Popular Fort Worth Brewery Closing After 11 Years

Sad beer news hit North Texas on Friday morning. After 11 years, Panther Island Brewing is closing its doors.

The craft brewing industry has been struggling over the last few years: Gen Z is drinking less, and non-alcoholic and seltzers have gained favor. According to the Brewers Association, craft beer volume sales declined 4.1% in 2025. Their mid-year report in 2025 summarized: “Overall, the results of this midyear survey indicate that for many breweries, the challenges they’ve faced over the past few years have either continued or accelerated.”

This has come to full fruition with the announcement of Cowtown’s longtime craft brewery. In an Instagram post, they didn’t offer any reasons for the closings (we reached out but didn’t hear back).

Ryan McWhorter opened Panther Island Brewing in 2014. The business has always been family-owned and operated. They produced several award-winning beers over the years, including a gold medal for their American amber, Allergeez, at the Great American Beer Festival in 2020. They also created a beer using Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggests, an English brown ale called Road Trip Snacks.

One Last Brewhaha

This weekend (Feb. 7 – 8) will be their last full weekend of taproom service. Then they’re planning a farewell event on Friday, Feb. 13, from 6 to 10 p.m.

This Saturday, Feb. 7, Panther Island will start the day with Beer Yoga from 11 a.m. to noon. Twenty-five bucks gets you all stretched out and 2 beers. Then from 1 to 4 p.m., they’re hosting a sip-and-shop Galentine’s Day event with a local market and dogs who need a new home from Cowtown Friends.

Musical guests this weekend include Brian Lambert from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Jeremie Fletcher on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 1 to 4 p.m.