Sycamore Brewing sold, reopening in Charlotte soon with new name and owner
The former Sycamore Brewing Co., once one of Charlotte’s biggest breweries before last year’s arrest of its co-founder on child rape charges, has been sold and renamed. Club West Brewing will open Saturday in South End, the brewery announced Thursday morning.
Sycamore Brewing owner Sarah Taylor has agreed to sell Club West Brewing to Brad Bergman, who is Club West’s director of brewery operations, the company said in a news release Thursday. Following regulatory approvals, Bergman will assume full ownership and management of Club West Brewing.
Sycamore’s high-profile problems began with the Dec. 11 arrest of Taylor’s estranged husband, former business partner and former Sycamore co-owner Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was arrested on child rape charges. Following backlash, the brewery closed in January.
After the arrest, Taylor removed Brigham from the business she had founded with Brigham, her husband at the time. She also filed for divorce. In January, Sycamore changed the name of its limited liability company to Club West Brewing, NC Secretary of State filings showed, with Taylor listed as the managing member.
Bergman was an operational leader at Sycamore for eight years. Taylor will briefly assist Bergman during the transition before stepping away from the company.
All of Sycamore’s employees will stay on with Club West, Taylor told The Charlotte Observer in an email Thursday.
”After great deal of consideration,” Taylor added, “I came to the conclusion that the best thing for my family and the team was for me to part ways with the company.” She declined further comment about her own plans.
A sales price was not disclosed.
“Brad understands this company inside and out,” Taylor said in Thursday’s announcement. “He earned the respect of the team through hard work and fairness. I believe he is the right person to lead Club West and am confident he will be successful. I am tremendously grateful for the employees who helped build this business and confident they are in good hands moving forward.”
The fall of Sycamore Brewing and rise of Club West
Sycamore was one of Charlotte’s largest and popular breweries before Brigham’s arrest. Taylor and Brigham opened the brewery in 2013.
Last week, a Stanly County grand jury found probable cause that Brigham raped a 13-year-old 40 miles outside of Charlotte. He was charged in December with nine felonies, including statutory rape, first-degree burglary, and assault causing bodily injury.
Following Brigham’s arrest in December, restaurants and retailers immediately dropped the brewer’s products amid widespread community backlash. The brewery was removed from the Charlotte airport after opening there three years ago, and its plans to open “a family-friendly” site in Cotswold Village Shopping Center also evaporated.
Since then, the brewery moved to distance itself from Brigham. That included the name change. A website under the Club West Brewing name first appeared in January indicating that it would open in the spring.
Crisis communication experts previously told The Charlotte Observer for the brewery to survive it needed to take swift action and take accountability while distancing itself from Brigham.
“The horrific nature of the crimes will make it near impossible for the Sycamore brand to survive,” Peter LaMotte, strategic communications president at Charlotte public relations and branding agency Chernoff Newman told the Observer.
About Club West Brewing and expanded beverage options
The Club West name reflects a broader vision inspired by the spirit of the American West, according to the company.
“We want this to be a place where people come together, have a cold beer, share a smile, and enjoy the company around them,” Bergman said in Thursday’s statement.
Club West Brewing will open with an expanded beverage menu of craft beer, draft cocktails, and a new bourbon and tequila bar.
Club West’s core beer lineup includes Club West IPA, Evening Ember Amber, Cold Camp Lager, and a Peach Yuzu Cider, along with a rotating selection of additional beers. The draft cocktails menu includes Club West Spritz, Moscow Mule with prickly pear and sage, Hibiscus Paloma, and Pineapple Cucumber Ranch Water.
On March 21, Club West will introduce a bourbon and tequila bar with specialty cocktails such as Nitro Carajillo Old Fashioned, Tamarind Whiskey Sour, Kentucky Mule and a Cadillac Margarita.
Club West Brewing will be open 11 a.m. to midnight March 14-20 at 2151 Hawkins St. On March 21, regular hours will be 10 a.m. to midnight daily. Saturday brunch also debuts March 21.
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 8:44 AM.
