Norfolk
Wisconsin hops supplier claims Armed Forces Brewing Company owes him almost $3K Armed Forces Brewing Company faces more allegations of unpaid debts as they shut down their Norfolk location. They have not answered several requests for comment.
Author: Brianna Fallon Published: 11:52 PM EDT March 10, 2025 Updated: 11:52 PM EDT March 10, 2025
NORFOLK, Va. — Another person is coming forward claiming Armed Forces Brewing Company owes them money.
The CEO announced last week that they’re closing the Norfolk location because profits were affected by a “local woke mob.”
But according to online SEC records, the company was operating in the red before even arriving to Norfolk.
On Friday, 13News Now spoke with a local vendor who said he was missing several payments for promos he made for the brewery.
But a supplier for a business based in Wisconsin has also come forward, saying that he’s missing payments from the brewing company after shipping more than 200 pounds of hops for their beer.
Matt Miles produces hops on his family’s farm in Wisconsin. A veteran himself, when he heard about Armed Forces Brewing Company’s support for the military, he wanted to become a supplier.
“It was a pretty good gig,” Miles said, “until this year.”
Last Friday, Alan Beal, CEO of the brewing company, abruptly announced in a statement that they will be permanently closed in Norfolk.
Now, months after delivering almost 200 pounds of hops to the brewery, Miles said he’s still waiting for his check.
“I’ve been calling them daily,” Miles said, “I’ve been emailing, texting.”
According to SEC filing, the company’s operating expenses in Norfolk were over $1.6 million between January 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024. However, during that same period, the business brought in less than $700,000 in revenue.
“I gave him the option to pay me or send the hops back if they can’t afford to pay me,” Miles said. “I’ve been ghosted ever since then.”
13News Now contacted Armed Forces Brewing Company about these latest claims but haven’t heard back. An invoice Miles sent to the brewery and shared with 13News Now says he is owed almost $3,000 for his January shipment.
In the statement announcing the brewery’s closure and planned relocation, Beal said the business is leaving Norfolk after being “severely affected” by individuals who “spread outright lies about our company.” He said this created a “toxic environment.”
Stephanie Byrd, a Ghent resident who lives not far from the brewing company, said the recent claims surrounding the brewery are unfortunate, but that she believes the business started on the wrong foot in the community.
“And I think calling everyone a ‘local woke mob’ didn’t do anything to help that fact at all,” she said.
Regardless of how locals, vendors, or suppliers might feel about the business, Miles says he just wants to be paid what he is owed.