Local brewery, craft beer makers feel the pinch of aluminum tariffs 

Though Canada’s aluminum industry is primarily tied to Quebec, U.S. tariffs on the metal are also expected to have an impact on prices in the Golden Horseshoe area – particularly when it comes to beer. 

The founder of a Beamsville brewery says while their supply of beer cans is ample for now, things could change – including the prices. 

Griffin Data, president of Newark Brewing Company on Christie Drive, says half of the company’s stock is packaged in aluminum cans.

“Aluminum cans is the consumer favourite right now, and bottles are also a pretty costly option, so we’re just going to try and mitigate the tariffs as well as we can moving forward,” says Data.

According to Ontario Craft Brewers, there’s no immediate impact from the tariffs because businesses still have inventory, but the association warns that brewers could be in trouble once supplies run out. The tariff hits the raw aluminum as it leaves Canada and goes to the United States and it’s hit again when the finished cans come back to the northern side of the border.

“You’re being hit twice, so 150 million cans … if the cost went up a dime, that’s $15 million. If it went up 20 cents, that’s $30 million. So that is not insignificant, and it’s a cost craft brewers in Ontario cannot afford,” says Ontario Craft Brewers president Scott Simmons.

Data is confident that his stock of aluminum cans should last the calendar year.

“For us right now, we have the luxury of having a lot of the aluminum cans in stock. Once they are depleted, we will definitely see the effect of these tariffs on our packaged goods. This stock that we have should last us going into 2026,” says Data.

Simmons says that agriculture tariffs and provincial taxes also hurt the beer industry.

“Craft breweries in Ontario pay eight times the tax a similar size brewery in Alberta would pay … so as much as these aluminum tariffs are not good, the biggest single thing we need to fix here in Ontario is the tax structure,” says Simmons.

Data says he’s seen a 10 per cent decrease in sales at Newark Brewing Company since the tariff talks started. 

“We operate a business that is a luxury really, going out, enjoying craft beer, Canadian-made craft beer it’s a luxury. So with this economic uncertainty, I think people are just a little hesitant and keeping a little closer watch on their wallets.”

With better weather and patio season slowly approaching, Data is hopeful things will change.

READ MORE: Doug Ford says U.S. expected to impose ‘global tariff’ on April 2