Five breweries in six weeks: Chicago’s craft beer closures have brewers on guard

At least five Chicago breweries have closed or announced closures this year, and industry experts predict more are on the way.

Alarmist Brewing & Taproom in Sauganash permanently closed on Feb. 1, and not long after, Berwyn’s Flapjack Brewery and Forest Park’s Casa Humilde turned off their taps. Two more are shutting down: Whiner Beer Company in Back of the Yards will close March 29 and Illuminated Brew Works in Norwood Park will close June 28.

A steady decline in drinking is partially to blame. The U.S. drinking rate reached historic lows in 2025, according to data from Gallup. But the recent string of local closings was accelerated by rising operational and production costs, including aluminum tariffs, and what many feel is an oversaturated market, owners said.

The rash of announcements has surviving brewers on guard, and several said they are looking at everything from better-than-average food to live events to stay afloat in 2026 and beyond. Amid the tumult, two of the city’s larger brewers, Half Acre Beer Company and Maplewood Brewing & Distillery, said Tuesday that they will merge.

“The breweries that have survived are the ones that pride themselves on consistency and people knowing what they’re going to get when they purchase that beer,” said Trevor Rose-Hamblin, a longtime brewer and co-founder of Old Irving Brewing.

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