Big Elm Brewing Closing After 13 Years in Sheffield

Beloved Berkshire County craft brewery to host farewell party before shutting down

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

After over 13 years in business, Big Elm Brewing in Sheffield, Massachusetts is closing its doors. The owners cited a difficult decision, but noted that the brewery had become more than just a business - it had become a community hub where customers shared life's biggest moments. Big Elm will host a final Cabin Fever Party on February 28, 2026 before closing for good by the end of March or whenever the beer runs out.

Why it matters

Big Elm Brewing was a beloved fixture of the Berkshire County craft beer scene, building a loyal community around its taproom over more than a decade in business. Its closure is a reflection of broader challenges facing the craft beer industry, which has seen declining sales and more breweries closing than opening in recent years.

The details

Big Elm Brewing first opened its doors in 2013, with roots tracing back even further to the Pittsfield Brew Works days. In an emotional Instagram post, the owners said the decision to close was "one of the hardest choices we've ever had to make." What made Big Elm special was the community it fostered, with regulars sharing life's biggest moments within its walls - "births and deaths, weddings and divorces, career milestones and setbacks." The owners said this bond transformed the business into something "far more personal" than just a taproom.

  • Big Elm Brewing first opened in 2013.
  • The brewery will host its final Cabin Fever Party on February 28, 2026.
  • Big Elm will remain open through the end of March 2026 or until the beer runs out, whichever comes first.

The players

Big Elm Brewing

A craft brewery that operated in Sheffield, Massachusetts for over 13 years, building a loyal community around its taproom.

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What they’re saying

“The decision to close has not come easily. It has been one of the hardest choices we've ever had to make.”

— Big Elm Brewing, Brewery owners (Instagram)

“You have made this more than a business, you've made it family.”

— Big Elm Brewing, Brewery owners (Instagram)

What’s next

Big Elm Brewing will host its final Cabin Fever Party on February 28, 2026 before closing for good by the end of March 2026 or whenever the beer runs out.

The takeaway

The closure of Big Elm Brewing, a beloved community hub in the Berkshire County craft beer scene, reflects the broader challenges facing the craft beer industry, which has seen declining sales and more breweries closing than opening in recent years. However, the outpouring of emotion from customers shows the deep personal connections that can form around a local brewery.