The end of an era: Amid financial struggle, Bull Falls Brewery to close in Wausau

More than a decade after Wausau taxpayers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to support its development, a popular brewery will officially close its doors this month.

Bull Falls Brewery, 901 E. Thomas St., was founded in 2007 and is well-known for its award winning brews as well as its community events and festivals that attracted thousands of participants.

There have been signs that the brewery has struggled financially for years, and the impact on taxpayers is yet to be seen. Bull Falls represents a standalone tax increment district and owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to the city, struggling with loan payments even after the brewery’s monthly obligation was sharply adjusted.

In April 2023, the Brewery was up for sale, with many pieces of equipment appearing on an auction site. And Marathon County Court records show an open foreclosure filed in December against Bull Falls Brewery, LLC.

In 2012, Wausau entered into a developer agreement with Bull Falls Brewery, LLC, offering financial assistance of $600,000, of which $400,000 was a loan to be repaid over 10 years with a two-year deferral and interest at 2.36%. Bull Falls purchased and razed additional abutting properties as part of their construction plan, while Wausau vacated a street, relocated a sanitary manhole and upgraded 30 feet of water main at taxpayer expense.

That deal was secured during under former Mayor Jim Tipple’s administration.

When Bull Falls encountered financial difficulties and fell behind on its obligation to Wausau, the City Council in 2017 authorized modified loan terms for a new, 15-year amortization that slashed monthly payments from about $4,700 to about $2,200. But the brewery continued to struggle with loan payments, according to city documents, and the challenges of the COVID pandemic further exacerbated the company’s financial woes. That prompted city officials to authorize loan deferrals through June 2021, after which payments resumed.

According to the 2023 budget, Bull Falls’ outstanding balance on the loan was about $256,000 at the end of the year. As of May 1, the brewery was $15,170.68 behind on loan payments, according to City Attorney Anne Jacobson. Payoff of the outstanding balance as of May 1 was $281,461.71.

In June 2023, the City Council approved the auction sale of Bull Falls Brewery’s assets with the condition that proceeds must first go toward paying the debt owed to the city. Wausau Pilot has reached out to city officials for an update on the amount still due.

In an earlier press release posted on social media, co-owner Michael Zamzow hinted at complications with distribution plans. The brewery was built with enough capacity to distribute beyond the immediate area to other areas. That did not happen, he said.

This week, the brewery announced the business will end operations on Sept. 16.

“The 2024 Bull Falls Oktoberfest beer will be the last beer we release at Bull Falls Brewery,” the post reads. “Hope you can make it down and enjoy some next weekend.”