Award-Winning Panther Island Brewing Closes After 11 Years

The Fort Worth craft brewery cites severe economic issues as the reason for shutting down operations.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Panther Island Brewing, an award-winning craft brewery in Fort Worth, Texas, has announced that it will be closing its doors permanently after 11 years in business. The family-owned brewery cited the current economic climate and a variety of factors as the reasons for the closure, leading to the loss of all employee jobs, including the company's seven executive and senior staff members.

Why it matters

The closure of Panther Island Brewing is the latest example of the challenges facing the craft beer industry, which has seen hundreds of brewery closures in recent years due to factors like increased costs, declining consumer demand, and rising inflation. This trend has been described as the 'craft beer apocalypse' by industry insiders, highlighting the fragility of small, independent breweries in the current economic environment.

The details

Panther Island Brewing opened its brewery in 2014 in an old warehouse in the Panther Island district of Fort Worth. The brewery's warehouse-style taproom hosted popular events like live music, fitness classes, and food trucks. Panther Island's beers, including its award-winning Allergeez American Wheat Ale, were available at around 160 locations across 60 Texas cities, including major grocery and retail chains. However, the brewery cited 'severe economic issues' as the reason for its closure, with rising costs of raw materials, packaging, and labor contributing to the decision.

  • Panther Island Brewing opened its brewery in 2014.
  • The brewery closed its doors permanently on February 13, 2026.

The players

Panther Island Brewing

A family-owned craft brewery that operated in Fort Worth, Texas for 11 years before closing in 2026.

Johnnye Soles

The director of sales and marketing at Panther Island Brewing, who cited the current economic climate and a variety of factors as the reasons for the brewery's closure.

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What they’re saying

“Between the current climate and economy, there were a lot of factors. As a family, we agreed that this was the best path to move forward. It's just our time, and we wanted to go out swinging.”

— Johnnye Soles, Director of Sales and Marketing (CultureMap.com)

The takeaway

The closure of Panther Island Brewing is a sobering reminder of the challenges facing the craft beer industry, which has seen hundreds of breweries shut down in recent years due to a combination of economic factors, including rising costs, declining consumer demand, and the broader impacts of inflation and economic uncertainty. This trend highlights the fragility of small, independent businesses in the current environment and the importance of adaptability and resilience for those seeking to survive and thrive in the craft beer market.