Massachusetts Brewery Growth Trends

Track how Massachusetts 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
40
Closings
4

2025

Openings
3
Closings
6

Market Shift

  • Openings down 92%
  • Closings up 50%

Rolling decade narrative

Over the last rolling 10 years, Massachusetts has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2016 with 40 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

208

As of 2026

Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD

-2

0 openings, 2 closings · 2026 YTD

Avg. Lifespan (Closed Breweries)

6.6 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.

-40-30-20-100+10+20+30+402016: net +3620162017: net +1620172018: net +920182019: net +1120192020: net +520202021: net +1420212022: net +520222023: net +520232024: net -820242025: net -32025

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, Massachusetts saw 3 brewery openings and 6 closings, for net decline of 3.
Through 2026, Massachusetts has recorded 0 brewery openings and 2 closings so far this year.
Massachusetts currently has 208 active breweries tracked in our database.

How Many Breweries Opened and Closed in Massachusetts?

Opening and Closing Trends

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

0102030401994: 2 openings1994: 0 closings19941995: 4 openings1995: 0 closings1996: 5 openings1996: 0 closings1997: 2 openings1997: 1 closings19971998: 2 openings1998: 0 closings1999: 1 openings1999: 1 closings2000: 4 openings2000: 1 closings20002001: 2 openings2001: 4 closings2002: 4 openings2002: 1 closings2003: 3 openings2003: 3 closings20032004: 3 openings2004: 0 closings2005: 4 openings2005: 1 closings2006: 1 openings2006: 1 closings20062007: 4 openings2007: 1 closings2008: 3 openings2008: 1 closings2009: 7 openings2009: 2 closings20092010: 4 openings2010: 2 closings2011: 17 openings2011: 5 closings2012: 10 openings2012: 1 closings20122013: 19 openings2013: 1 closings2014: 19 openings2014: 8 closings2015: 22 openings2015: 3 closings20152016: 40 openings2016: 4 closings2017: 19 openings2017: 3 closings2018: 17 openings2018: 8 closings20182019: 22 openings2019: 11 closings2020: 18 openings2020: 13 closings2021: 19 openings2021: 5 closings20212022: 12 openings2022: 7 closings2023: 14 openings2023: 9 closings2024: 0 openings2024: 8 closings20242025: 3 openings2025: 6 closings2026: 0 openings2026: 2 closings2026
  • Openings
  • Closings

Cumulative Brewery Growth

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

01002003001994: 12 active breweries19941995: 14 active breweries1996: 19 active breweries1997: 23 active breweries19971998: 24 active breweries1999: 26 active breweries2000: 26 active breweries20002001: 29 active breweries2002: 28 active breweries2003: 29 active breweries20032004: 30 active breweries2005: 33 active breweries2006: 36 active breweries20062007: 36 active breweries2008: 39 active breweries2009: 41 active breweries20092010: 47 active breweries2011: 48 active breweries2012: 61 active breweries20122013: 70 active breweries2014: 88 active breweries2015: 99 active breweries20152016: 119 active breweries2017: 155 active breweries2018: 175 active breweries20182019: 181 active breweries2020: 188 active breweries2021: 201 active breweries20212022: 210 active breweries2023: 214 active breweries2024: 215 active breweries20242025: 209 active breweries2026: 208 active breweries2026
Year-by-year data table
YearOpeningsClosingsNetActive at Year End
202602-2208
202536-3209
202408-8215
2023149+5214
2022127+5210
2021195+14201
20201813+5188
20192211+11181
2018178+9175
2017193+16155
2016404+36119
2015223+1999
2014198+1188
2013191+1870
2012101+961
2011175+1248
201042+247
200972+541
200831+239
200741+336
200611+036
200541+333
200430+330
200333+029
200241+328
200124-229
200041+326
199911+026
199820+224
199721+123
199650+519
199540+414
199420+212

Methodology: Charts and year-by-year tables cover 1994–present, when the modern craft beer movement took off. Counts include active Massachusetts 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 7, 2026