Nebraska Brewery Growth Trends

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

10-Year Market Trajectory

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

2016

Openings: 6
Closings: 1

2025

Openings: 2
Closings: 4

Market Shift

Openings down 67%
Closings up 300%

Over the last rolling 10 years, Nebraska has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2017 with 9 new establishments, while closings reached a historical high in 2017. Over this decade-long window, the state has transitioned from an era of hyper-expansion to an active market consolidation.

Total Active Breweries

As of 2026

Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD

1 openings, 0 closings · 2026 YTD

Avg. Lifespan (Closed Breweries)

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.

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.

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.

In 2025, Nebraska saw 2 brewery openings and 4 closings, for net decline of 2.

Through 2026, Nebraska has recorded 1 brewery openings and 0 closings so far this year.

Nebraska currently has 63 active breweries tracked in our database.

How Many Breweries Opened and Closed in Nebraska?

Opening and Closing Trends

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

Openings
Closings

Cumulative Brewery Growth

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

Year-by-year data table

Year	Openings	Closings	Net	Active at Year End
2026	1	0	+1	63
2025	2	4	-2	62
2024	2	3	-1	65
2023	1	1	+0	65
2022	5	1	+4	66
2021	3	0	+3	61
2020	5	1	+4	57
2019	6	2	+4	54
2018	4	0	+4	49
2017	9	4	+5	45
2016	6	1	+5	40
2015	2	1	+1	36
2014	6	0	+6	33
2013	6	0	+6	27
2012	2	0	+2	22
2011	2	0	+2	21
2010	1	0	+1	19
2009	2	0	+2	16
2008	0	0	+0	16
2007	3	1	+2	14
2006	1	1	+0	15
2005	2	0	+2	13
2004	2	0	+2	11
2003	1	1	+0	10
2002	1	1	+0	10
2001	1	0	+1	9
2000	1	0	+1	8
1999	0	0	+0	8
1998	2	0	+2	7
1997	0	0	+0	6
1996	1	0	+1	6
1995	2	0	+2	4
1994	0	0	+0	3

10-year trajectory