Incinerati Brewing Co. in Clovis is the latest central San Joaquin Valley craft brewery to shut down, joining a growing list of local closures as small beer makers struggle nationwide. Rising costs, slower foot traffic and an industry where closures now outpace openings are squeezing breweries across the region.
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Sequoia Brewing Company, photographed at its Olive Avenue location in Frenso on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The longtime classic hangout and craft beer microbrewery in Fresno’s Tower District, is closing — along with its two other Valley locations. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com Several Fresno-area breweries have recently closed or scaled backIncinerati Brewing Co. in Clovis will close April 26 or when the beer runs out. Owner Mike Sumaya said the taproom never earned enough for him to quit his day job.Hop Forged Brewing Co. in Hanford announced it was closing this year.Lake Bottom Brewery & Distilling closed its Visalia and Corcoran locations, including the restaurant, citing economic challenges.Sequoia Brewing Co. closed its Tower District and north Fresno locations in early 2025. Both have since reopened under new ownership.Full Circle Brewing Co. closed its Fulton Street taproom and music venue in 2024 but consolidated into its original F Street brewery.
Craft beer production fell in 2025 and brewery openings slowed, according to The Brewers Association. The cost of hops, grains, rent and fuel has driven up the price of a pint, and people are drinking less — all of which hits small breweries hard
Summer Fox Brewing Co. owner Jason Hatwig said breweries are struggling to find the right size.
“There’s the challenge of being too small. There’s the challenge of being too large,” he said. “Everybody’s trying to get to this middle spot that seems to be working for people.”
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The Fresno Bee
Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.