Business Brief
Washington's craft brewery count dips slightly
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Washington's number of craft breweries declined slightly last year — part of a broader national slowdown in the once-booming industry.
Why it matters: The persistent downward trend is startling brewers and forcing many to rethink their business models and expand into non-beer beverages, Axios' John Frank writes.
Zoom in: Washington had 438 craft breweries in 2025, down from 444 a year earlier, according to Brewers Association data released this month.
Yes, but: Those breweries still produced slightly more beer in 2025, with overall production rising about 1%.
The bottom line: Although Washington's craft breweries peaked in number in 2023, the state remains an industry leader.
- The state still has the fourth-highest number of craft breweries and the ninth-highest number per capita.