USA, TX: Grit & Gyle Brewing Co. coming to Kyle in 2026

A new brewery is in the works for Kyle, with plans to open in October 2026 — despite state and national trends suggesting public enthusiasm for craft beer may be tapped out, Yahoo!Finance reported on August 18.

Grit & Gyle Brewing Co. plans a $3 million project along North Old Highway 81, according to state records. The proposal includes 6,250 square feet of new construction featuring a brewhouse and production building. Work is expected to begin in September. The listed owner, Nathan Kennedy, did not respond to a request for comment.

Brewery growth across the United States has slowed significantly since the pandemic. After peaking in the 2010s, the industry has faced declining sales, shifting consumer habits and rising closures. In 2024, for the first time on record, more U.S. breweries closed than opened — 339 closures compared with 335 openings, according to the Brewers Association.

Texas has followed a similar trend. The number of breweries plateaued in 2022 and 2023, then dipped slightly in 2024 with five closures. The state now has 440 breweries, ranking sixth nationwide.

The brewery decline comes as fewer Americans are drinking alcohol and with more believing even moderate drinking poses a health risk, according to a new Gallup poll. Just 54% of U.S. adults say they drink — the lowest percentage in Gallup’s nearly 90-year record of tracking alcohol consumption. For the first time, a majority of Americans — 53% — say moderate alcohol use is bad for their health, up from 28% in 2015.

The shift is most pronounced among young adults, who are most likely to view “one or two drinks a day” as harmful. Concern is also growing among older Americans. The findings come from Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits survey, conducted July 7–21.

Between 1997 and 2023, at least 60% of Americans consistently said they drank alcohol. That share slipped to 62% in 2023, dropped to 58% in 2024 and now stands at 54%. Before this recent decline, the share of drinkers had dipped below 60% fewer than 10 times since polling began — starting with 58% in the 1939 survey and hitting a record low of 55% in 1958. The highest levels, ranging from 68% to 71%, were recorded between 1974 and 1981.

The rise of takeout and delivery has also played a role. Nearly 75% of restaurant traffic now comes from takeout or delivery, according to the National Restaurant Association. To adapt, many breweries have added food menus or nonalcoholic options to attract a broader audience.

In Texas, breweries face another unique challenge: state law prohibits them from shipping alcohol directly to consumers. That reliance on foot traffic has pushed many to close or rethink their business models.