The co-owner of a popular North Carolina brewery has been arrested after allegedly breaking into the house of a 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her. Justine Tawse Brigham is currently being held on a $10 million bail, meanwhile, the brewing company he co-founded, Sycamore Brewing, has seemingly tried to move on without him.
Authorities charged Brigham, 44, with three felonies – which included statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary, and indecent liberties with a child, as per the Daily Mail. On Wednesday December 10, Deputies responded to call at a Stanfield home around midnight after the parents of a 13-year-old girl found Brigham in their daughter’s bedroom. Brigham was found completely naked by deputies who attended the scene.
Sycamore Brewing addresses the situation
Shortly after the incident, Brigham’s wife, Sarah Taylor, who is the other co-owner of Sycamore Brewing released a statement online in which she claimed that her husband had divested all interest in the company and would have no future involvement with Sycamore Brewing.
“I am devastated by the charges against Justin and the pain this has inflicted on our family and others. Effective immediately, I am assuming full leadership of the company. Justin is divesting all of his interest and will have no future involvement.”
While it’s good that Taylor was quick to cut ties with Brigham, many online have still vowed to never support the brewery again and several businesses have opted to stop serving drinks from the brewery.
One person on X claimed that they found the wife’s apology “lacking,” especially considering the statement barely makes any mention of the young girl who was actually the victim of Brigham’s horrific assault. “You’re [sic] co owner is a f—ing pedophile rapist.” Wrote one angry individual, adding, “Y’all are cooked and I hope you go out of business.”
Oh I’m betting the wife knew more….not with these can labels…. pic.twitter.com/XqibP6Scph
— Truth @MrDoubleE (@doubleedisco) December 12, 2025
Others suspected that Taylor was putting the business first rather than being genuinely apologetic. Some pointed out the sexual designs on many of the brewery’s cans and even implied that the wife knew all along.
A boycott is brewing
While Brigham may not have anything to do with the company any longer, it seems many are not separating the business from the individual. Some on X expressed sympathy for the staff working at Sycamore Brewing as they may soon be out of work. One person who visited the business after the controversy noted that it was very quiet despite it being the run-up to Christmas. “If the owner doesnt [sic] look out for them i’ll never go back. She has the resources!”
Others questioned what a boycott would achieve and claimed that the wife was innocent of her husband’s crimes so shouldn’t be punished, “the wife who still owns it had nothing to do with it and was clueless.” Regardless, it looks like the masses have made up their mind and the tone-deaf statement released by Sycamore Brewing certainly hasn’t helped.
