KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Modestman Brewing has officially closed its Keene location, relocating all brewing and taproom operations to South Portland, Maine, after more than six years in the Elm City.

The 100 Main St. taproom is now closed, and the property will be put up for sale, according to the business’s Facebook post. A sign on the front door states “Due to circumstances out of our control, we cannot open this weekend. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

The company announced the move this week, describing it as a “new chapter” that will allow for increased production, higher quality, and more creative control. Modestman gift cards will be honored at the new Maine location, the company confirmed.

Modestman Brewing Company closing
A sign on the front window of Modestman Brewing Company tells patrons it is closed for the weekend. The company’s Facebook post says the business is permanently shut down/Nicole Colson

Brie Maynard, creative partner at Modestman, said several part-time staff members—including taproom employees, brewers, and a pizza chef—were given two weeks’ notice and encouraged to apply for unemployment benefits. However, at least one former employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were not provided advance notice before the closing.

Modestman Brewing launched in Keene in 2019 after Sheehan—a Maine native and former fine-dining restaurateur — transitioned from managing high-end kitchens to creating beer experiences inspired by the brewery scene in southern Maine. The 3,000-square-foot brewhouse included a 100-seat taproom, sidewalk patio, and a beer lineup that leaned heavily into IPAs and sours.

Sheehan, who lives on Peaks Island near Portland, said the decision to consolidate operations in Maine aligns with both business goals and personal ties to the region. “I was motivated to go to the seacoast and join the active brewing scene there because that’s where I’m from,” he said in a previous interview. “My dad worked at the shipyard.”

The closure follows an earlier chapter in Sheehan’s Keene food ventures. Before opening Modestman, he launched Taqueria Odelay on Gilbo Avenue in 2016, later moving it to Main Street—not far from the brewery—before it too closed.

Sheehan, a graduate of the Hannah Grimes Center’s Business Incubator Program, previously described New Hampshire as lacking in “good beer” when he first arrived, and sought to bring a modern, experience-driven beer culture to the area. Though the Keene chapter has ended, the brewery is encouraging fans to visit its South Portland taproom as it continues to grow from its new coastal base.