On June 11, 2026, Zipline Brewing Company, once the largest craft brewery in the state of Nebraska by production volume, announced the immediate cessation of its brewing operations alongside the closure of its taproom and beer lounge in Lincoln. The sudden shutdown resulted in the termination of approximately 20 employees, who were reportedly locked out of their corporate accounts and dismissed while actively brewing a batch of beer. The company stated it will now focus exclusively on its restaurant business, keeping the Zipline Tap & Grill location in Lincoln open.
Founded in 2012, the brewery gained national recognition for its beers, including multiple medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup for its signature Copper Alt lager. It also produced Dear Old Nebraska Brew, a popular beer sold at Memorial Stadium during local college football games. In 2023, the brewery was acquired by AKRS Equipment Solutions, a major regional agricultural equipment dealership. Following the acquisition, the company closed its original taproom as part of an expansion strategy to increase brewing capacity before reopening it the following year.
In a public statement, the company cited inflation and rising operating costs as the primary reasons for ending brewing operations, adding that the transition toward a restaurant-focused business model had been planned for some time.
However, the sudden closure immediately sparked speculation because it coincided with an internal dispute surrounding a planned political event at the brewery's beer hall. According to local media reports, employees objected to hosting a rally featuring prominent politicians, including Pete Ricketts and Ted Cruz. While the company denied any connection between the closure and any past or future events, former employees said they were completely blindsided by the decision. They also told local media that AKRS Equipment Solutions CEO Kevin Clark and the ownership group had been unsuccessfully attempting to sell the brewery for several months prior to the shutdown.
