11 Wisconsin Breweries Closed This Year, But 16 New Places Are Coming

As you're likely well aware, Wisconsin lost one of its most iconic names in beer when Molson Coors moved to shutter the Leinenkugel's brewery in Chippewa Falls after 157 years.

That late-2024 decision closed the book on one of the state's oldest family beer legacies and rattled a craft scene that had spent a decade in nonstop expansion.

Leinie's grabbed the headlines, but it was never the whole story. The boom-and-bust cycle reshaping Wisconsin beer is still churning in 2026.

The Badger Beer Report, which tracks the comings and goings statewide, counts 11 closures and counting this year, while 16 more taprooms are getting ready to pour their first pints.

The whiplash makes more sense with a little context. National alcohol consumption is sitting at a record low, and Wisconsin's brewery count more than doubled over the past decade, so a market that grew that fast was almost bound to thin out.

Here's the encouraging part, though: openings are actually outpacing closures right now, and southern Wisconsin is keeping that momentum strong. So here's a closer look at what's in and what's out across the state, as of August 2026.

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Last Call: Who's Closing or Has Closed

• TAQ Brewing (Kaukauna) — Appears to have gone quiet in early 2026, with no official closing date or reason released.
• Northwoods Brewpub (Osseo) — Named on the 2026 closure list, though no date or explanation has been made public.
• SteelTank Brewing Co. (Oconomowoc) — Closed its taproom in February 2026 and pivoted to a business-to-business model, packaging beverages for other brands.
• 2 Doors Down Brewing Co. (Wisconsin Rapids) — Wound down in 2026; the closure appears on the statewide tally with no stated reason.
• Vintage Brewing Co. (Cross Plains) — Closed its Cross Plains location on March 29, 2026, with ownership framing the move as a chance to pursue other opportunities rather than a failure.
• Durand Brewing Co. (Durand) — Listed among the year's closures, but no details have been released publicly.
• Public Brewing Co. (Kenosha) — Closed April 7, 2026; owner Lakefront Brewery, which had bought the struggling brewery in 2024, cited mounting industry challenges.
• Lake Louie Brewing (Oconomowoc) — The Wisconsin Brewing-owned label, which ran a taproom at the DockHounds' ballpark, appears on the 2026 closure list.
• Lift Bridge Brewing (New Richmond) — This satellite of the Stillwater, Minnesota brewery closed, with the tavern space taken over by Busted Knuckle BBQ as of May 2026.
• Untitled Art (Madison) — Reportedly ceasing operations after roughly a decade, following the loss of its contract-brewing deal with Waunakee's Octopi Brewing.
• Supermoon Beer Co. (Milwaukee) — Closed its Bay View taproom in August 2026, but it's not completely gone; the brand is staying in business and shifting to distribution through bars, restaurants and retailers.

On Deck: Who's Opening or Just Opened

• Railhouse Junction (Spooner) — Already open in the former Round Man Brewing space, serving house beers, craft cocktails and "elevated comfort food" alongside live music and trivia.
• Quiet World Brewing Co. (New London) — Currently a food truck, with a taproom and event space planned for 2027 under the motto "Life is too short to drink bad beer."
• Nicolet Ale Works (De Pere) — Opening fall 2026 as downtown De Pere's first brewery, with a taproom and a dog-friendly outdoor space in the Alley District.
• Ope! Brewing Co. (Appleton) — West Allis-based Ope! is opening its first outpost, "Ope! North," bringing its dog-friendly, food-truck model plus new hard ciders to the beer, seltzer and cocktail lineup.
• Turtle Stack Brewery (Onalaska) — The La Crosse brewery is adding a second location to expand beyond the tight capacity of its downtown three-barrel system.
• Shattered Glass Brewery (Beaver Dam) — Targeting a year-end opening on Beaver Dam Lake, with a German-inspired concept and a name drawn from a shattered beer mug and a 20-year dream.
• Clockwork Brewing & Blending (Menomonee Falls) — A proposed 12,000-square-foot production facility and taproom with room for nearly 200 guests, an event mezzanine and plans to distribute regionally.
• Acronym Brewing Co. (Fox Point) — Expected late 2026 from a New Barons co-op founder, built around simple, quality beers with playful acronym names and a big outdoor patio.
• Deux City Brewing Co. (Prairie du Chien) — On the upcoming list, with details still under wraps for now.
• Near & Far Brewing Co. (Cottage Grove) — A roughly $4 million project promising 15 taps, a dog play area and direct bike-trail access.
• Solemn Oath Brewery (Milwaukee) — The Illinois brewer, founded by a Wisconsin native, plans a mid-2026 opening in the former 1840 Brewing space in Bay View, with hop-forward beers, modern lagers and neighborhood-only releases.
• Radix Fermentation (Cudahy) — Two former MobCraft brewers are converting a 1958 fire station into a taproom specializing in wild and spontaneously fermented beers.
• Foxtown Brewing (Mequon) — The Mequon brewpub is building "Foxtown Landing," a 39,000-square-foot riverfront taproom and restaurant downtown, expected late 2026, complete with a speakeasy level and RiverWalk docks.
• Tree Line Brewing Co. (Milwaukee) — Firefighter-turned-brewer Nick Guthery is opening a sustainability-focused brewery in Enderis Park, with a permeable patio, local ingredients and a friends-and-family preview set for mid-September.
• Low Daily Beer (Belleville) — The Burlington brewery is adding a walk-up "field office" beer window built into a custom shipping container at The Yards at Belleville Depot, near the Badger State Trail.
• Mashtun Brewing (Lake Geneva) — Now pouring IPAs, porters, seltzer and cider along with draft cocktails and a menu built around creative grilled cheese sandwiches.

So is Wisconsin's craft beer bubble bursting, or simply thinning out so the strongest survive?

The numbers actually lean optimistic, with more taps opening than going quiet, but every shuttered brewpub still means a neighborhood loses a gathering place.

SEE NOW: 9 New Restaurants To Try In Wisconsin’s Door County

Plenty of Minnesota beer fans cross the border chasing a favorite pour, too, so this map matters on both sides of the St. Croix. Which closing stings the most, and which newcomer are you most eager to try?