Sanitas Brewing Closes Amid Craft Beer Industry Decline

By Lyra Elliott Stone for KGNU

Sanitas Brewing Company has closed its doors just before the start of 2026, joining more than 430 US breweries that have shut down since last year. It marks the second consecutive year in which brewery closures have outpaced new openings, reflecting a broader shift underway in the craft beer industry.

KGNU’s Lyra Elliott Stone spoke with Sanitas owner Michael Memsic about the decision to close, and what it represents beyond a single business. Rather than seeing the moment as an ending, Memsic described it as part of a larger transition, shaped by a maturing market and changing consumer habits.

Founded in 2013, Sanitas Brewing grew into a recognizable part of Colorado’s craft beer landscape, with locations in Boulder, Englewood, and Lafayette. Its closure signals a broader cultural shift for a state long identified with independent brewing, raising questions about what sustainability, community, and creativity look like as the industry enters a more restrained and competitive phase.

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.