Costco quietly discontinues award-winning Kirkland item fans call 'one of the best' in the market
The Kirkland Signature Helles Lager and Vintage Ale are expected to disappear from warehouses this fall
Costco is quietly discontinuing two Kirkland Signature craft beers, including an award-winning brew fans have called "one of the best lagers on the market."
The move will end sales of the highly prized Kirkland Signature Helles Lager and Kirkland Signature Vintage Ale, according to Craft Business Daily (CBD).
The beers were co-branded with Oregon-based craft brewery Deschutes Brewery. CEO Peter Skrbek announced the decision in an early July note to distributors, according to the outlet.
Deschutes Brewery confirmed to FOX Business that its program with Costco is coming to an end.
"We’re so grateful for Costco’s trust in Deschutes to bring our award-winning beer to their members at such a great value," the company said. "We’ve reached the end of our volume commitment and, therefore, the program is winding down. We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the beer from Costco members since the announcement. The feedback on the beer has been exceptional, and it’s clear that the beer has built a fanbase across the U.S. and internationally."
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Cases of Kirkland Signature Helles-Style Lager are displayed at a Costco Wholesale store in San Diego. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images, File / Getty Images)
Production is slated to scale back as soon as this month, with the beers expected to disappear from most warehouse locations by September or October, drinks culture media VinePair reported. The wholesale warehouse will continue selling its already-brewed inventory until supplies run out, the outlet added.
No official reason was given for the end of the two-year partnership. The two Deschutes-brewed products are the only beers in Costco’s current private-label portfolio.
According to VinePair, the beers were first launched in December 2024 and each sold in 12 packs for $13.99.
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Cases of beer sit stacked on pallets at a Costco Wholesale Corp. store in San Antonio. (Callaghan O'Hare/Bloomberg, File / Getty Images)
Both products quickly became fan favorites, with shoppers praising their quality and low price point.
The World Beer Cup, one of the most respected beer competitions in the world, awarded Kirkland Signature Helles Lager a silver medal in 2025 and a bronze medal in 2026.
"This is one of the best lagers on the market, especially at the price, and I'm going to miss it," one Reddit user said on Monday.
Shoppers enter and exit a Costco warehouse location during business hours. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Deschutes Brewery told FOX Business the company continues to perform well overall, citing Circana data showing its sales volume has increased 16% in recent months even as the broader craft beer category has declined 6%.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP. | 935.80 | -5.07 | -0.54% |
According to VinePair, the Costco-Deschutes deal helped the brewery recover from an 11% decline in sales volume in 2023. After launching the partnership, Deschutes saw a 9% increase in volume.
By 2025, Deschutes ranked as the 10th-largest craft brewery in the U.S., according to the Brewers Association.
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Deschutes later fell within the top 25 grocery store vendors despite year-to-date dollar sales increasing 8.3% and volume rising 9.3% compared with last year, according to VinePair, citing Circana market data.
FOX Business reached out to Costco and Deschutes Brewery for more information.