Yet another Kansas City area brewer is closing. ‘Every brewery needs help’

Boho Brewing's closure signals a broader downturn in the craft beer industry, with owner Robb Mann citing declining sales and changing consumer preferences, particularly among Gen Z. This local trend aligns with national data from the Brewers Association, which reported more brewery closures than openings in 2025, a 1% decrease in taprooms, a 3% decrease in microbreweries, and a 5% overall decline in craft volume. While some breweries offering diversified food and beverage options are still growing, the general market indicates significant headwinds for many smaller operators, prompting concerns about the sector's future viability.

Analysis

Yet another Kansas City area brewer is closing. ‘Every brewery needs help’ Robb Mann, owner of Boho Brewing, teared up on the phone with The Star on Thursday as he shared the details of his business’s last day. The hardest part of the shutdown Friday, he said, is leaving behind a community of supporters. “It’s like losing a loved one,” he said. “We will be losing a lot of friends. Our clientele here, our guests, are so amazing.” Boho is saying goodbye (at least for the time being) after struggling to stay afloat amid dropping sales. But his is far from the only brewery that’s experienced hardship this year. Mann’s Parkville brewery at 15425 Old Town Drive is one of many that have said goodbye. So far this year, Crane Brewing, Double Shift, Pathlight, The Big Rip Brewing, and Grains and Taps’ downtown Lee’s Summit location have all closed. (Grains and Taps still has a spot at 310 SW Blue Parkway.) Mann has been talking to his friends in the brewery industry around Kansas City, and they’ve all been reporting decreased sales — from the smallest spaces to the largest manufacturers. The fear of the future is a widespread one for local brewers. “Every brewery needs help,” Mann said. Industry publication Brewers Association reported in July that 2025 saw more brewery closures than openings, with a 1% year decrease in taprooms and 3% decrease in microbreweries. Craft volume overall is down 5%. The silver lining in the report: About half of respondents surveyed by Brewers Association reported growth. Many of those offer a variety of food and beverage products. Locally, this seems to be true as well. Despite the closures, KC Bier Co. is opening a large beer hall in Lenexa at 98th Street and Ridgeview Road. Iowa’s Big Grove Brewery is expanding into the area with a spot at West 71st Street and Mission Road. Boho Brewing has been around in the Northland for three years. Though Mann feels like he started behind the eight ball of the brewery trend, he said sales increased from year one to year two. But as 2025 came around, things dropped off. It’s difficult to point a finger at one definitive reason, but Mann has a theory. “The new generation, they’d rather eat gummies and get high than drink anything,” he said. And on that point, the data is on his side. A 2023 Gallup survey shows that Gen Z drinks less than millennials and bBaby boomers. Wile a National Survey on Drug Use study from the same year found that a third of adults aged 18 to 25 had consumed marijuana in the past year, alcohol use still exceeded drug use in the age group by 68%. So what’s next for Mann? He’d like to reopen Boho someday, but it doesn’t seem feasible at the moment. He’s vacating the space after Friday. His license is up at 2 a.m., so he promises to serve beer “as long as the party goes.” Mann thanked his customers, who have given him hope about humanity’s ability to look out for one another. “They are so diverse,” he said. “And they come here, and they embrace each other’s diversity. … We need to take this and move it beyond these four walls.” Since Mann announced his brewery was closing, he’s seen a swath of support from the beer community. He wishes the busyness was a constant theme. Asked if he had anything else to share, Mann provided a word of caution to beer enthusiasts. “Take your passion for breweries and your cash and go support them, and do it now,” he said. “Before another one has to close.” This story was originally published October 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM. The closure of Boho Brewing is symptomatic of a broader contraction within the Kansas City craft beer market and reflects a national trend of sector consolidation and distress. According to a July 2025 Brewers Association report, the industry is experiencing more closures than openings, evidenced by a 1% year-over-year decrease in taprooms, a 3% decline in microbreweries, and a 5% drop in overall craft volume. This downturn is attributed to declining sales and a secular shift in consumer preferences, particularly among younger demographics. A 2023 Gallup survey confirms that Gen Z consumes less alcohol than previous generations, a trend compounded by a rising preference for alternatives. However, the market is bifurcating rather than collapsing entirely. The report also notes that half of surveyed breweries, often those with diversified food and beverage offerings, reported growth. This is mirrored locally by the expansion of larger players like KC Bier Co. and Big Grove Brewery, suggesting that scale and a broader consumer experience model are becoming critical for viability, while smaller, beverage-focused taprooms face significant headwinds.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Given the accelerating closures and declining sales volume, investors should re-evaluate exposure to smaller, non-diversified microbreweries, as they appear most vulnerable to current market pressures.
• Consider shifting focus towards larger, well-capitalized brewing companies or those with a proven, diversified business model that includes significant food service and a destination-style experience, as these entities are demonstrating resilience and expansion.
• Closely monitor demographic consumption data, particularly trends among Gen Z, as their reduced alcohol intake and preference for alternatives represents a significant long-term secular risk to the entire craft beverage industry.