29 Dec 2022 Openings and Closings for Indiana Craft Beer – A Move to Slower Growth
by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap
There was a lot of movement in Indiana craft brewing in 2022, but the overall result was basically a zero gain/loss in both brewery openings and closing, although we had more taproom openings and closings. We lost some breweries that had been around for quite awhile, but also some that had been in operation just since 2021. You have to go back to 2009 to have a year with fewer openings, and 2022 was only the fourth year where closing out paced openings. In all, it looks like Indiana craft beer is entering a slow growth period.
Interestingly, there were several shifts sideways in brewing, breweries that had changes other than just opening or closing. We had moves and ownership switches, with and without name changes. There is new blood in old spots, new digs that may spell more stability, and lots of expansions in the form of new offsite taprooms. However, we lost some taprooms too.
image credit: Northern Tropics Brewing
Best of all, we have indications that 2023 will be a good year for openings. There are several breweries doing their build out now, and a few breweries have eyes on opening new taprooms in 2023. It seems as thought the craft beer industry in Indiana is still strong, innovative, and of high quality, even if the growth is a bit slower than before Covid.
Here’s a rundown of the changes that we are aware of, please let me know if you have opened a brewery or taproom in 2022 that I have omitted, or if you plan on opening a brewery or taproom in 2023:
Openings – Northern Tropics Brewing in Muncie, Kismetic Beer Company in Indy, Hoppy Days Brewing in Glenwood (without a taproom yet), Science Project Brewing in Logansport, Hop Quest Brewing in Wheatfield, Gnosis Brewing in Merrillville, and Kant Brewing in Fort Branch. It’s not a brewery, but we’d like to point out the opening of Perry Vine Meads, Wines, and Ciders in South Bend. Additionally, Sun King Brewing started brewing in Sarasota Florida, but that is really a Florida brewery.
Closings – Schnabeltier in Rochester, Barley Island Brewing in Noblesville, Salt Creek Brewing in Needmore, Mad Paddle Brewstillery in Madison, Ellison Brewing in Indy, The Devil’s Trumpet had relocated to Hobart, but is gone now, Greenbush Brewing in South Bend, Monnik Beer in New Albany, Logan Beer Works in Logansport, and though it was not a craft beer brewery New Day Craft in Indy ended it’s run.
image credit: Crasian Brewing
Changes/Moves – Crasian Brewing moved a couple of blocks over in Brookston with the new taproom opening just this week, Union Brewing is moving just a bit south on the Monon Trail in Carmel (look for the new taproom to open very soon), City Wineworks and their Circus City beer brand moved to Logansport so the Circus City brand might change, Herrmann Brewthers in Indy opened their homebrew store which will soon also be their first taproom, Metazoa Brewing cranked up their production brewery in the Stringtown neighborhood in Indy, Fountain Square Brewing in Indy for sale with the brewhouse going up for auction in a matter of days (note: Ftn. Sq. was purchased by head brewer Beppe Cuello in early January), and is Indiana City Brewing is for sale too.
Function Brewing in Bloomington became Metal Works Brewing after a sale, Shaggy Ass Brewing in Clinton became Brouilettes Wine & Beer after a sale, Bloomington Brewing got new owners early in the year, as did Vincennes Brewing, and The Guardian Brewing bought The Heorot Pub in Muncie.
image credit: Myriad Brewing
Coming Breweries – Tarnished Hollow Brewing is in their build out phase in Elwood, E Brewing Company is almost down with their buildout in South Whitely, Brew All Day will open in Indianapolis this coming year, Adventure Beer Co. will be opening in Clinton, Northbrook Brewing will have a place in Arcadia, Fontana Farms Brewing will open in the spring in Delphi, Barker Brewhouse in Evansville is perhaps the closest to opening of all of these examples, Chapman’s Brewing will move production Brewing to Fort Wayne, Tip A Canoe Brews in Rochester hopes to open in 2023, and Journeyman Distillery – Valparaiso should be open in the fall of 2023 with their own brewery. It’s not a beer brewery, but Klausing Mead will be opening in Indy in 2023 as well. Finally, a coming change – Lighthouse Brewing in Jasper will move to Patoka Lake in 2023, on the grounds of Patoka Lake Winery. I don’t have timing details, but Garrett Lawton’s Monon Brewing Cooperative in Broad Ripple, Righteous Brewing in Madison, and Angry Beard Brewing in Indy could open in 2023 as well.
New Taprooms – Foreign Local has been a brand since before Mike left Windmill Brewing, but in 2022 it got its own taproom in Hammond, Santa Claus Brewing in Santa Claus, IN is just a brand taproom for now since the beer is being made at St. Benedict’s in Ferdinand but they intend to have a brewhouse up and running in 2023, Pax Verum Brewing at Natural State Provisions (in the old Flat12 Bierwerks location), 2Toms Brewing – Indy, Upland Brewing – 82nd Street in Indy, Myriad Brewing – Newburgh, Sun King Brewing – Mishawaka, Junk Ditch Brewing – Huntington, Kekionga Craft – Union Street Market in Fort Wayne, Tree City Brew Co. purchased the Mancino’s in Greensburg and has just this week renamed it for Tree City, North High Brewing – Zionsville, North High Brewing – Circle Center, Afterburner Brewing opened their taproom in Terre Haute after selling their kegs for a while, and Cedar Creek Brewing – Nashville.
Closed Taprooms – 18th St. Brewery – Indy, Chapman’s Brewing – Huntington, Books & Brews – South Indy, Books & Brews – Noblesville, BrewDog – Indy, Mad Anthony Brewing – Lakeview Ale House, and the verdict is still out on Chapman’s Brewing in Wabash.
Coming Taprooms – Centerpoint Brewing at The AMP (Artisan Marketplace) in Indy, Four Day Ray Brewing in Yorktown, People’s Brewing at their Krug Corner Pub in Lafayette, Bier Brewery in Noblesville, and Fessors Brewery in Rochester.
image credit: Moon Drops Distillery
2022 Artisan Distillery Openings – Moon Drops Distillery in Fortville, Dragon’s Mouth Distillery in Elkhart, Travelers Point Distillery in Kirklin, Hi & Mighty Distillery in Indy, Loom House Made Spirits in Indy, and Blockhead Stillworks in Valparaiso.
Coming Artisan Distilleries – Journeyman Distillery – American Factory in Valparaiso should open in the fall, Hoosier Brewing in Greenwood wants to start distilling commercial spirits next year, Old Homestead Distillery will be part of the Patoka Lake Winery, Distillery, Brewery, and Inn complex, and Gun Barrel Bourbon Foundry is slated to open in 2023 as well.
Conclusion. Seven brewery openings and nine closings; fourteen taproom openings and six closings; at least nine coming breweries and at least five coming taprooms. It was a heck of a 2022 and it should be a heck of a 2023. Get out there and support your local craft beverage producers and your local retailers. It’s your support that KEEPS them open.
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