Elder Brewing in downtown Joliet serves up last beer

A second brewery has closed in downtown Joliet after the closure of MyGrain Brewing Co. in August.

Elder Brewing Co., 218 E. Cass St., announced that it is closing after six years of business in the downtown area of Joliet.

In a statement on Facebook, Melissa and Andrew Polykandriotis, the owners of the brewpub, said they don’t have the resources “to continue down the current path” and have made a decision to focus on their family and careers outside the brewing industry.

In an interview with the Herald-News, Melissa Polykandriotis said the closure was “more of a personal decision.”

“There’s a lot of potential for someone who wants to take the time to do something with [the location], from what we built,” she said.

Melissa Polykandriotis said the location features many amazing bands and artists.

“There was a lot more than just making beer, and we’re really proud of that,” she said.

The brewing industry has been struggling in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Brewers Association website, slowing growth and heightened competition “dealt craft brewers a blow in 2023.”

The association pinned the blame on “slowing demand growth, competition from across beverage alcohol, and a retail environment marked by declining draught sales and reduced shelf space for craft.”

Elder Brewing and MyGrain both opened in 2017. Then, in August, MyGrain announced it was closing its location at Union Station in the downtown area.