The craft beer industry entered 2025 looking for improvement over the previous year, after the overall number of operating craft breweries declined for the first time since 2005 as the number dropped to 9,680Â nationwide, down from 9,747 in 2023.
New brewery openings also declined for the fourth consecutive year, with 434 new breweries opening and 501 closing, according to an April 15 report from the Brewers Association.
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The report had more bad news for American craft beer production as craft brewers produced 23.1 million barrels of beer in 2024 for a 4% decrease compared to 2023. The craft beer industry’s share of the beer market volume was flat at 13.3%, the same as in 2023, while the overall beer market declined by 1.2% in volume.
Related: Popular beer brand shuts down brewery, lays off employees
The downturn in the industry affected several craft brewers, including popular Texas-based craft brewer Alamo Beer Company LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Feb. 3 to restructure its debt obligations and continue as a going concern.
Craft beer industry having problems
The debtor sought to restructure its debt and reorganize its business, as San Antonio’s craft beer industry had been having financial problems.
The city’s craft brewers Weathered Souls Brewing Co. and Busted Sandal Brewing Co. in fall 2024 shut down, and Freetail Brewing Co. ended its beer distribution operations.Â
Two months later, Cary, N.C.-based Cotton House Craft Brewers, on April 8 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its business after facing significant financial strains over the last two years, according to the debtor’s Facebook post.
The industry has more distress coming in the next month as the Squatters Craft Beer and Wasatch Brewery facilities in Salt Lake City will permanently shut down on May 23, but the company has not indicated that it will file for bnkruptcy.
Brüeprint Brewing Company has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation.
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Brüeprint Brewing files Chapter 7 liquidation
And now another Cary, N.C.-based craft brewery is declaring bankruptcy as Brüeprint Brewing Company, which at one time brewed 18 different craft beers, filed for Chapter 7 protection and will likely close down operations and liquidate its assets.
Related: Popular liquor brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The craft beer brewer listed $100,000 to $1 million in assets and $1.78 million in liabilities in its petition filed on April 9, Triangle Business Journal reported.
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The debtor said it would not have sufficient assets to pay unsecured creditors. The company did not state a reason for filing for bankruptcy.
Brüeprint was established in April 2014, brewing beers with unique names, including Pale Brüe Eyes, Brüenette, Brüe Scarlet Amber Ale, Edinbrüe Scotch Ale, and Midnight Brüe.
The brewer’s beer on tap was available at various North Carolina restaurants, and its canned beers could be found at various bottle shops and grocery stores, including Whole Foods, Total Wine & More, Wegmans, Fresh Market, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Lowe’s Food, and Weaver Street Markets. Â
The brewery revealed on its website last year that it was closing a taproom and moving its location in fall 2024. But it never revealed where its new location would be on its website. It advertised that it would serve $5 pints and offer merchandise specials from May 19, 2024, until it moved.
In less than a year, the brewery filed for Chapter 7 liquidation.
Related: Another popular whiskey brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
