Tariff impact: Nearly $20 for a 6-pack of beer?

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Not the stuff I drink.

Tariff impact: Nearly $20 for a 6-pack of beer?

Mitchell Miller | [e-mail]
April 2, 2025, 4:31 AM

President Donald Trump’s tariff policy is already having an impact on small business owners like Bill Butcher, the founder of Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia. ... His craft brewery depends on pilsner malt from Canada, which he’s been using in the company’s beers since it was founded in 2011. ... “It’s a very specific strain of high-quality barley that grows in the cold climate of Canada,” he said Tuesday during an appearance with Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both of Virginia. “And there’s not a suitable U.S. substitute that we can get of the same quality to make our beer.”

Butcher said a 25% tariff on the key ingredient in his beer would clearly hurt his business, which is already dealing with an uncertain business climate. ... “We’re going to have to raise our prices,” he said, noting the increase could be substantial, as he held a six-pack of his beer. “This $12.99 six-pack of beer is going to end up at $18.99.” ... As good as he likes to think his beer is, he questioned how many people would be willing to pay that price.

Butcher noted it is virtually impossible to execute his business plan when there is so much uncertainty about tariffs. ... He said this week he had to lay off two employees, as he addresses various economic issues. Trump initially imposed 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods, then carved out some items.

But Canadian concern about threats from Trump have already had an impact on Dave Cuttino, the founder of Richmond-based Reservoir Distillery. ... Soon after returning from a trip to western Canada earlier this year, where he’s trying to expand his business, he learned from his distributor that stores had taken his whiskey off their shelves in retaliation for the U.S. tariffs. ... “But also more importantly, the Canadian consumer — furious, frustrated, not understanding why — may not be coming back,” Cuttino said.

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Mitchell Miller
Mitchell Miller has worked at WTOP since 1996, as a producer, editor, reporter and Senior News Director. After working "behind the scenes," coordinating coverage and reporter coverage for years, Mitchell moved back to his first love -- reporting. He is now WTOP's Capitol Hill reporter.

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News
Notes: Port City Brewing heads to Capitol Hill, warns Canadian tariffs will hurt small businesses

By ALXnow.com
Published April 2, 2025 at 8:00AM | Updated April 2, 2025 at 10:20AM


Bill Butcher, founder of Port City Brewing Company, on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Photo via Bill Butcher on Bluesky)

President Trump’s tariff policy is already affecting small business owners in Virginia, prompting them to consider raising prices and cutting jobs. ... Bill Butcher, who started Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, was on Capitol Hill on Monday to discuss how Canadian tariffs could harm small American businesses.

Speaking alongside Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, Butcher said that a 25% tariff on Canadian pilsner malt would be a major blow to his business. Following the event, Butcher shared on BlueSky, “We held a press conference this morning with Sens. Schumer, Klobuchar, Kaine and Warner to discuss the damage that Canadian tariffs will have on American small businesses. Our base malt, which goes into all of our beers, is Canadian and will be subject to a 25% tariff. Higher costs = higher prices”.

Butcher’s craft brewery has used this specific type of high-quality barley from Canada since 2011 and has said in multiple media interviews that there’s no U.S. alternative that matches its quality. ... According to WTOP News, Butcher has already had to let go of two employees due to various economic pressures. ... The Trump Administration has promised to announce wide-ranging tariffs on Wednesday, April 2.