Oregon, one of the initial hotbeds of craft beer along with California, Washington and Colorado, has see over 30 craft breweries, cideries and taprooms close down in 2023, the highest number of any year.
It comes as no surprise that brewery closings would peak last year given the challenges confronting the industry prior to 2020 and then compounded by the pandemic. But to see the number of 30 locations closing in a state with a total of 318 craft breweries (in 2022) is an eye opener.
The state is ranked 12th overall in the country for the total number of breweries and ranks 7th for the number of breweries per capita. It has long been considered a bellwether state for the industry.
But the year took its toll, from nano brewery Wolf Tree Brewing Taproom in Newport to industry favorite Ecliptic Brewing closing down.
There was some good news during the year, with at least four breweries opening up or re-opening after making adjustments.
See the full list of closures here.