State pulls plug on Unplugged Brewing over lapsed liquor license

A popular Elyria brewery was closed Tuesday after state and local law enforcement searched the premises for licensing issues. Unplugged Brewing Company at 201 East Bridge St. was the scene of a raid Tuesday morning by Elyria police and the Ohio Investigation Unit, or OIU, the state agency that enforces Ohio's tobacco, alcohol and cannabis laws. Elyria Police Chief James Welsh said that the OIU requested assistance from his department in carrying out a search warrant at the business because Unplugged had allegedly been operating without a liquor license. Welsh said that Investigative Unit officers confiscated several kegs of beer from the premises. "The Elyria Police Department received a request for assistance with an investigation and a search warrant service at Unplugged Brewing Company due to an expired liquor license," Welsh said. "I can confirm that beer was confiscated from the establishment, but this was handled by the Ohio Investigative Unit and I would direct you to reach out to them for any further information." According to the Ohio Department of Commerce's database, Unplugged Brewing Company's A1-C liquor license — a beer manufacturer's permit — was listed as "Cancelled/Deactivated" as of Aug. 20. A request seeking comment has been left with the Cleveland office of the OIU. The Chronicle also contacted the ownership of Unplugged by phone and email on Tuesday, but neither request was returned Tuesday. In a post made to the business's Facebook page, Unplugged announced that it would be closed on Tuesday, but did not provide a reason. Unplugged opened in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and has received overwhelmingly positive reviews online. According to the Lorain County Treasurer's Office, the business owes $24,254 in taxes. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.