This Week's Beer News: It's Tariff Time
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There has been plenty of coverage of the potential impact of the Trump tariffs on American breweries in the news for weeks now, but now we have the first specific casualty of those price hikes: In Minnesota, CBS News reports that after considering all the incoming cost increases, Luce Line Brewing put a halt to the new food hall they were planning to construct.
There’s an argument to be made that the tariff on imported beer overall could alleviate some of the pain of … well, all the other tariffs, but I have a hunch that there are a number of breweries currently hanging on by their fingernails that are going to opt to shut their doors and lay the blame at the feet of Orange Monday.
Saying “some small breweries are probably going to close!” is definitely not a daring prediction at this point, but … well, we’ll see what happens over the next few weeks. I hope I’m wrong.
The other likely (and comparatively more hopeful) option: Continued consolidation. Just in the last week we’ve seen Great Divide get scooped up by Wilding Brands, which owns Denver Beer Co., Funkwerks and Cervceria Colorado, while Left Hand and Dry Dock announced a partnership/merger, with Dry Dock moving all their brewing and production to Left Hand’s facilities. Busy days in the Centennial State.
So, happy National Beer Day, friends. It’s rough out there for a small brewer at the moment. Go buy a few beers from one this week if you can.
Block Club covered the opening of the new Crust Brewing taproom in Irving Park.
The Daily Herald reported on the closure of Mundelein’s Tonality Brewing, with details on the Business Incentive Grant program they received and how much was spent on renovations before opening (a LOT).
Punch Magazine published a story about this year’s “Who’s Who of Beer Cool” which included is/was brewing and Funkytown.
Another recession indicator, maybe? Crain’s covers the news that Moody Tongue is dropping the price of their tasting menu.
Patch.com reported on Bitter Pops’ 9th anniversary, and how they’re celebrating in Francheezie style. (The hot dog AND the beer.)
Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen will open on Wednesday in Washington, IL.
Now open in Noblesville: The state’s biggest biergarten at Bier Brewery.
Iowa has a new brewery collective called Parallel that combines the buying and selling powers of SingleSpeed, Backpocket and others
MyNorth recommends you check out Petoskey’s Elder Piper Beer & Cider, whose owners worked for Founders and Sierra Nevada before returning home to open their own place.
After purchasing it from Bell’s, California-based Seven Beverages is tripling the taproom space at Upper Hand Brewing.
The Brewers Association announced their 2025 Industry Awards would include a posthumous award for Ron Jeffries of Jolly Pumpkin.
Tilray’s Atwater Brewing released a new light lager called Atwater Light. Shrug emoji.
The Star Tribune looks at how Fair State has been doing after emerging from bankruptcy.
The S-T also checks out feather bowling at Pryes Brewing. (Both pieces paywalled.)
St. Joseph’s Bad Habit Brewing is the latest to add THC drinks to their lineup.
STLMag says that saison is the perfect beer style for spring (can’t argue!) and some local options can be found at places like 2nd Shift, Mississippi Culture and Pointe Labaddie, among others.
Now available from 4 Hands: Canned cocktails.
Sauce Magazine reports on The ExBeerience, a group created to help diversity brewery patronage around STL.
Sauce also talks to Side Project about how they’ve managed the pivot from in-person beer releases to online sales.
In Columbus, Trail Stop Brewery transformed a vacant lot in a flood plain into a new brewing destination, which just opened last week.
In addition to closing their Bankside location, Schlafly also quietly shuttered another brewpub around the same time.
Market Garden Brewery is opening a new taproom at their production facility this week.
The Toledo Blade looks at the many ways that area breweries are building communities around their businesses.
Third Space worked with the Mequon Nature Preserve to create a new honey blonde ale to raise funds and awareness for the MNP.
WSAW reports on the efforts underway to reopen Bulls Fall Brewery in Wausau.
At Broken Bat Brewing’s 8th birthday party, you can drink beer, eat brats and … get married? Well, not quite, but a new wedding venue at the brewery is being opened at the party as well.
Lakefront is releasing a collaboration lager with the famed Hofbrau Munchen in Munich, Germany.
Nine breweries, one NFL draft collab beer: It’s “8th Round Downtown” from Badger State, Hinterland, Titletown, Noble Roots and others.
Pabst is introducing their own light lager, and OnMilwaukee rightfully asks: “Is Pabst Light just Blue Ribbon Light in a new can?”
It’s not super beer related but I feel like I should tell you that there’s a bar in Wisconsin dedicated to all things Chris Farley. It’s called Farley’s, of course.
Colorado’s Left Hand and Dry Dock brewing companies announced a partnership/merger, with Dry Dock moving all their brewing and production to Left Hand’s facilities.
It’s not all bad news: Westbound & Down announced a brewery expansion project (with a crowdfunding campaign) after expanding 1800% in the last six years.
This is true to their name, at least: Gigantic Brewing just released a six-pack of 19.2-oz cans filled with their Ginormous Imperial IPA.
Last week’s most-clicked link: Eater’s coverage of food and drink at Sox Park. Slow week.
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