I got a call from John Martin this morning. He’s the co-owner of Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley, along with his brother Reid. It was one of the first brewpubs in the country, and now that others from that time period have either closed permanently or temporarily, it’s the “oldest continuously operating brewpub” in the U.S., which is admittedly quite an achievement. John told me they’ve decided to wind down the business, with an eye toward closing after the Fall semester at Berkeley concludes, which is December 18. So most likely they’re close before Christmas. He told me it’s not really economical and that the brewery itself is doing fine. They’ve certainly weathered worse market down-turns, but it’s more of having too many irons in the fire with other projects and businesses. John is my age, and is starting to think about retiring, so this is more of a first step in that goal.

Since it will be at least three months until they close the doors for the last time, that should give you plenty of time to stop by for a beer and pay your respects to Triple Rock’s place in beer history. They’ve got some fun things planned for beers and possibly collabs with former brewers over those next few months. Should make for a memorable send off. Perhaps I’ll see you there.

Here’s the press release:

BERKELEY, Calif., September 16, 2026: Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse, the oldest continuously operating brewpub in the United States, expects to conclude its run towards the end of 2026, after more than 40 years of brewing beer, serving up burgers, and bringing people together in Downtown Berkeley.

Founded by brothers John and Reid Martin, Triple Rock opened on March 14, 1986, when they were just 25 and 28. Originally established as Roaring Rock Brewery, it was among the first five brewpubs to open in the United States after Prohibition.

From the beginning, Triple Rock helped shape what would become today’s craft beer industry. “In the early days, many times we would have to explain what a ‘brewpub’ actually was,” said John. “The City of Berkeley didn’t understand it and told us that our microbrewery needed to be in an industrial part of town, not in the Downtown business district. “Reid added, “you have to remember that in those days there was very little small-batch beer made in America, it was almost all industrial stuff produced by huge breweries.”

What began as two brothers’ shared passion for brewing, neighborhood taverns, and great beer grew into one of the landmarks of the American craft beer movement. Over four decades, generations of customers have gathered at Triple Rock for rounds of beers, first dates, college reunions, Cal game celebrations, after-work pints, late-night burgers, and countless afternoons that, for many, have become lifelong memories. Triple Rock brewed 5,884 batches – equal to more than 41,000 total barrels and over 10 million pints.

The decision to close comes as the brothers begin looking toward retirement. “After 40 years, we are ready to spend less time navigating the day-to-day and more time exploring some of the other things we have put off along the way,” said co-founder John Martin.

Triple Rock expects to remain open through the end of the Cal fall semester. The Martins, who own the building, say that the Downtown Berkeley property will likely be offered for sale or lease. Triple Rock’s influence extends far beyond the beer served in Berkeley. Many brewers who developed their craft at “The Rock” went on to establish or lead respected breweries across the country, among them Shaun O’Sullivan (21st Amendment Brewery), Rodger Davis (Faction Brewing), Christian Kazakoff (Canyon Club), and Teri Fahrendorf (Steelhead Brewing Brewmaster and founder of the Pink Boots Society). As Fahrendorf has often said, “I believe that in American craft brewing, there are only about six degrees of separation between almost any craft brewer and the legacy of Triple Rock.”

Present Brewmaster Jeff Kimpe, formerly of Pyramid Ales and Drake’s Brewing, has been stirring the mash and creating a cutting-edge beer lineup for over 12 years. “Jeff’s contribution in the brewery cannot be understated,” said Reid. “His creativity, and his ability to build on Triple Rock’s traditions, has always made for a unique and delicious beer board.”

The Martins are equally proud of the hundreds of bartenders, cooks, servers, managers, and support staff who helped make Triple Rock what it became. “Triple Rock was never just the two of us,” John Martin said. “It was built by generations of incredible employees who gave so much of themselves to this place, and it was supported by our community that kept showing up year after year. We are enormously proud of the people who worked here and deeply grateful for everything they contributed.”

For now, Triple Rock is open and operating as usual, with fresh beer flowing from the taps and burgers and pub favorites coming out of the kitchen. Rather than treating the coming months as a prolonged goodbye, John and Reid hope customers will see this time as an opportunity for reunion. “We would love to see the community stop in to enjoy a few pints with friends, tell stories, and take in the old-school atmosphere while it remains,” said John. “Oh man, there are too many Triple Rock memories for just one final visit,” added Reid.

The infamous Thursday Monkey Head Nights will continue, along with special throwback celebrations featuring 1980s pricing, the return of favorite seasonal and specialty beers from Triple Rock’s brewing archives, and other events celebrating the brewery’s long Berkeley history. Current and former customers, employees, and friends are also invited to contribute a story, memory, or photograph to the Triple Rock Memory Wall at: https://www.triplerock.com/memory-wall.