Lock 27 Brewing, LLC has filed for Chapter 11 protection. The business has operated as an independent craft brewery and brewpub in Ohio for around 14 years.
The filing places the company among other craft breweries that have turned to Chapter 11 to restructure their finances. Currently, its case filings demonstrate that the creditors have made unsecured claims of more than $2 million.
Lock 27 Brewing, LLC Enters Bankruptcy
The company filed its Chapter 11 petition on April 22, 2026. Company president Charles S. Barnhart, also known as Steve Barnhart, signed the petition before it was filed.
After qualifying as a small business debtor, Lock 27 Brewing, LLC has decided to move forward with Subchapter V of Chapter 11. With this, the process is expected to be completed more quickly and at a lower cost, according to RK Consultants.
Attorney Denis E. Blasius of Thomsen Law Group, LLC, represents the company in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
Company Faces Over $2 Million in Unsecured Claims
According to RK Consultants, the debtor submitted a list of creditors with the 20 largest unsecured claims who are not insiders. Total claims exceed $2 million, with Delco Lofts, LLC being the largest creditor.
Court filings, however, indicate that funds will be available for distribution to the unsecured creditors.
More Highlights from the Petition
Lock 27 Brewing, LLC reports a significant gap between its assets and liabilities, as per the latest case filings. While its assets are between $0 and $50,000, its liabilities are between $1 million and $10 million.
Case filings, also available on PACER, state that the debtor has made numerous other filings, including a corporate ownership statement and a resolution of the debtor’s board of directors. A disclosure of the attorney’s compensation was also filed.
A summarized version of the Chapter 11 petition is here:
- Filing Date: April 22, 2026
- Court and Jurisdiction: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- Type of Filing: Active, Voluntary Petition, Subchapter V
- Chapter: 11
- Case Number: 3:26-bk-30874
- Estimated Assets: Between $0 and $50,000
- Estimated Liabilities: Between $1,000,001 and $10 million
- Estimated Creditors: Between 1 and 49
- Reason for Filing: Restructure business under court supervision
About Lock 27 Brewing, LLC
Founded in 2012, the Ohio-based establishment has been producing a wide range of beers through traditional styles and brewing methods. According to its official website, it also runs a taproom and restaurant, serving food and beverages through various events.
Lock 27 Brewing, LLC won its first Great American Beer Festival Award back in 2019.
Previous Filings by Craft Brewery and Brewpub Businesses
2026 has marked a difficult period for the craft brewery industry. Several regional breweries have recently filed for bankruptcy.
Denton County Brewing Company decided to proceed with a Chapter 11 process on April 3, 2026. The Denton, Texas-based independent craft brewing company filed for Chapter 11 due to a significant imbalance between assets and liabilities. As of now, the company offers 25-plus taps of original craft beer.
Florida-based Palm Folly sought Chapter 7 protection to liquidate its assets amid debt claims exceeding $1.2 million. The debtor is popular for its upscale taproom and handcrafted hard seltzers. On March 1, 2026, the filing showed an 18% decline in gross revenue (over the 2024-2025 period).
Lock 27 Brewing, LLC has not shared any information about its filing on its website or social media. However, the debtor is expected to change its financial footing under court supervision.
