When Eureka, California’s Lost Coast Brewery opened in 1990, microbreweries (as we once called them) were a genuine novelty. A microbrewery owned by a woman? Unicorn stuff. A few months ago, Barbara Groom, founder of Lost Coast Brewery, announced her intention to sell the 36-year-old brewery. Who can blame her? She’s 80 now, and she’s earned the right to retire and walk away from the increasingly uphill battle of running a brewery. (Image above from Lost Coast’s Instagram feed.)
My guess is the opportunity to buy Lost Coast didn’t exactly attract hordes of eager buyers. It’s an esteemed brand — a brewery with real notoriety and historic significance — but this is 2026, and I’m not convinced that carries the weight it once did. A bit sad, but I’m just being real.
A brewery like Lost Coast really has two assets worth anything: the physical brewery and equipment, and the intellectual property. (Real estate, if it’s part of the deal, is its own separate matter.) New Mill Capital, an “asset disposition” firm, is handling the sale of the equipment. The intellectual property — the brand and everything that comes with it — is being sold through a private-treaty sale, with offers due by October 14th. Contact info below.
“Lost Coast Brewery has built a widely recognized brand and following, both nationally and internationally. Averaging over 50,000 barrels of distribution per year is not an easy task and speaks to the quality and value of the intellectual property,” said Eric Weiler, Principal of New Mill Capital. “The sale of the equipment will allow prospective buyers to further expand their own operations with quality equipment and zero lead time.”
Brewery Equipment Auction
The October 21st auction will feature late-model brewing production, packaging and support equipment, including:
- Complete High-Speed Can, Bottling and Keg Lines
- Fermenters and Brite Tanks from 75 BBL to 40,000 Gallons
- Graphic Packaging QuickFlex 300 and Robotic Palletizing
- 140 BBL Rolec Brewhouse
- GEA Separator, Filtration and CIP Skids
- Boilers, Chillers and All Brewery Support Equipment
- Parties interested in acquiring Lost Coast Brewery’s equipment assets can view auction and equipment details here.
- Lost Coast Intellectual Property
- Lost Coast Brewery’s intellectual property will be offered through a private-treaty sale, with all offers due October 14th.
Interested parties should contact Aaron Paulucci at aaronp@newmillcapital.com for NDA and additional information regarding the intellectual property opportunity.
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