Is This The End Of Bad Tom Smith?
Written By: The Gnarly Gnome
1/25/26
Eastern Ave, Ohio City, Madisonville, A Batavia Production Facility, A Planned Development with a massive taproom and restaurant in Union Township… the story of Bad Tom Smith is a long and winding one. I’ve recapped their history in other posts, so I won’t go too deep here, but when you’ve got a local brewery that’s been around for 13 years and has gone through 3 major ownership groups, you need to realize that the story is a very long one. All that might be coming to an end depending on how you read into a recent statement by ownership on the brewery’s social media account.
Right?
Maybe Not.
The Statement
Here’s what we know so far… because this is what they posted to their social media:
“To all our Bad Tom Family and the Madisonville Community,
Thank you to all of our amazing customers for your continued support over the years here in Madisonville. We are truly grateful for the memories, friendships, and community we’ve built together.
Bad Tom Smith Brewery will be closing the Madisonville location effective Midnight January 31st.
We will be having our last bash on Jan 31st with discounted drinks and food. Please come and say your goodbyes with the team!
This isn’t goodbye forever. Stay tuned we hope to continue the legacy of Bad Tom, and we will keep everyone updated as plans move forward for any future endeavors.
Thank you for some truly great years. We appreciate each and every one of you who supported us along the way.
Sincerely,
The Bad Tom Team!!”
Let’s Unpack This
You’ll notice a very important paragraph in there – ‘This isn’t goodbye forever. Stay tuned, we hope to continue the legacy of Bad Tom, and we will keep everyone updated as plans move forward for any future endeavors.’
What does THAT mean?
We all remember the plans that Bad Tom had for a large brewery and “tequila tasting room,” right? What about the big mixed-use development that was supposed to be anchored by a new Bad Tom Smith brewpub? While neither of those projects came to pass, I think they might be a hint at what the future of A brand might look like.
A Brand.
So…
If you remember back a few months, I posted about a recent visit to check in on Bad Tom, when I was met with a chalkboard displaying their 18 taps. The problem was that the 18 taps only listed four beers. FOUR. Of course, being the clever drinker that I am, I asked my bartender what was going on. The response I got was that they were “waiting on some ingredients to come in.”
We all know that’s not true, especially now.
I started putting a few different pieces of the puzzle together. First off, they have a production facility out in Batavia. This is where they actually produce their beer. There have been rumors for a while that, instead of opening another separate facility, they might shift this new Brewpub idea to their current space at the production facility.
Clearly, that’s not a plan that is currently in place and in motion, or else they would be telling their customers and staff that it would be happening, rather than the abrupt shutdown we’re seeing now.
With that said, I think there’s still a good chance we might see this theoretical plan come to life, just maybe not in the same way.
A New Brand
One of the biggest things I’ve heard people talk about with Bad Tom Smith is that maybe it’s time for a big refresh if they’re going to try to stick around. It’s not just about a new taproom space, or new beers, or a new look – it’s about a complete change.
A new location, paired up with some new products, and maybe most importantly, a new brand. Over the last few years, the owners at Bad Tom have not only introduced Bad Tom Smith-branded spirits, but a Tequila brand (Cinco Cruzitos) and another Bourbon Brand (Brazen Oak). Is it possible that we’ll see a new tasting room concept that bears the flag of a “new” brand?
Stay Tuned, We Hope To Continue The Legacy Of Bad Tom
It certainly leaves it pretty open-ended to what the future might hold, right?
In The Meantime
I know that there are folks out there who loved Bad Tom Smith. It always sucks when a place that you love closes its doors, which is why it’s good news that they are doing things the way that they are. Unlike some other closures, Bad Tom Smith is giving friends, customers, and employees at least a little heads-up (granted… just a little over a week… but notice).
This enables folks to swing by their Madisonville taproom on 1/31 for a huge party to wind things down.
They’ll have discounted food and drinks, and everyone will be on hand to give the taproom the send-off that they feel it deserves.
So – IS Bad Tom done? It’s hard to say for certain either way, because it doesn’t seem like ownership is 100% sure, either. If you love them, if you love their staff… get out there and support them on the 31st (and in the meantime!)