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The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has agreed to accept a $423,681.93 settlement from the former operators of 21st Amendment Brewery, resolving more than $1.2 million in alleged unpaid federal excise taxes tied to the legacy craft brewer’s now-shuttered California production facility.
According to records from the TTB, as reported by Brewbound, the agency alleged that 21st Amendment failed to timely file and pay federal excise taxes between Jan. 18, 2018, and Nov. 30, 2025. The agency originally claimed the brewery owed $1,217,201.38.
Instead, the TTB accepted an Offer in Compromise for $423,681.93, which the agency said will be paid in full.
The settlement is tied to 21st Amendment’s former 120,000-square-foot brewery in San Leandro, California. The facility was converted into a contract brewing operation in 2023 and had an annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 barrels.
The agreement comes after a turbulent period for the once-prominent craft brewery. 21st Amendment announced it would cease operations in September, and Philadelphia-based Evil Genius Beer Company acquired the brand’s intellectual property and trademark rights in April 2026. The acquisition did not include the San Leandro brewery or other production assets.
At the time of its closure, the brewery was part of Medalist Beverage, a platform backed by Fortress Investment Group that sought to scale established beer brands through shared production and distribution resources.
In promotional materials published before its closure, Medalist described 21st Amendment as the cornerstone of its brewing platform, highlighting the San Leandro brewery as its flagship production facility, according to Brewbound. The company said Fortress’ backing would support investments in brewing infrastructure, distribution and marketing.
Medalist Beverage’s website has since gone offline.
The TTB’s acceptance of the reduced payment resolves the agency’s claim through its Offer in Compromise program, which allows certain tax liabilities to be settled for less than the full amount owed under qualifying circumstances.
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