Costco pulling popular beverage from shelves as customers mourn its disappearance

Costco fans have been left languishing as the wholesale store’s beloved beer is beginning to disappear from shelves months after it was discontinued.

The superstore began producing its two Kirkland Signature brand beers — the Helles-Style Lager and the Vintage Ale — in partnership with Pacific Northwestern staple Deschutes Brewery in 2024.

However, Deschutes announced in July that the drinks were being discontinued, and that production was “winding down.”

“After an incredible run, our partnership with Costco’s Kirkland Signature Helles Lager is coming to an end,” the brand wrote in a statement on Instagram. “We’re so grateful for Costco’s trust in Deschutes to bring our award-winning beer to their members at such a great value. We’ve reached the end of our volume commitment and therefore the program is winding down.”

The Oregon-based company continued: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the beer from Costco members since the announcement. Clearly this beer has built a fanbase across the U.S. and internationally. We will continue to brew and distribute award-winning beers from our family and employee-owned brewery in Bend, OR. We are excited for what’s ahead – Cheers!”

In response to a commenter asking how long the brew would be available in stores, Deschutes Brewery said: “We are coming to an end of our commitment on brewing for Costco, so the inventory there will depend on each store and how quickly they move through it over the next 2-3 months.”

Now, two months since the announcement, the stock has finally started to fizzle out, according to reports on social media.

“Went to Costco today and found it gone,” one customer wrote in a Reddit thread dedicated to beer. “Not only was it really good, I appreciated that it was only a 12 pack.”

One Reddit user wrote in a thread dedicated to Costco’s alcohol: “My warehouse has maybe 10-15 boxes left of the signature lager. I bought 4x packs yesterday at $6 each.”

Other users shared that they had resorted to hoarding the final cases of the beers. “I grabbed 3-4 cases when there was a whole pallet in my store. Less than a week later it was gone without a trace,” one person wrote.

Another added, “Ours stopped stocking a few weeks after the announcement. I bought the last 3 cases.”

At most stores, the lager was sold for a little more than a dollar per can with 12-packs costing $13.99. The ale went for $7.99 a bottle.

After it stopped being made, certain store locations sold the discontinued beers at much cheaper sale prices.

Neither Deschutes Brewery nor Costco returned The Independent’s request for further comment.