Michigan Brewery Growth Trends

Track how Michigan 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
37
Closings
7

2025

Openings
9
Closings
15

Market Shift

  • Openings down 76%
  • Closings up 114%

Rolling decade narrative

Over the last rolling 10 years, Michigan has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2017 with 48 new establishments, while closings reached a historical high in 2024. 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

361

As of 2026

Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD

-5

4 openings, 9 closings · 2026 YTD

Avg. Lifespan (Closed Breweries)

7.6 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 +3020162017: net +3720172018: net +2320182019: net +1820192020: net +1420202021: net +620212022: net -320222023: net +220232024: net +020242025: net -62025

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, Michigan saw 9 brewery openings and 15 closings, for net decline of 6.
Through 2026, Michigan has recorded 4 brewery openings and 9 closings so far this year.
Michigan currently has 361 active breweries tracked in our database.

How Many Breweries Opened and Closed in Michigan?

Opening and Closing Trends

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

02040601994: 6 openings1994: 0 closings19941995: 14 openings1995: 0 closings1996: 14 openings1996: 0 closings1997: 12 openings1997: 0 closings19971998: 5 openings1998: 0 closings1999: 2 openings1999: 0 closings2000: 3 openings2000: 1 closings20002001: 0 openings2001: 1 closings2002: 3 openings2002: 1 closings2003: 7 openings2003: 3 closings20032004: 7 openings2004: 4 closings2005: 7 openings2005: 1 closings2006: 6 openings2006: 3 closings20062007: 2 openings2007: 2 closings2008: 5 openings2008: 2 closings2009: 6 openings2009: 2 closings20092010: 10 openings2010: 0 closings2011: 11 openings2011: 3 closings2012: 23 openings2012: 2 closings20122013: 35 openings2013: 5 closings2014: 34 openings2014: 3 closings2015: 51 openings2015: 3 closings20152016: 37 openings2016: 7 closings2017: 48 openings2017: 11 closings2018: 33 openings2018: 10 closings20182019: 28 openings2019: 10 closings2020: 23 openings2020: 9 closings2021: 18 openings2021: 12 closings20212022: 11 openings2022: 14 closings2023: 11 openings2023: 9 closings2024: 16 openings2024: 16 closings20242025: 9 openings2025: 15 closings2026: 4 openings2026: 9 closings2026
  • Openings
  • Closings

Cumulative Brewery Growth

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

01002003004001994: 17 active breweries19941995: 27 active breweries1996: 39 active breweries1997: 58 active breweries19971998: 64 active breweries1999: 68 active breweries2000: 70 active breweries20002001: 71 active breweries2002: 70 active breweries2003: 72 active breweries20032004: 78 active breweries2005: 81 active breweries2006: 88 active breweries20062007: 87 active breweries2008: 91 active breweries2009: 91 active breweries20092010: 101 active breweries2011: 112 active breweries2012: 128 active breweries20122013: 154 active breweries2014: 187 active breweries2015: 234 active breweries20152016: 269 active breweries2017: 307 active breweries2018: 332 active breweries20182019: 349 active breweries2020: 362 active breweries2021: 374 active breweries20212022: 372 active breweries2023: 374 active breweries2024: 374 active breweries20242025: 367 active breweries2026: 361 active breweries2026
Year-by-year data table
YearOpeningsClosingsNetActive at Year End
202649-5361
2025915-6367
20241616+0374
2023119+2374
20221114-3372
20211812+6374
2020239+14362
20192810+18349
20183310+23332
20174811+37307
2016377+30269
2015513+48234
2014343+31187
2013355+30154
2012232+21128
2011113+8112
2010100+10101
200962+491
200852+391
200722+087
200663+388
200571+681
200474+378
200373+472
200231+270
200101-171
200031+270
199920+268
199850+564
1997120+1258
1996140+1439
1995140+1427
199460+617

Methodology: Charts and year-by-year tables cover 1994–present, when the modern craft beer movement took off. Counts include active Michigan 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 12, 2026