Costco is quietly pulling the plug on its popular private-label craft beer lineup. The wholesale giant is discontinuing two acclaimed beers brewed under its signature Kirkland brand. This sudden shift marks the end of a highly successful two-year retail partnership.
The decision will permanently halt sales of both the Kirkland Signature Helles Lager and the Kirkland Signature Vintage Ale. Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery had been crafting the specialty beverages exclusively for the retail giant. Deschutes chief executive officer Peter Skrbek recently notified distributors of the scale-back in an early July memo.
Costco Shoppers Have Just Weeks Left To Buy These Popular Kirkland Beers https://t.co/2xiPYRdXiS
— Delish (@Delish) July 7, 2026
Production is scheduled to wind down rapidly as soon as this month. Shoppers can expect the beloved cases to completely vanish from warehouse shelves by September or October. Costco locations will continue to sell through their remaining brewed inventory until supplies are exhausted.
Neither company has provided an official explanation for ending the lucrative licensing deal. These two joint-venture craft selections represented the only beer products in Costco’s private-label portfolio. The partnership originally launched in December 2024 with 12-packs retailing at an affordable $13.99.
The budget-friendly craft options quickly earned a passionate following among discount-minded beer enthusiasts. In fact, the prestigious World Beer Cup awarded the Kirkland Helles Lager a silver medal in 2025 and a bronze medal in 2026. The sudden cancellation has left many loyal customers mourning the loss of a stellar deal.
One disappointed shopper took to Reddit on Monday to share their frustration. "This is one of the best lagers on the market, especially at the price and I'm going to miss it," the user wrote. The retail relationship had previously provided a massive economic lifeline to the Oregon brewery.
Before landing the massive Costco contract, Deschutes had suffered an 11 percent decline in sales volume in 2023. The private-label deal completely reversed that trend, sparking a swift 9 percent volume surge. By 2025, the brand climbed to rank as the tenth-largest craft brewery in the United States.
Recent market data from Circana shows that Deschutes managed to boost its year-to-date dollar sales by 8.3 percent. Despite these positive indicators, changing corporate priorities mean shoppers will have to look elsewhere for budget craft brews. Savvy consumers are already rushing to their local warehouses to hoard the final cases.