**Craft Breweries Face Closures Amid Market Challenges** Several craft breweries have recently shut down, highlighting ongoing challenges in the industry. Bayfield Brewing, located in Bayfield, Ontario, closed its doors after six years of operation. The brewpub, situated on Main Street near Lake Huron, ceased operations at the end of September. This closure follows that of River Road Brewing, which is also in the area. Founded in 2017, Bayfield Brewing aimed to capture local pride with beer names inspired by the region, such as Captain Ronny and Navigating Lieutenant. Owner Ron Keys noted, "In 2017, there was keen interest growing for craft beer. We always felt that the best business model was to have a full restaurant to pair with the house-made beer." Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and construction on Main Street, Keys expressed confidence in their business model. He stated, "People continued to find us in droves, but we were ready to pass the baton to new owners and let’s see where they can take the business." The space is expected to be revived under new ownership, potentially as a restaurant or microbrewery. In Toronto, Indie Alehouse, a brewpub that operated for 13 years, also closed after failing to reach a new lease agreement. The establishment, located in the Junction neighborhood, won the Beer of the Year award at the Canadian Brewing Awards in 2017 for its cherry sour, Spadina Monkey. However, Indie Alehouse will continue its operations with a new brewery, Birroteca by Indie Alehouse, located inside Eataly at Bay and Bloor. In Whitby, Brock Street Brewing has permanently closed its downtown location. The brewery announced on social media that it could not overcome "market challenges affecting the business." Some industry observers suggest that the craft beer boom may be waning, with a saturated market leading to a reckoning. However, others argue that high-quality beer and appealing locations will continue to attract customers. In other news, Port Stanley Brewing has partnered with the Italian restaurant Riva and is now hosting Loudburger, a smash burger business that has been conducting pop-ups in St. Thomas, on weekends. As Halloween approaches, several breweries have released pumpkin beers. Notable offerings include Anderson Pumpkin in London, Lake of Bays in Baysville, and Refined Fool in Sarnia, which features Satan’s Pillowcase Pumpkin Ale. Other breweries, such as Great Lakes in Toronto and Oast House in Niagara-on-the-Lake, have also introduced seasonal brews. Additionally, Upper Thames in Woodstock has announced Boar’s Blunder, a Belgian-style IPA, as the 2025 Ultimate Voyageur Society collaboration brew. The craft beer landscape continues to evolve, with both challenges and new opportunities emerging for breweries across the region.