Rocio Perez, co-owner of Carlyle Brewing Co., fills a 64-ounce growler on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, at the downtown Rockford brewery. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The owners of a downtown brewery plan to retire after two decades in business and hand the reins over to a nearby restaurant to carry on its tradition.

Don Carlyle and Rocio Perez of Carlyle Brewing Co. said on Facebook on Saturday that they were retiring from the beer business and transitioning ownership to Joe and Anne D’Astice, the owners of Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza.

“We wish them nothing but the best and are confident that through their vision, guidance and leadership BOTH businesses will continue to thrive as sought out and unique downtown Rockford destinations,” Carlyle and Perez  wrote on Facebook.

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The announcement was delivered about one year after Carlyle, 215 E. State St., reopened its doors to a slew of customers happy to see the brewery back in business after it had been closed for eight months.

Carlyle said the ownership transition will happen over the next few weeks.

“We thank you, all of our amazing customers, who have made the last 20 years such a fulfilling experience,” Carlyle and Perez wrote. “Serving the downtown Rockford community has been an honor.”

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Joe and Anne D’Astice of Woodfire, 408 E. State St., said that Carlyle Brewing has made Rockford a great place to work and visit since its founding in 2003.

“Don and Ro of Carlyle have given Rockford something that we can all be proud of. It was their vision, determination, and hard work that made Carlyle what it is today,” the D’Astices wrote on Facebook. “We want to thank them for this Rockford Original and for being part of the fabric of downtown Rockford for so many years.”

The D’Astices said they’re honored to become the stewards of carrying on a great Rockford institution.

“We are grateful and proud to announce that we will continue the tradition of Carlyle Brewing as we work to transition ownership of Carlyle to our Woodfire family,” they wrote.


This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas

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