Despite a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Brew Hub’s financial backers, it remains open for craft beer lovers, their families, and pets.
The facility at 3900 S. Frontage Road in Lakeland brews, packages, and distributes craft beers for small brewers.
North Carolina-based Live Oak Banking Co. filed a foreclosure lawsuit in Polk County Circuit Court, alleging that Brew Hub has defaulted on two promissory notes totaling $7 million, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Business Journal and confirmed through records at the Clerk of Courts in Bartow.
Brew Hub secured the first loan for $6.33 million in August 2020, shortly before buying its 65,250-square-foot facility for $5 million, the report said.
The second loan, which was for $1.52 million, was secured in October 2021, the report said. Both notes have been in default since October 2024.
CEO Tim Schoen said the lawsuit was a misunderstanding between the investors and the bank and that Brew Hub remained open for business.
“It’s totally being handled,” he said. “It was just some misinformation between the bank and the investors.”
Schoen said the same on Tuesday via email while clarifying there is a dispute behind the scenes.
“I wanted to address a recent issue that has come up between our majority investment group and their bank, which unfortunately led to some miscommunication and a dispute,” Schoen said.
“Without our knowledge or that of our investor, the bank filed a legal motion regarding the building loan,” he said. “However, neither our investor nor we have received any official documentation from the bank yet.
“Please know that our investor is working diligently to resolve the matter as quickly as possible,” Schoen said. “We apologize for any inconvenience or distraction this may have caused. I can assure you that this issue will not impact production.”
The Brew Hub Tasting Room is open Wednesday through Sunday, offering 24 options on draft along with to-go options, which include six-packs and crowlers, single-use aluminum cans that are filled and sealed on demand, the Brew Hub website says. They also serve wine, hard seltzer and cider. Food is provided by a rotating list of food trucks.
“When you come to see us, bring your family and your pets,” the website said.
According to the Journal report, Brew Hub, which can be seen from Interstate 4 in Lakeland, opened in 2014, as the craft beer craze was booming.
“The facility lured some big names in craft beer from the beginning, including Cigar City founder Joey Redner,” the Journal report said. “By 2015, Brew Hub was planning an expansion that would bring its capacity to 100,000 barrels or 1.4 million cases per year.”