Hudson's Hop Tree Brewing the latest casualty in string of local craft brewery closures

Hudson's Hop Tree Brewing has closed, the Akron Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau (ASCVB) said on Facebook Tuesday.

Hop Tree also has handwritten "CLOSED" signs on its front doors at 1297 Hudson Gate Drive and is marked by Google as "permanently closed." The account for the business's website, hoptreebrewing.com, has expired, according to a message from Squarespace at that URL.

Company representatives could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

Following the closure, ASCVB announced adjustments to the 2024 Summit Brew Path, a program in which people stop at various breweries in Summit County and get a brewery passport stamped.

Greg McClymont and Cory Ross opened Hop Tree in late 2017 with a 10-barrel, stainless steel brewing system and the goal of providing a family friendly atmosphere.

By January 2019 , Hop Tree had two full-time and eight part-time employees. At that time, the brewery was offering sandwich and appetizer specials as it continued to introduce new beers.

McClymont told the Beacon Journal in 2019: “It’s been incredible. We’ve really had a good time and business has been good. All the people we’ve met I think has really made a difference; being able to meet so many people as they explore the local craft beer scene.”

This April, Hop Tree's Facebook page was advertising trivia and live music events.

Business has been tough for many local craft breweries with increasing costs for labor, equipment and ingredients, challenges incorporating distribution and consumers' changing tastes.

In March, R. Shea Brewing closed operations at its two brewpubs in Merriman Valley and downtown Akron. Spider Monkey Brewing Company is moving into the Merriman Valley location, where R. Shea owner Ron Shea first set up shop in 2015.

Two Monks Brewing Company on Massillon Road in Akron closed last year .

And Lock 15 Brewing Company in Akron announced its acquisition by The Brew Kettle in February. That deal will allow Lock 15 to increase its profit margin and control costs as it expands, head brewer Joe Karpinski, who co-founded the business in 2018, told the Beacon Journal.

Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson's Hop Tree Brewing the latest casualty in string of local craft brewery closures