Award-winning Oro Brewing in downtown Mesa to close Jan. 25

🍺 Oro Brewing, currently the longest-running brewery in Mesa, is closing Sunday, Jan. 25, after nine years.

‘‘This has not been the easiest decision to make, especially since we have been such a part of the Downtown Mesa community from the time that the only places on the west side of Robson were us and Worth Takeaway, but it is the way we must go,’’ owner Dave Valencia announced on social media.

Oro debuted in October 2016 near the northwest corner of Main and Robson. At the time, it was the city’s third brewery following Desert Eagle, which closed in 2022, and Beer Research Institute, which closed in 2024.

Although small in size at just 3,000 square feet, Oro was named Brewery of the Year at the inaugural Arizona Craft Beer Awards in 2022. It also has won medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.

Its award-winning ales include Trigo Suave tangerine wheat, King Gus imperial hazy IPA, and Inside the Park blonde.

In October, Valencia partnered with Nicky’s Barbecue pop-upper Chris Figueroa to launch Golden Oak Barbecue & Taproom in downtown Phoenix. Golden Oak was named one of MXSW’s top 10 new Valley restaurants and bars of 2025.

‘‘(Golden Oak) most likely sell other craft beers once we are out of Oro beers, but that is still TBD,’’ Valencia tells MXSW. ‘‘We’ve been adding some guest taps already due to production constraints that caused a delay in getting some of our core beers to Golden Oak. Once the deal is completed, we’ll have a clearer picture.’’

As for the future of Oro’s downtown space?

‘‘Although our story may be ending, another story will begin,’’ Valencia says. ‘‘Armando Hernandez from Tacos Chiwas and many other successful ventures will be moving in. The brewery will operate to supply their places with quality brew, and the taproom will be transformed into another concept.’’