10/22/2025
A huge loss in our community. We just want to take the time to send condolences and recognize the impact made to our local brewing culture. We love you Railtown Brewing Company family. We ask our community to flood the doors when they open back up with all the love and support to keep Josh's memory and legacy strong!
This is absolutely the worst post I've ever had to write.
Many will probably think we're closing - with every fiber of my being, I wish that were the case because it would be better than this.
Yesterday, we learned that my brother-in-law and our Head Brewer, Josh, passed away unexpectedly. We're absolutely gutted. There aren't words, and tears aren't helping yet.
Josh was employee #1. Honestly, he was before 1, whatever that is. He was there when Railtown was just a concept, a dream. He believed in us so much, he changed his career to be a part of it. Having never brewed a beer in his life, he learned and he learned quickly. He helped us build out and make this place a reality. He put everything he had into making us what we are today.
This cuts so deep. He was a friend to so many at Railtown and in the greater brewing industry.
Please give our team grace as we grieve. We're in hospitality, and we're supposed to be smiling and cheery, but this isn't something we can fake a smile to get passed. We know many of you were close with Josh as well, and we are so so sorry for this loss. Right now, we all need to embrace what Railtown is all about, which is coming together. We need your support more than ever, we just don't know what we need right now.
I don't know what the path forward looks like, but I know it will all be OK. I don't ever post about my faith, but today is that day. I know God has a plan. I trust in His plan. Completely. I don't know why this is a part of it, but I don't need to. Railtown probably should have closed for good 10 times over our history, but at every step of the way, the right doors opened at the right time to allow us to keep doing what we do. Gim, Josh and I have all recognized this.
The path forward is going to be different. There will be impacts to what we do - we can't avoid that. I know that God will lead us to where we need to be, and we'll do that step by step.
As for now, our team is going to do their best to show up every day. It won't be normal, but routine is good in times of crisis. Y'all are the reason we do what we do every day, and seeing you and hearing from you will help us through this.
We'll communicate opportunities to celebrate and remember Josh once we have plans finalized. For the time being, privacy for our family while we begin to process this and pick up pieces would be appreciated.
I had to stop and take this photo on the way home from the funeral home just now. That's today. It's a promise and it's a comfort that I don't have it figured out, and I don't need to.
-Justin
