New Jersey Brewery Growth Trends
Track how New Jersey 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
- 25
- Closings
- 2
2025
- Openings
- 11
- Closings
- 10
Market Shift
- Openings down 56%
- Closings up 400%
Rolling decade narrative
Over the last rolling 10 years, New Jersey has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2016 with 25 new establishments, while closings reached a historical high in 2025. Over this decade-long window, recent years point to renewed expansion after an earlier period of market correction.
Core metrics
Total Active Breweries
169
As of 2026
Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD
+2
3 openings, 1 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.
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.
Key insights
In 2025, New Jersey saw 11 brewery openings and 10 closings, for net growth of 1.
Through 2026, New Jersey has recorded 3 brewery openings and 1 closings so far this year.
New Jersey currently has 169 active breweries tracked in our database.
How Many Breweries Opened and Closed in New Jersey?
Opening and Closing Trends
Green bars: brewery openings. Red bars: permanent closings, by calendar year (1994 onward).
- Openings
- Closings
Cumulative Brewery Growth
Total active New Jersey breweries at the end of each calendar year (since 1994).
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Openings | Closings | Net | Active at Year End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 169 |
| 2025 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 164 |
| 2024 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 166 |
| 2023 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 165 |
| 2022 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 161 |
| 2021 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 147 |
| 2020 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 141 |
| 2019 | 25 | 7 | +18 | 130 |
| 2018 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 112 |
| 2017 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 95 |
| 2016 | 25 | 2 | +23 | 82 |
| 2015 | 18 | 1 | +17 | 57 |
| 2014 | 13 | 3 | +10 | 44 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 34 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 31 |
| 2011 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 31 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 26 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 24 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 23 |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 23 |
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 19 |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 21 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 20 |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 20 |
| 2002 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 24 |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 25 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 24 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 23 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 21 |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 17 |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 12 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 5 |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 2 |