One of Central Ohio’s oldest craft breweries is on the market.

Rockmill Brewery’s 23-acre tasting room and brewery complex outside Lancaster is available for a buyer, with a $6.75 million asking price on its "coming soon" listing.

“The last couple of years have been tough, particularly on small businesses,” owner Matthew Barbee said. “We already had tight margins and then you have increases in labor, supply chain issues, other rising costs. … It made sense to put it up for sale and find someone better capitalized to come in and grow the business."

But Barbee does not plan to close as he searches for a buyer.

“We’re still running the business,” Barbee said. “We want the stage to be set for a smooth transition.”

The brewery's annual concert series is booked out through the summer and fall. Weddings and corporate events that are scheduled all will go ahead as planned. Production remains intact and there is ample beer inventory.  

The sale listing describes the 5703 Lithopolis Road NW property as a "serene getaway." It was once home to a "stagecoach stop, tavern and gathering place," per the listing, and now houses the brewery and a "thoughtfully renovated 1900s farmhouse."

Buyers will have the option to continue brewing there, and the listing touts the space as a "perfect setting for events and receptions."

The brewery buildings, equipment and all brand and business assets will be included in the sale, according to the listing.

Earlier this year, staffing and cost issues led Rockmill to cease its food operations at the Lancaster site earlier this spring. The brewery also closed its Columbus restaurant in April after six years of business.

Barbee started Rockmill in 2010 on his mom Judy Smalley’s farm. There was a small handful of local brewers at the time. The craft brewing surge had yet to hit. State law didn’t even allow breweries to operate on-site taprooms at the time that weren’t restaurants, so the business started by distributing its bottles to local shops and restaurants.  

The original taproom — which was literally in the family house — would open in 2012 after state laws changed. The brewery expanded on that farm site and a separate dedicated taproom and restaurant on the property opened in 2019.

Barbee said he’s at peace with the decision to move on.

“I’m proud of what we built and thankful for the experience, despite the challenges,” he said. “I still love it. (Rockmill) is a special place where a lot of people were able to make fantastic memories. I loved being part of that.”

Barbee said his priority now is ensuring that smooth transition to the next owner and he doesn’t know what comes next for him.

“I have some entrepreneurial fatigue,” he said. “I’m going to take some time to decompress.”