• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Defunct Michigan Brewing Co. founder files for personal bankruptcy

March 12, 2013Keith Gribbins

Michigan Brewing Co. did some real cool things with craft beer, but its story should be a cautionary tale in our current craft beer boom.  From 1996 to 2012, Michigan Brewing Co. produced some excellent beers and made some interesting investments. The company bought the famous Texas Celis Brewing Co. brand in 2002, and Celis Brand Cru and Celis White just cleanup at the Great American Beer Festival (from bronze to golds). The company was contracted to brew Detroit singer Kid Rock’s American Bad Ass Beer, garnering a big following around the Wolverine State and beyond.

bankruptcy Unfortunately, an alleged mix of bad accounting, financing and creditor and shareholder relations led the Michigan Brewing Co. into bankruptcy. On April 24, 2012, the company was evicted from its Webberville headquarters. In the last week of January, 2013, Mason took the Webberville company into bankruptcy, seven months after one of 300-plus creditors forced the auction of Michigan Brewing Co.’s equipment along with the excellent brands that the company had developed.

When Mason’s lawyer filed for the Chapter 7 liquidation in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Michigan Brewing claimed more than $11 million in liabilities against assets of $51,521, including $21 in a checking account at PNC Bank, according to an article on the Lansing State Journal. According to a more recent article on LSJ.com, Mason is now filing for personal bankruptcy. We quote the article:

Embattled microbrewer Bobby Mason, founder of the defunct Michigan Brewing Co., of Webberville, has filed for Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy, listing assets of $3,236 and liabilities of more than $8.2 million.

In his personal bankruptcy petition, Mason listed 370 creditors. Of those, 20 were government entities seeking more than $865,000 in tax debts — withholding, income, sales, use, unemployment insurance, federal brewer’s bond and beer manufacturer’s. He also listed his parents, Robert and Brenda Mason and their Mason Family Enterprise, saying he owed them $3 million.

Mason said he had $36.71 in a checking account and $200 in a PayPal account, but owned no real estate, household goods, furniture or jewelry. He placed a $300 value on his clothes and said he owned three pistols and a shotgun. He valued the four weapons at $1,700. He also said he was in possession of 10 empty beer kegs worth $100 each. He listed an unspecified interest in a $3 million life insurance policy that has no cash value. He said he had potential personal liability for a $1.4 million U.S. Small Business Administration loan that went to the Michigan Brewing Co.

Great brewers don’t necessarily make great business men. It’s a curse of many entrepreneurs. We hope to tackle some of these important accounting, capital investment and aggressive growth  issues in the near future.

copper kettle celis brewery
Texas brewing revival: Celis Brewery rises from its grave with original brewing team
El Cajon growler and beer
El Cajon Brewing officially closed, brewery is for sale
grab some beers at El Cajon
El Cajon Brewing struggling with bankruptcy (show some support by grabbing a beer there)
LoneTreeBrewing10.3.2022-16
Lone Tree Brewing is a brewery that gives back

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Shot and a beer: Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and Stone Brewing announce partnership
  • Lone Tree Brewing is a brewery that gives back
  • Local Time Brewing is set to open in Holly Springs, NC, in 2023
  • Olde Mecklenburg Brewery has a newe look

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • madtree-HangerCheers to 10 Years: MadTree Brewing keeps growing and giving a f#ck
    February 7, 2023
  • Michigan’s Short’s Brewing down 10% overall vs. 2021, but its Local’s Light lager is up 10%+
    February 6, 2023
  • Arizona Wilderness BrewingCheers to 10 Years: We should all strive to be Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
    February 2, 2023
  • Watch famed gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman discuss his Flying Dog beer labels
    February 2, 2023
  • Michigan’s Dog Star Hops wins Chinook Cup for second year in a row
    February 1, 2023
  • fort point both-ciders-3Fort Point Beer debuts cider line, explains why ciders instead of seltzers
    January 31, 2023

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC