2024 was a long year, and I went to a plethora of beer festivals, and beer events, but I am also saddened by how many brewery closings I also attended! Windmill was a complete surprise, but so are the other 15 breweries I watched close their doors! We still have a lot of breweries, and I think 2025 can still be a good year for craft beer. I’ll explain why I think that later, but first I am going to reflect on the breweries Indiana has recently lost!
It was statewide that we lost breweries, and as I have visited them all, it was like losing a friend! Great Crescent in Aurora, and Evansville’s Myriad were memorable breweries, as was Bloomington’s Switchyard. The author feels fortunate to have visited all three. There are a lot less breweries in southern Indiana than any other portion of the state, and Evansville in particular has seen too many breweries come and go, but unfortunately, that’s the nature of the business! Breweries may be opening at a slower rate, but I think there’s still a chance for craft beer to flourish!
I made several trips to Fort Wayne last year, and was saddened that Trubble, and GnomeTown had closed, and I made a subsequent trip the following Thursday to attend Summit City’s final night. On that same trip I got a chance to visit Junk Ditch, and my conversation with head brewer Todd Stone led me to believe that they had big plans to continue growth in the Fort Wayne area. I was very surprised when I heard a few months later that they were closing their doors! It truly shows how difficult this business can be, and the one thing that makes me happy is that I have friends at the remaining breweries still brewing that are making great beer!
Across the state, it was the same story. Peru lost 7 Pillars, and Lafayette’s newest edition Knapptronix closed their doors, following the death of the founder. Louisville’s Goodwood closed their Indianapolis location and over in Clinton, the winery that had once been Shaggy Ass Brewing finally closed their doors! It had been quite the year, but in late December, there was going to be one more!
Losing Triton and Windmill was devastating enough, but then on 31 of December, McCordsville’s Scarlet Lane closed for good after a very strong run here in Indianapolis. I have been drinking their beer regularly, especially at the Gastropub, and Scarlet Lane’s Beach Grove location, but I also enjoyed trips to McCordsville. My very first trip there was to try Hangin’ Tough which was a beer made to honor former beer writer Rita Kohn. I have too many fond memories of their beer to adequately do justice in this article because like Triton, I was able to drink their beer long before anyone else’s! It is sad to see all these breweries go, but the ones with particularly long runs hurts even more!
So 2024 was a rough year and I’m hoping that 2025 fairs better for craft beer, especially here in Indiana! Before anyone gets discouraged, keep in mind that the late 90s saw drastic changes in craft beer on a much smaller level, where a large percentage of the existing breweries shut their doors! It was a small competitive market, and one of my favorite breweries Founder’s nearly became a victims of this tough market. Their survival story is legendary, and through arduous work they would become one of the largest breweries of craft beer today! Breweries had to make changes to survive, and that’s what will happen today! This gives me hope, and as long as I still find plenty of good beer to drink, I will be happy!
As I write this, I am thinking about going to Deviate for their February release. While so many breweries are in trouble, there are some that have a market model that seems to work! Plenty of breweries in Indiana are still providing beer to drink, and I encourage you to find the good ones, and drink their beer. This month saw Barley Thyme open in Danville, and I’m looking forward to visiting them. Some of you don’t live in Indiana, so please visit your breweries as well. I know you’re experiencing similar closures where you live, and be assured that this is just a part of craft brewing, and good beer is not going anywhere. So let’s put 2024 to rest, and look at having a great 2025 because craft beer deserves it! And if I see you out at one of the breweries or festivals, lets have a beer together!
So Much Beer So Little Time 