
Figure Eight Brewing, a staple of downtown Valparaiso for a decade, plans to close in two weeks.
Figure Eight Brewing, the first craft brewery to open in Valparaiso and a fixture of the downtown dining scene, is closing after a decade-long run.
The rock climbing-themed craft brewery and gastropub at 150 S. Washington St. on the courthouse square in Valparaiso announced on social media and its website it planned to close in a few weeks. A longtime customer called it "the end of an era."
"With the advent of this new year and decade, we have decided to move on to new adventures," Figure Eight's owners posted on Facebook and its web page. "Figure Eight Brewing's last day of operation will be on February 8th. We wish you all well and thank you for the support over the last 10 years."
Figure Eight is named after the knot that ties the safety rope to a rock climber's harness, which resembles the infinity symbol and has been featured prominently in its logo and beer labels.
The craft brewery was known for brewing beers like the Ro Shampo Imperial Red Ale, the Snake Pro Double India pale ale, the Deadpoint IPA and the Raven Tor oatmeal stout, which it sold at its taproom and bottled for distribution. Figure Eight also brewed a wide variety of seasonal beers that included Belgian-style tripels, American amber ales, and Saison ales, and an alcohol-free root beer.
Gallery: Figure Eight Brewing through the years
Figure Eight Brewing, the first craft brewery to open in Valparaiso and a fixture of the downtown dining scene, announced its closure on Wednesday, Jan. 29 after a decade-long run.
Mike Lahti, head brewer at Figure 8 Brewing in downtown Valparaiso, gives guests a tour of the brewery in Feb. 2015 during the private event organized by Girls Pint Out, an organization which originated in Indianapolis. The group's goal is build a community of women who love craft beer, and a local chapter visits breweries in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.
Its beers won acclaim and awards, including a Best of Craft Beer Awards Silver Medal for its 8.1% ABV Rye Knot Baltic-style porter, a beer that blended seven grains with Amarillo, Centennial and Warrior hops for a flavor characterized by "hints of oak, cognac and a light woodsy bitter finish."
The brewpub featured pinball machines, a foosball table and a chill environment that encouraged hanging out, as one might expect in a town with a large university. A menu of pub fare features beer cheese pretzels and other appetizers, sandwiches, flatbreads and burgers like the garlic-loaded Vampire Slayer.
Much has changed in Valparaiso since Figure Eight first came on the scene a decade ago. Ironwood Brewing and Four Fathers Brewing both opened in the city, as did Misbeehavin' Meads, Lambstone Cellars Winery and Aftermath Cidery & Winery. Craft beer is now widely available at most restaurants and bars in downtown Valparaiso, including the Valpo Pour House self-serve craft beer bar.
Dozens of new craft breweries have opened all across Northwest Indiana over the past decade as part of a broader societal movement toward locally made and artisanal products. But several have now closed, including Pokro Brewing in Griffith, Twisted K-8 Brewing in LaPorte and Route 2 Brews and The Old Lowell Watering Hole and Bub's BBQ in Lowell.
Gallery: The breweries of Northwest Indiana
3 Floyds Brewing Company

Location: 9750 Indiana Parkway, Munster
[Photo by: Jonathan Miano, The Times]
18th Street Brewery

Location: 5417 Oakley Ave., Hammond
[Photo provided]
18th Street Brewery Taproom

Location: 5725 Miller Ave., Gary
[Photo by: John Luke, The Times]
95Ate5 Brew Pub

Location: 9585 N. Industrial Drive, St John
[Photo by: Tony V. Martin, The Times]
Back Road Brewery

Location: 308 Perry St., LaPorte
[Photo by: Rick Kampfer]
Bulldog Brewing Company

Location: 1409 119th St., Whiting
[Photo provided]
Burn 'Em Brewing

Location: 718 Freyer Road, Michigan City
[Photo provided]
Byway Brewing Co.

Location: 2825 Carlson Drive, Hammond
[Photo by: Kale Wilk, The Times]
Crown Brewing Co.

Location: 211 S. East St., Crown Point
[Photo by: Jonathan Miano, The Times]
Devil's Trumpet

Location: 8250 Utah St., Merrillville
[Photo provided]
Figure Eight Brewing

Location: 150 South Washington St., Valparaiso
[Photo provided]
Four Fathers Brewing

Location: 1555 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso
[Photo provided]
Hunter's Brewing Company

Location: 1535 S. Calumet Road, Chesterton
[Photo by: Jonathan Miano, The Times]
Ironwood Brewery

Location: 6 Roosevelt Road, Valparaiso
[Photo provided]
New Oberpfalz Brewing

Location: 121 E. Main St., Griffith
[Photo by: Tony V. Martin, The Times]
Off Square Brewing

Location: 1100 Delaware Parkway, Crown Point
[Photo provided]
Pokro Brewing

Location: 311 N. Broad St., Griffith
[Photo provided]
Shoreline Brewery

Location: 208 Wabash St., Michigan City
[Times file photo]
St. John Malt Brothers

Location: 9575 Wicker Ave., St. John
[Photo by: Melissa Garcia, The Times]
Wildrose Brewing

Location: 1104 E. Main St., Griffith
[Photo provided]
Windmill Brewing

Location: 2121 Gettler St., Dyer
[Photo by: Jonathan Miano, The Times]
Zorn Brew Works Co.

Location: 605 E. 9th St., Michigan City
[Photo provided]