California Brewery Growth Trends

Track how California craft beer has changed since 1994 — brewery openings, closings, and cumulative growth from our establishment database.

10-year trajectory

10-Year Market Trajectory

Comparing 2016 to the most recent complete year (2025). Updates automatically each January.

2016

Openings
103
Closings
23

2025

Openings
26
Closings
61

Market Shift

  • Openings down 75%
  • Closings up 165%

Rolling decade narrative

Over the last rolling 10 years, California has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2017 with 112 new establishments, while closings reached a historical high in 2020. Over this decade-long window, the state has transitioned from an era of hyper-expansion to an active market consolidation.

Core metrics

Total Active Breweries

767

As of 2026

Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD

-16

3 openings, 19 closings · 2026 YTD

Avg. Lifespan (Closed Breweries)

7.9 years

Closed breweries since 1994

Net Churn Rate: Opening and Closing Trends

Net Churn Rate (Rolling 10 Years)

Net annual variance (openings minus closings) for 2016–2025. Bars above zero indicate growth; bars below zero indicate contraction.

-80-60-40-200+20+40+60+802016: net +8020162017: net +7820172018: net +6020182019: net +4520192020: net +120202021: net +820212022: net +320222023: net -2420232024: net -3320242025: net -352025

Open Year vs. Close Year

How many breweries opened in each year (columns) and closed in each year (rows). Uses year-only dates; darker cells = more closures.

Open year → 20162017201820192020202120222023202420252016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Age at Closing vs. Calendar Year

Lifespan brackets (close year minus open year) for breweries closed in each calendar year. Darker cells show where mature breweries are exiting the market.

20162017201820192020202120222023202420250–2 years3–5 years6–10 years11+ years

Key insights

In 2025, California saw 26 brewery openings and 61 closings, for net decline of 35.
Through 2026, California has recorded 3 brewery openings and 19 closings so far this year.
California currently has 767 active breweries tracked in our database.

How Many Breweries Opened and Closed in California?

Opening and Closing Trends

Green bars: brewery openings. Red bars: permanent closings, by calendar year (1994 onward).

0501001501994: 17 openings1994: 0 closings19941995: 16 openings1995: 1 closings1996: 35 openings1996: 1 closings1997: 13 openings1997: 1 closings19971998: 17 openings1998: 1 closings1999: 19 openings1999: 2 closings2000: 15 openings2000: 5 closings20002001: 12 openings2001: 3 closings2002: 14 openings2002: 4 closings2003: 5 openings2003: 6 closings20032004: 12 openings2004: 8 closings2005: 16 openings2005: 3 closings2006: 12 openings2006: 7 closings20062007: 15 openings2007: 11 closings2008: 17 openings2008: 10 closings2009: 33 openings2009: 12 closings20092010: 25 openings2010: 7 closings2011: 44 openings2011: 12 closings2012: 72 openings2012: 11 closings20122013: 77 openings2013: 18 closings2014: 104 openings2014: 22 closings2015: 80 openings2015: 15 closings20152016: 103 openings2016: 23 closings2017: 112 openings2017: 34 closings2018: 92 openings2018: 32 closings20182019: 98 openings2019: 53 closings2020: 64 openings2020: 63 closings2021: 43 openings2021: 35 closings20212022: 46 openings2022: 43 closings2023: 38 openings2023: 62 closings2024: 23 openings2024: 56 closings20242025: 26 openings2025: 61 closings2026: 3 openings2026: 19 closings2026
  • Openings
  • Closings

Cumulative Brewery Growth

Total active California breweries at the end of each calendar year (since 1994).

050010001994: 77 active breweries19941995: 97 active breweries1996: 115 active breweries1997: 144 active breweries19971998: 155 active breweries1999: 174 active breweries2000: 190 active breweries20002001: 196 active breweries2002: 205 active breweries2003: 211 active breweries20032004: 217 active breweries2005: 219 active breweries2006: 229 active breweries20062007: 240 active breweries2008: 238 active breweries2009: 250 active breweries20092010: 283 active breweries2011: 303 active breweries2012: 360 active breweries20122013: 422 active breweries2014: 501 active breweries2015: 575 active breweries20152016: 653 active breweries2017: 738 active breweries2018: 806 active breweries20182019: 850 active breweries2020: 860 active breweries2021: 866 active breweries20212022: 871 active breweries2023: 857 active breweries2024: 821 active breweries20242025: 782 active breweries2026: 767 active breweries2026
Year-by-year data table
YearOpeningsClosingsNetActive at Year End
2026319-16767
20252661-35782
20242356-33821
20233862-24857
20224643+3871
20214335+8866
20206463+1860
20199853+45850
20189232+60806
201711234+78738
201610323+80653
20158015+65575
201410422+82501
20137718+59422
20127211+61360
20114412+32303
2010257+18283
20093312+21250
20081710+7238
20071511+4240
2006127+5229
2005163+13219
2004128+4217
200356-1211
2002144+10205
2001123+9196
2000155+10190
1999192+17174
1998171+16155
1997131+12144
1996351+34115
1995161+1597
1994170+1777

Methodology: Charts and year-by-year tables cover 1994–present, when the modern craft beer movement took off. Counts include active California breweries (Brewery, Brew Pub, and Microbrewery categories). Opening and closing years are derived from establishment open and close dates where available; cumulative totals include pre-1994 breweries still active in that era. Rolling 10-year net churn, trajectory cards, and decade narrative compare 2016–2025 and refresh automatically.

Data accuracy: Opening and closing years are compiled from public sources—brewery websites, news reports, industry directories, and archival research—not from government or regulatory filings. Coverage varies by state and brewery; some dates are approximate or unknown. Charts, counts, and narratives reflect our directory at the time shown and may change as we correct the record.

Last updated: October 27, 2026