Midtown brewpub Torched Hop Brewing Co. will close on Dec. 31, according to an announcement on the brewery’s Instagram account.
Co-owner Chris Bivins told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the decision to close was financial. He said sales never returned to pre-COVID levels, and estimated Torched Hop now makes about half of what it did before the pandemic.
“It’s been a long four years,” Bivins said.
A fixture at 249 Ponce de Leon Avenue since 2016, Torched Hop was founded by brothers Chris and Stephen Bivins after they realized desk jobs weren’t right for them soon after graduating from Auburn University.
The Alpharetta natives turned the 9,000-square-foot former Old Spaghetti Factory space into a brewery-restaurant with a game room featuring an indoor bocce ball court and a menu of sandwiches, wings and salads.
Head brewer Chris Bivins, a self-proclaimed “hop head,” produces a variety of rotating brews on tap, including the flagship West Coast-style IPA Hops De Leon. Beverage offerings also include a range of local and regional beers, cocktails and wine.
Bivins said he was moved to see the outpouring of support and happy memories from patrons.
“It was very touching to see that we were actually held in pretty high regard,” he said.
Torched Hop Brewing has endured plenty of Ponce de Leon Avenue’s oddities over the years, most notably a sinkhole that opened in front of the pub and nearly swallowed a large SUV. The brewpub is situated across from Mary Mac’s, which temporarily closed earlier this year after its roof collapsed during a heavy downpour, and down the street from the Midtown Krispy Kreme that burned down twice.
Georgia breweries have struggled of late with a record number of closures in 2023. Brewery closures in 2024 include Steady Hand Beer Co. in west Midtown, Elsewhere Brewing’s Grant Park and Westside Paper locations, Eventide Brewing in Grant Park, Kettlerock Brewing in Peachtree Corners, Iron Hill Brewery in Buckhead and Schoolhouse Brewing’s Emory Point location.
This article has been updated to include comments from Torched Hop Brewing.
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