Thirsty Planet and SoCo Homebrew Closed

Unconfirmed reports say that the building occupied by Thirsty Planet Brewing and SoCo Homebrew has been sold and the tenants locked out of the building. Thirsty Planet just recently opened its long-awaited taproom.

In a flurry of social media posts this week, the owners of SoCo Homebrew asked local breweries if they could rent any extra space they may have as they were given 4 hours to vacate the building they occupied on South Congress along with Thirsty Planet. The tenants were notified last week that the building was being sold, and according to unconfirmed reports, the main tenant (Thirsty Planet) was in arrears on rent, causing the current owners to change the locks on the building. Several businesses have been impacted by the sudden change of events as Thirsty Planet was also manufacturing products for Meridian Hive and Argus Cidery and was a distribution hub for Richard’s Rainwater and Weird Tea.

UPDATE 8/11: We’ve been notified through an anonymous source that anyone with property inside the building, other than Thirsty Planet, will be able to remove their items from the building, which includes the aforementioned brands. However, they will all still need to find new space, so anticipate some distribution disruption.

It appears that SoCo Homebrew was able to recover some of its inventory by frantically moving products out as fast as possible during the four-hour window; however, it is unlikely that Thirsty Planet was able to move much of anything in such a short time.

We will update this story as more facts come to light and the information can be confirmed.

UPDATE 8/13:  Official Statement from Meridian Hive CEO Cayce Rivers

Dear Valued Customers, Partners, and Community,

I am writing to address a current challenge that has unexpectedly impacted our operations at Meridian Hive. Our mission has always been to craft the finest beverages for you to enjoy, and it is with a heavy heart that I share the situation we find ourselves in.

As you may know, we have been collaborating with Thirsty Planet Brewing for contract manufacturing and packaging since early 2022. This partnership has allowed us to bring our products to market and connect with all of you who appreciate the quality and care we put into every can and keg.

However, on Monday, an unforeseen development occurred that has temporarily disrupted our production. The relationship between Thirsty Planet Brewing and their landlord has encountered difficulties, leading to the unexpected change in access to the production facility. This turn of events has regrettably left us unable to continue our scheduled production, despite having products ready for packaging and thousands of gallons of alcohol awaiting processing.

I want to assure you that we are fully committed to resolving this situation and finding a way to bring our products back to you. I have personally been engaged in discussions with both parties involved, striving to mediate and seek a resolution that would allow us to resume production without further delay.

While negotiations have faced challenges and progress has been slower than we had hoped, I want to convey our unwavering dedication to overcoming this hurdle. Our team is actively exploring alternative options to mitigate any disruption to our production schedule and ensure that our beverages reach you in a timely manner.

During this uncertain period, your support means more to us than ever. We deeply value the trust you place in Meridian Hive, and we are working tirelessly to restore your access to the beverages you love. We will keep you informed as we make progress and navigate through this complex situation.

Your understanding, patience, and continued support are deeply appreciated.

Thank you for being a part of the Meridian Hive community.

Warm regards,

Cayce Rivers

CEO, Meridian Hive