Sycamore Brewing has changed the name of its limited liability company, a state business registration filing shows.
The new name is Club West Brewing, according to the Department of the Secretary of State filing on Thursday. Brewery co-founder Sarah Louise Taylor is listed as the managing member.
Taylor’s husband and former Sycamore co-owner, Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was charged Dec. 11 with statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary and indecent liberties with a child.
Following his arrest, Taylor announced Brigham was removed from the business and she initiated divorce proceedings.
On Monday, Sycamore taproom in South End closed indefinitely to “allow space for processing, healing and beginning the work of reimagining this community space,” Taylor had announced in a late December letter to the community.
Company officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday about the LLC name change.
Sycamore Brewing, one of Charlotte largest and popular breweries, experienced immediate widespread fallout from Brigham’s arrest was restaurants and retailers dropping products.
Sycamore Brewing at 2151 Hawkins St. has a new limited liability name, state business filings show. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Crisis communication experts like Barry Finkelstein previously told The Charlotte Observer he believes it’s possible for the company to survive with swift action and accountability.
“They’re simply distancing themselves from it as the act of an individual, and reminding folks why they love Sycamore, or why they did business with Sycamore in the first place,” said Finkelstein, the principal of Truth Advisors communications consultant agency in Charlotte.
Sycamore opened in 2013, and its beer had been sold in seven states. In 2023, Sycamore closed its original location at 2161 Hawkins St., and moved to a 21,000-square-foot space at 2151 Hawkins St.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 3:55 PM.
Catherine Muccigrosso is the retail business reporter for The Charlotte Observer. An award-winning journalist, she has worked for multiple newspapers and McClatchy for more than a decade.
Sycamore Brewing’s planned expansion at Cotswold Village Shopping Center is no longer happening and the space is back on the market in the wake of rape and assault charges against the brewery’s co-founder.
Last spring, Sycamore had announced the new location, saying via Instagram that it would be designed with “more of a family-friendly atmosphere with kid’s menu and table service, plus this location will include a giant beer garden with games, TVs, and a play spot.”
The March post continued: “Everyone will enjoy the expanded food menu, brunch options, live music and community events. The taproom will be 7,000 square feet and the beer garden over 10,000 square feet!”
The change in plans was first reported by Charlotte Business Journal.
Thrift Real Estate is now advertising a freestanding building at 262-282 S Sharon Amity Road prime for a “restaurant opportunity,” marketing materials say. It offers 6,000 square feet plus a 1,200-square-foot patio space.
A message left for Charles Thrift of Thrift Commercial Real Estate was not immediately returned Monday afternoon.
A call placed to Asana Partners, which owns Cotswold Village, was also not immediately returned.
Sycamore Taproom closed indefinitely Monday to “allow space for processing, healing and beginning the work of reimagining this community space.“ Owner and co-founder Sarah Taylor had announced the plans in a late December letter to the community.
A planned expansion for Sycamore Brewery has been quashed. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Sycamore setbacks
The collapse in plans was the latest setback in the aftermath of rape and assault charges filed against the brewery’s co-founder,
Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was charged Dec. 11 with statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary and indecent liberties with a child.
Additional charges included felony assault related to inflicting serious bodily injury over allegations that Brigham assaulted a man Dec. 10 by grabbing and twisting his genitals, causing extreme pain.
Since the arrest, Taylor has announced that she’s initiated divorce proceedings and removed Brigham from the business.
Restaurants and retailers have pulled Sycamore products off the shelf, and the Sycamore taproom at Charlotte Douglas International Airport has been closed.
Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits. Support my work with a digital subscription
Sycamore Taproom will temporarily close Jan. 5 to “allow space for processing, healing and beginning the work of reimagining this community space,“ owner Sarah Taylor said in a letter to the Charlotte community posted late Tuesday.
Taylor’s husband and former Sycamore co-owner, Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was charged Dec. 11 with statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary and indecent liberties with a child.
Additional charges included felony assault related to inflicting serious bodily injury over allegations that Brigham assaulted a man Dec. 10 by grabbing and twisting his genitals, causing extreme pain.
“The serious allegations against my former partner have left me devastated, and my thoughts and heart remain with the victim and her family. I cannot begin to imagine the depth of their pain, and my deepest hope is that the legal process brings them the justice, care, and protection they deserve,” the letter said, adding that Taylor has begun divorce proceedings after removing Brigham from any stake in the business.
“I know these events have shaken trust deeply, stirring anger, sadness and disbelief across our community. I am feeling those emotions profoundly, too,” the letter said. “I am also committed to building a new future for Sycamore — one that honors the extraordinary people who make this brewery what it is: our talented brewers, taproom team, and every individual who pours heart into every pint.”
Since Brigham’s arrest, Sycamore products have been pulled off the shelves at many Charlotte-area stores, and its taproom at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was quickly dropped.
Plans outlined in the letter also call for partnering with organizations dedicated to child safety and protection, along with continuing the brewery’s previous philanthropic work.
Sycamore Brewing at 2151 Hawkins St. in Charlotte, NC. Sycamore Brewing’s co-founder Justin Brigham was arrested on December 11, 2025 on charges of statutory rape, indecent liberties with a child and first-degree burglary involving a 13-year-old girl in Stanfield, NC. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM.
Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits. Support my work with a digital subscription
While many establishments have removed Sycamore Brewing’s beer from their taps in the wake of charges against the former owner, others are taking a different approach.
The brewery’s co-founder and former co-owner, Justin Brigham, was arrested on multiple felony charges last week, including statutory rape and burglary in a case involving a 13-year-old girl, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Many bars and restaurants have scrapped the beer, but a handful are continuing to serve them, but instead of pocketing the profits, these venues are donating proceeds to local charities.
Here’s what you need to know.
Sycamore proceeds going to charity
A few North Carolina businesses in Charlotte, the Triangle and the coast are donating the proceeds from their remaining inventory to charity, with one bar continuing to work with Sycamore:
East Frank Superette and Kitchen: The Monroe restaurant is selling remaining stock at a “pay-what-you-can” price, with 100% of proceeds going to a local organization supporting abuse victims, according to a recent Facebook post.
Goodfellows: The Chapel Hill bar is continuing to work with Sycamore, donating a portion of future beer sales to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. “Instead of dumping the beer and penalizing the innocent, hard-working people who rely on the brewery for their livelihoods, we’re going to continue to work with Sycamore going forward,” the bar wrote on social media.
Freya’s Haus: The Wilmington restaurant is donating all profits from their remaining Sycamore inventory to their local rape crisis center to support community survivors, the Observer reported.
Hoppin’: The Rock Hill taproom is donating all proceeds to SafePassage, supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault, according to a recent Instagram post.
Illumination Wines: The Fort Mill wine bar is letting customers pay what they want for Sycamore beer, with all the proceeds going to Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor (SACRED), a community effort to support sexually abused children and ensure they receive the help they deserve, the bar posted to Instagram.
Piedmont Social House and Harry’s Grille & Tavern: All of the proceeds from Sycamore beer sales will be donated to Safe Alliance, and Piedmont Social House will match the total donation to further support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
NC grocery stores pull Sycamore beer
At least three grocery store chains with locations throughout North Carolina have pulled Sycamore products, the Observer reported.
Food Lion decided to remove Sycamore products and is discontinuing all future orders. The Salisbury-based grocer has over 1,100 grocery stores in 10 Southeastern states, including more than 100 in the Charlotte region and more than 60 throughout the Triangle.
Lowes Foods also removed Sycamore’s craft beer cans from its grocery store shelves, the Winston-Salem based grocer confirmed last week. Lowes Foods has more than 80 stores in the Carolinas, including 10 in the Charlotte region and roughly 20 in the Triangle.
Publix also is pulling Sycamore products from its shelves, spokesman Jared Glover confirmed. The chain has nearly 30 stores in the Charlotte area and about 10 in the Triangle.
The Charlotte Observer’s Kitty Muccigrosso and Chase Jordan contributed to this story.
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Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
The Charlotte brewery owner charged in the rape of a 13-year-old Stanly County girl met his victim online and knew she was underage, Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco said Friday.
Crisco said more charges are possible in the case against Sycamore Brewing co-owner Justin Tawse Brigham, 44.
Brigham was charged Thursday with three felonies, including statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary, and indecent liberties with a child.
He was in the Stanly County jail on $10 million bond.
Brigham met his victim online for the first time two weeks ago, Crisco said at a news conference.
Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco addresses reporters on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, regarding the arrest of a Charlotte brewery owner on a rape charge involving a 13-year-old girl. Screenshot of news conference
“It’s our understanding that it’s a social media platform that’s common,” the sheriff said without naming the platform.
Brigham, who is listed as the brewery’s co-owner in state business records, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, according to an arrest warrant.
The warrant said Brigham was accused of breaking into a Stanfield house and raping the girl while others were home. Stanfield is 27 miles east of Charlotte.
“This should speak volumes,” the sheriff said about Brigham being accused of first meeting the victim online. “This should be a huge eye-opening experience. Parents need to pay attention to their kids.”
“You never expect it to happen to rural Stanly County,” Crisco said. “You don’t expect it. I hate to say it’s more common in bigger cities but it is, just because of volumes of people.”
In setting Brigham’s bond, Judge Tou Thai Vang ordered Brigham to surrender his passport, stay in the state, avoid contacting the victim and remain off all social media platforms, court records showed.
Judge: High bond intended ‘to protect the community’
The judge said Brigham “does not have a significant criminal history, traffic offenses and a shoplifting charge that the D.A. dismissed without leave,” according to court documents.
“However, the court finds that the facts alleged are so egregious, that the defendant went to the victim’s home in the middle of the night, and the age of the victim, the court is setting this bond to protect the community.”
Brigham’s next appearance in Stanly County Criminal District Court is scheduled for 9 a.m., Dec. 29, court records show.
Sarah Taylor, Brigham’s wife and the other owner of Sycamore Brewing, said in a statement Thursday that Brigham divested all interest in the company and will not have future involvement. Taylor said she assumed full leadership of the company.
“I am devastated by the charges against Justin and the pain this has inflicted on our family and others,” Taylor’s statement on social media said. “Our team remains my highest priority as a Mom and business owner.”
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Sycamore Brewing has been a staple of the Charlotte beer scene since opening in 2014. At the same time, it’s been no stranger to controversies and headlines.
Sycamore’s co-owner Justin Tawse Brigham was accused of breaking into a home in Stanly County and raping a 13-year-old girl on Wednesday, according to court records. Brigham, 44, was charged with three felonies, including statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary, and indecent liberties with a child. He has since relinquished his role with the brewery with his wife Sarah Taylor taking full leadership of the company.
Since its opening, Sycamore has garnered headlines for its “naughty” and “risque” beer can labels around the Christmas season. In 2019, a label on Sycamore’s Christmas Cookie Winter Ale that featured reindeer in various sexual positions was flagged by the North Carolina Alcohol Enforcement forcing the company to pull the cans from distribution. The beer label for the following year featured gingerbread people with a bondage theme.
The company expanded in recent years, leaving their original Charlotte location to move into The Line, which runs alongside the LYNX Blue Line tracks in South End. The new taproom opened in 2023.
Here are headlines over the past decade outlining the history of Sycamore Brewing in the Charlotte region.
NO. 1: GET A TASTE OF SYCAMORE BREWING’S NEW CANNERY — AND ITS TAPROOM RENOVATION PLANS.
While many of the breweries along South End brewery hoppers’ weekend crawl routes offer locally made GoodRoad or Red Clay ciders as their gluten-free alcoholic option, Sycamore Brewing now offers their own line of ciders – Wild Blossom. | Published July 20, 2018 | Read Full Story by Bryan M. Richards
NO. 2: HOW SYCAMORE BREWING HAS EVOLVED IN THREE YEARS ON THE BEER SCENE
I sat down with co-owner of Sycamore Brewing, Sarah Brigham, to discuss Sycamore’s first three years and what’s ahead for the brewery. | Published October 12, 2017 | Read Full Story by CharlotteFive Staff
NO. 3: SYCAMORE BREWING LAUNCHES NEW HARD SELTZER LINE—APTLY NAMED BUBS
Local, craft hard seltzer is all the rage these days and Charlotte breweries have joined the party. | Published October 30, 2019 | Read Full Story by Melissa Oyler
NO. 4: DO RISQUé REINDEER BELONG ON NORTH CAROLINA BEER CAN? HERE’S WHAT STATE REGULATORS SAY
The cans will be relabeled with last year’s “G-Rated can art,” according to the brewery. | Published December 6, 2019 | Read Full Story by Hayley Fowler
NO. 5: CHARLOTTE BREWERY APPEALS DENIAL OF USING NAUGHTY WORD ABOUT 2020 ON CRAFT SELTZER LABEL
The brewery has had other run-ins with the NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission over its drink labels. | Published March 9, 2021 | Read Full Story by Catherine Muccigrosso
NO. 6: RING IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH CHARLOTTE BEERS — INCLUDING ONE NAUGHTY BREWERY
It’s a Christmas delight with these limited-release seasonal beers from Charlotte breweries. | Published November 19, 2021 | Read Full Story by Laurie Larsh
NO. 7: SEXY SNOWFLAKES: CHECK OUT SYCAMORE BREWING’S NAUGHTY CHRISTMAS BEER CANS FOR 2021
“Jingle my bells and stuff my stocking … a special edition of Christmas Cookie Winter Ale!” | Published November 19, 2021 | Read Full Story by Laurie Larsh
NO. 8: TAKE A LOOK AT SYCAMORE BREWING’S NEW CLT AIRPORT LOCATION, OPENING SOON
NO. 9: BEER BRAWL: CLT’S SYCAMORE BREWERY SUES CALIFORNIA CRAFT BEER GIANT IN TRADEMARK FIGHT
In a new federal lawsuit, Charlotte’s Sycamore Brewing Co. accuses a larger California competitor of stealing its trademarked slogan “Keep It Juicy.” | Published April 15, 2022 | Read Full Story by Michael Gordon
NO. 10: RISQUé BUSINESS: SYCAMORE BREWING’S NEW CHRISTMAS ALE CANS SHOW NAUGHTY SIGHTS AGAIN
The South End brewer has caught flak for designs of its holiday ales in previous years. Now it’s elves with risque toys and sweaters | Published November 21, 2022 | Read Full Story by Catherine Muccigrosso
NO. 11: SEE INSIDE: THE NEW SYCAMORE BREWING LOCATION IN CHARLOTTE AT THE LINE
Look forward to coffee shop cookies and craft beer floats with soft serve in a ground-level beer garden or second-floor patio space. | Published March 28, 2023 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley
The co-owner of Sycamore Brewing was arrested in Stanly County Thursday and accused of breaking into a home and raping a 13-year-old girl, according to court records.
NO. 12: SYCAMORE BREWING CO-OWNER ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO STANLY COUNTY HOME, RAPING GIRL
The co-owner of Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte was accused of breaking into a home in Stanly County and raping a 13-year-old girl on Wednesday, according to court records. | Published December 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jeff A. Chamer
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
The co-owner of Sycamore Brewing was arrested in Stanly County Thursday and accused of breaking into a home and raping a 13-year-old girl, according to court records.
JEFF A. CHAMER
jchamer@charlotteobserver.com
The co-owner of Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte was accused of breaking into a home in Stanly County and raping a 13-year-old girl on Wednesday, according to court records.
Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was charged with three felonies, including statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary, and indecent liberties with a child.
Brigham, who is listed as the brewery’s co-owner in state business records, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, according to an arrest warrant.
The warrant said Brigham was accused of breaking into a Stanfield house and raping the girl while others were home.
Judge Tou Thai Vang ordered that Brigham surrender his passport, banned him from leaving the state, ordered him not to have contact with the victim, and ordered him to not be on any social media platform, court records said.
Jeff A. Chamer is a breaking news reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He’s lived a few places, but mainly in Michigan where he grew up. Before joining the Observer, Jeff covered K-12 and higher education at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in Massachusetts.
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