lagers.

“The Moral of the Story – No business lasts forever, and you just gotta be okay with that. We’re sad, but it’s not a weepy sad. Continue supporting your local breweries, and not just the hypey ones everybody thinks you have to like. Find unique spaces doing unique things and support them. As for us? We’ll see you on the flip side,” they said.

In the interim, The Alementary’s taproom will remain open during its usual hours. The brewery is also offering a “Pay The Lawyers” special that includes $5 pints, $3 shorts, $25 lager and $10 bottles.

Last calls

The announcement comes a few weeks after Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law changes to ease controversial food and event restrictions that the state’s craft brewing and distilling industry railed against.

At the time, the Alementary’s owners described the move as “a wonderful day in NJ beer,” now patrons can “come in, have a pint without a tour and without having to hear us complain about myriad other senseless restrictions.”

The Alementary is the second popular brewery this month to issue a last call.

Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing in Cherry Hill said it would shut down by the end of February after being unable to renegotiate an extension for its current lease.

That announcement followed a December 2023 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Flying Fish — one of the oldest and largest craft breweries in New Jersey.

In April 2023, Cape May Brewing Co. said it planned to acquire the assets of Flying Fish for an undisclosed amount. The two said the move would boost production and warehouse space, as well as expand product lines. However, the merger fell apart last summer “after extensive analysis during the diligence phase,” the target said in its Chapter 11 petition.

Flying Fish, which is owned by Scranton-headquartered private equity firm Elk Lake Capital, reported $1.3 million in assets against $9.3 million in liabilities. It also noted a steep drop in revenue, from $4 million in 2022 to $3.1 million in 2023.