Wisconsin Brewery Growth Trends
Track how Wisconsin 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
- 24
- Closings
- 5
2025
- Openings
- 4
- Closings
- 12
Market Shift
- Openings down 83%
- Closings up 140%
Rolling decade narrative
Over the last rolling 10 years, Wisconsin has seen a shift in market maturity. Brewery openings peaked in 2018 with 33 new establishments, while closings reached a historical high in 2022. 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
234
As of 2026
Net Growth This Year 2026 YTD
-1
5 openings, 6 closings · 2026 YTD
Avg. Lifespan (Closed Breweries)
8.2 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, Wisconsin saw 4 brewery openings and 12 closings, for net decline of 8.
Through 2026, Wisconsin has recorded 5 brewery openings and 6 closings so far this year.
Wisconsin currently has 234 active breweries tracked in our database.
How Many Breweries Opened and Closed in Wisconsin?
Opening and Closing Trends
Green bars: brewery openings. Red bars: permanent closings, by calendar year (1994 onward).
- Openings
- Closings
Cumulative Brewery Growth
Total active Wisconsin breweries at the end of each calendar year (since 1994).
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Openings | Closings | Net | Active at Year End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 234 |
| 2025 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 236 |
| 2024 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 249 |
| 2023 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 253 |
| 2022 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 254 |
| 2021 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 255 |
| 2020 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 248 |
| 2019 | 24 | 4 | +20 | 235 |
| 2018 | 33 | 6 | +27 | 215 |
| 2017 | 25 | 9 | +16 | 187 |
| 2016 | 24 | 5 | +19 | 170 |
| 2015 | 21 | 5 | +16 | 151 |
| 2014 | 21 | 2 | +19 | 130 |
| 2013 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 121 |
| 2012 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 105 |
| 2011 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 96 |
| 2010 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 93 |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 83 |
| 2008 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 79 |
| 2007 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 79 |
| 2006 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 78 |
| 2005 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 72 |
| 2004 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 67 |
| 2003 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 65 |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 64 |
| 2001 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 59 |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 56 |
| 1999 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 55 |
| 1998 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 47 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 41 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 32 |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 27 |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 17 |