Smartmouth Brewing closing original Norfolk location

Smartmouth Brewing Co. is closing its Norfolk location after 13 years.

The company announced the closure of its original brewery at 1309 Raleigh Ave. on Friday afternoon. An exact closing date is not yet set, according to a news release, though it is planned for late December.

The Norfolk location, in the Chelsea area of the city, opened in 2012 and was designed to support distribution, according to the company. Distribution opportunities have shifted and scaled back, and that contributed to the decision to close the facility.

Smartmouth Pilot House will remain open, serving as the “heart of operations,” the company said.

The Virginia Beach location at 313 32nd St. opened in late 2017 and is home to a small-batch brewing system, private event space and tasting room.

In 2019, Smartmouth gained international attention for its Saturday Morning Marshmallow IPA.

The closure of the original location “will sharpen our focus on the Virginia Beach location,” president and co-founder Porter Hardy said in the release. “Our commitment to great beer, great people, and our local roots hasn’t changed — it’s only getting stronger.”

Macy Friend, mfriend@dailypress.com

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/10/10/smartmouth-brewing-closing-norfolk/