Anheuser‑Busch to close 50-year-old California brewery

Posted on 19 Feb 2026 by James Devonshire

Anheuser‑Busch is set to permanently close its nearly 50-year-old brewery in Fairfield, California, later this month as part of a broader restructuring of its U.S. manufacturing network.

The facility, which opened in 1976, will cease operations in early 2026 and is expected to result in the loss of about 238 local jobs, although the company has said affected workers will be offered positions at other U.S. plants where possible.

The Fairfield brewery is one of three U.S. facilities the brewer plans to shut or sell as it modernises its production footprint and shifts output to other sites.

In a statement, the company said the changes follow a review of its operations aimed at strengthening investment in remaining plants and core brands.

Local officials warned the closure could have a significant economic impact on the city, which relies on the site for employment, tax revenue and utility income.

The move reflects broader pressures in the U.S. beer market, where declining consumption and rising production costs are forcing consolidation across the sector.

Production from the Fairfield facility will be transferred to other breweries in the company’s network, leaving the Los Angeles plant as its remaining brewing site in California.

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