Sask. brewers tap into local support as Trump tariffs leave a bitter aftertaste

“This is exactly the kind of business we should always be supporting, but the kind of business we should especially be supporting as we face new and changing threats to our economy,” Beck said Feb. 28.

A push for local

Saskatchewan brewers say supporting local beer is more important than ever.

“It’s always important to support local,” said Hayden McPherson, marketing coordinator for District Brewing Company in Regina. “We have all the ingredients right here in our province. It’s all homemade, and not only that, but we have some of the best-tasting stuff from all around.”

Joel Kennedy, operations manager at High Key Brewing Co. in Saskatoon, said buying local benefits more than just breweries.

“We’re putting money back into the local economy through beer,” he said. “As far as making beer and the ingredients in our beer and food, [we’re] supporting local farmers and different aspects of Canadian businesses.”

Paddock Wood Brewing in Saskatoon. (photo/ Paddock Wood Brewing)

Matthew Omer, director of operations at Paddock Wood Brewing in Saskatoon, said the tariffs make it even more important to prioritize Saskatchewan beer.

“With the tariff war, it is important for Canadians — countrywide, but also provincially — to recognize that if you are going to be drinking, it’s a better idea to support the locals,” he said.

Omer also noted that choosing Saskatchewan-made beer is about more than just the good taste.

“With people purchasing our product throughout Saskatchewan, they are helping the provincial economy and keeping people employed,” he said.

In North Battleford, Armoury Brewing told battlefordsNOW that that they’ve been using Canadian products for their beers since day one and will continue to do so.

“Most of what we buy for production, packaging, merchandise is all Canadian, it is very rare that we need something shipped up from the U.S.,” they noted.

Armoury Brewing in North Battleford. (Facebook/ Armoury Brewing)

Navigating higher costs

Breweries are preparing for rising costs, particularly for aluminum cans, which are often sourced from the U.S.

“It’s challenging to fully navigate the chaos, but we have been stocking up on cans, which were particularly vulnerable in terms of our trade with the United States,” said Shawn Moen, CEO and co-founder of 9 Mile Legacy Brewing in Saskatoon.

Kennedy said High Key Brewing is still assessing its options.

“Aluminum is a huge thing, and that’s obviously a big part of our packaging process,” he said. “So we’re just trying to navigate the uncertainty.”

9 Mile Legacy Brewing in Saskatoon. (photo/ Tourism Saskatchewan)

Omer said while Paddock Wood sources most of its ingredients locally, some specialty malts still come from the U.S. and Europe.

“There’s sometimes just no way around using American products,” he said. “Some of our specialty malt does come from the States. Unfortunately, some of it comes from Europe too, but our base malt comes from Maker’s Malt in Rosthern, Sask., so you can’t get much more local than that.”

Government response and industry hopes

The NDP is also calling on the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority to remove American beer and liquor from store shelves and promote local products, a move welcomed by brewers.

“Dedicated shelf space to all Canadian or all Saskatchewan beers would obviously help everybody out,” Kennedy said. “It’s a shame you have to take shelf space away from other products, but I know that’s not their fault — that’s their government in the U.S.’s fault.”

Hayden McPherson, marketing coordinator for District Brewing Company, said on Feb. 28, 2025, the little procurement it does in the U.S. is being moved to Canadian companies (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

Omer said limiting American beer could encourage more people to try local options.

“It would eliminate those options,” he said. “I wouldn’t say force people to drink craft beer, but maybe get them to try it and hopefully they like it.”

Moen said while a buy-local push could help, long-term support requires more investment.

“I think the buy-local initiative will certainly help us as a local business, but I think it’s going to be a combination of positive and negative,” he said. “It’s really going to require intentional investment into our agri-food processing sector.”

District Brewing Company in Regina. (photo/ Tourism Saskatchewan)

Omer suggested Saskatchewan breweries should also expand interprovincial sales.

“Maybe looking at getting our beer to as many larger cities as possible,” he said. “Going to Alberta—like Calgary, Edmonton — we are in Winnipeg at this time, so that’s good. Maybe even skipping Manitoba and going to Ontario.”

Kennedy said the province needs to take a stronger stance.

“I don’t think Saskatchewan or the Sask. Party has really taken any action, so I think just any action in general and standing up to the U.S. government would be, I guess, the first sign of a positive fight,” he said.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said in a statement Monday afternoon that the province has been working with the federal government and other provinces on a coordinated national response should the U.S. tariffs proceed.

“We are also considering our province’s response,” Moe said.

“We remain committed to free and fair trade between Canada and the U.S., but should the U.S. proceed with an ill-conceived tariffs policy, we will have no choice but to defend Saskatchewan industries and families.”

-With files from 980 CJME and The Canadian Press-

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

Sask. brewers tap into local support as Trump tariffs leave a bitter aftertaste

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