Alberta’s beer industry concerned about tariffs on aluminum, hops

Tariffs are set to drive up the cost on just about everything.

There’s some concern over what that could mean for Alberta’s beer industry.

Aluminum tariffs could make it more expensive for small brewers to package their product.

Many brewers currently buy their cans from the United States.

But much of the aluminum used to make those cans comes from Quebec, leading to tariffs twice as it crosses the border.

Some brewers are expecting costs for their cans to go up by as much as 30 per cent.

But it’s still too early to tell what the full impact might be.

“It remains to be seen if we’re at our peak, for how much the tariffs will be putting on those products as well as how long they may last,” said Blair Berdusco, Alberta Small Brewers Association executive director.

Tariffs on hops are another concern for many brewers.

Most hops used in brewing in Canada come from the United States.