Rhode Island Brewery Growth Trends

Track how Rhode Island 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: 3
Closings: 0

2025

Openings: 3
Closings: 1

Market Shift

Openings unchanged
Closings up from 0

Over the last rolling 10 years, Rhode Island has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2017 with 8 new establishments, while closings reached a historical high in 2023. Over this decade-long window, the state has maintained strong net brewery growth across the craft beer sector.

Total Active Breweries

As of 2026

Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD

-2

1 openings, 3 closings · 2026 YTD

Avg. Lifespan (Closed Breweries)

5.9 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, Rhode Island saw 3 brewery openings and 1 closings, for net growth of 2.

Through 2026, Rhode Island has recorded 1 brewery openings and 3 closings so far this year.

Rhode Island currently has 37 active breweries tracked in our database.

How Many Breweries Opened and Closed in Rhode Island?

Opening and Closing Trends

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

Openings
Closings

Cumulative Brewery Growth

Total active Rhode Island 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	3	-2	37
2025	3	1	+2	39
2024	3	2	+1	37
2023	1	4	-3	37
2022	1	1	+0	40
2021	2	1	+1	39
2020	2	1	+1	36
2019	5	0	+5	35
2018	8	3	+5	30
2017	8	0	+8	22
2016	3	0	+3	17
2015	1	0	+1	15
2014	1	0	+1	15
2013	3	0	+3	11
2012	2	0	+2	10
2011	3	0	+3	7
2010	2	0	+2	4
2009	0	0	+0	4
2008	0	0	+0	4
2007	0	0	+0	4
2006	0	0	+0	4
2005	1	0	+1	3
2004	0	0	+0	3
2003	0	0	+0	3
2002	0	0	+0	3
2001	0	0	+0	3
2000	0	0	+0	3
1999	0	0	+0	3
1998	0	0	+0	3
1997	0	0	+0	3
1996	0	0	+0	3
1995	0	0	+0	3
1994	1	0	+1	2

10-year trajectory