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
99
Closings
22

2025

Openings
26
Closings
59

Market Shift

  • Openings down 74%
  • Closings up 168%

Rolling decade narrative

Over the last rolling 10 years, California has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2017 with 111 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

764

As of 2026

Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD

-15

3 openings, 18 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 +7720162017: net +7820172018: net +6120182019: net +4620192020: net +220202021: net +920212022: net +520222023: net -2120232024: net -3220242025: net -332025

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 59 closings, for net decline of 33.
Through 2026, California has recorded 3 brewery openings and 18 closings so far this year.
California currently has 764 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: 6 openings2003: 6 closings20032004: 12 openings2004: 8 closings2005: 16 openings2005: 3 closings2006: 13 openings2006: 7 closings20062007: 16 openings2007: 11 closings2008: 17 openings2008: 10 closings2009: 33 openings2009: 12 closings20092010: 26 openings2010: 7 closings2011: 44 openings2011: 12 closings2012: 73 openings2012: 11 closings20122013: 77 openings2013: 18 closings2014: 102 openings2014: 21 closings2015: 81 openings2015: 15 closings20152016: 99 openings2016: 22 closings2017: 111 openings2017: 33 closings2018: 91 openings2018: 30 closings20182019: 98 openings2019: 52 closings2020: 64 openings2020: 62 closings2021: 43 openings2021: 34 closings20212022: 46 openings2022: 41 closings2023: 38 openings2023: 59 closings2024: 23 openings2024: 55 closings20242025: 26 openings2025: 59 closings2026: 3 openings2026: 18 closings2026
  • Openings
  • Closings

Cumulative Brewery Growth

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

050010001994: 76 active breweries19941995: 96 active breweries1996: 114 active breweries1997: 143 active breweries19971998: 154 active breweries1999: 173 active breweries2000: 189 active breweries20002001: 195 active breweries2002: 204 active breweries2003: 211 active breweries20032004: 217 active breweries2005: 219 active breweries2006: 230 active breweries20062007: 242 active breweries2008: 240 active breweries2009: 253 active breweries20092010: 286 active breweries2011: 306 active breweries2012: 364 active breweries20122013: 427 active breweries2014: 505 active breweries2015: 578 active breweries20152016: 655 active breweries2017: 736 active breweries2018: 803 active breweries20182019: 847 active breweries2020: 857 active breweries2021: 863 active breweries20212022: 868 active breweries2023: 854 active breweries2024: 818 active breweries20242025: 779 active breweries2026: 764 active breweries2026
Year-by-year data table
YearOpeningsClosingsNetActive at Year End
2026318-15764
20252659-33779
20242355-32818
20233859-21854
20224641+5868
20214334+9863
20206462+2857
20199852+46847
20189130+61803
201711133+78736
20169922+77655
20158115+66578
201410221+81505
20137718+59427
20127311+62364
20114412+32306
2010267+19286
20093312+21253
20081710+7240
20071611+5242
2006137+6230
2005163+13219
2004128+4217
200366+0211
2002144+10204
2001123+9195
2000155+10189
1999192+17173
1998171+16154
1997131+12143
1996351+34114
1995161+1596
1994170+1776

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: September 11, 2026