Miller Brewery Along 210 Freeway In Irwindale Could Shut Down This Year

IRWINDALE (CBSLA) — The beer could stop flowing at the Miller Brewery along the 210 Freeway in Irwindale after parent company Molson Coors announced it would move the plant's operations to other facilities across the country.

Molson Coors Beverage Company announced Monday it would stop production at the Irwindale Brewery by September. But all is not lost yet – the company also says it has an agreement with Pabst Brewing Co. that gives them an option to purchase the Irwindale facility.

"While it was a very difficult decision, we have extra capacity in our system and Irwindale's production can be absorbed by other breweries in our network," said Brian Erhardt, Molson Coors chief integrated supply chain officer, said in a statement.

Molson Coors says the lessening demand for beer is the biggest reason for the closure and that business conditions in California were not a factor.

The Irwindale brewery opened in 1980. It produced 4.8 million barrels of beer last year under brands like Miller Lite, Coors Lite, Miller High Life, MGD, Steel Reserve, Miller 64 and several brands for Pabst.

Molson Coors says the 470 jobs at the Irwindale facility will be phased out over the next nine months and they will assist any workers who are interested in transferring.

Pabst has 120 days to decide whether it will purchase the Irwindale brewery for $150 million.