Veteran-Owned Lacey Brewery To Close After 9 Years

LACEY, NJ — After almost nine years in Forked River, a woman-owned and veteran-owned craft brewery will be closing its doors for good.

Backward Flag Brewing Co., located at 699 Challenger Way, is closing on June 29 after "one last party," it was announced on social media.

"We have fought to keep our doors open for a while now, but this is a fight we cannot win," the post read.

Owner Torie Fisher served in the U.S. Army for 13 years and began brewing out of her garage — about 5 gallons at a time. She decided to turn her passion into a business.

"I was still actively serving in the military with no professional background in beer," Fisher previously told Patch. "It was a hobby at home, and it was something that I developed more of a passion for over time."

And it's not just about the beer. The business also frequently supported fellow veteran initiatives and organizations.

Now, the brewery is going to go out with a bang. When it opens its doors for the final time at 12 p.m. on June 29, all are invited for the celebration.

"This will be a BYOB event," the social media post read. "Please support your Local NJ Craft Breweries by visiting them and grabbing some cans to-go."

This article contains additional reporting by Patch's Josh Bakan.