The Case for Hyperlocal Beer: Rediscovering Brewing’s Roots

Time to rally the beer troops

Beer is a product of place, woven into the fabric of community and local resources, local ingredients and community spirit. Prohibition nearly obliterated the brewing industry, but resourceful brewers persevered, and today’s craft masters—talented, intelligent, and clever problem-solvers—can do the same.

Recent tariffs on imported canned beer and empty aluminum cans, announced by the Trump Administration have reignited debates about the viability of "local beer." These tariffs, imposing a 25% levy on canned beer imports and aluminum cans, expose the fragility of globalized supply chains. Yet, they also highlight the resilience of hyperlocal brewing.

Some of the most important lessons I learned about adversity, creativity, and collaboration were learned and practiced around a brew day.

Breweries like Lantern Brewing (my brother and sister-in -law) in Seattle embody this ethos, crafting beers with 100% Washington-sourced ingredients—farm-fresh fruits, locally grown malt, proprietary yeast, and Olympic Peninsula water. Chris, my brother, has championed this neighborhood hub theory of brewing from the very beginning, and has always demonstrated a fierce dedication to the craft, and their community. Lori, his wife, is an integral part of the brewery, but also a long-standing part of their neighborhood, assisting underserved populations in educational resources. Their dedication to the community has landed them a lovely moniker of a “third place” -

“Third places have been called “the living room of society,” and Megan Slater echoed this sentiment when describing Lantern Brewing in North Seattle.

“Our crew is there every Friday night at least and refer to it as our living room. They let us host Friendsgiving and watch important soccer matches,” she said. “When I started seeing someone important, I brought her by the Lantern. We all stayed late to chat, including the owner.”

Tiffany Lundeen’s family has three local brewers they visit on rotation almost every weekend for an opportunity to “sit across from each other and catch up, read a book or just sit and enjoy being surrounded with like-minded humanity.”

“It’s a resting spot,” Lundeen said. “(A) time and place where you don’t have to worry about the next load of laundry or dishes. You can look your family in the eyes and make sure everyone is doing OK.”” - Seattle Times, 01.02.2025

By embracing hyperlocal traditions, low-tech methods, and community support, breweries can maintain their neighborhood presence, with consumers playing a critical role in sustaining these vital hubs and third places.

Born out of necessity, brewed with local grains, water, and wild yeasts to provide safe hydration when water was unreliable, this hyperlocal approach gave beer its identity, akin to wine’s terroir. Lantern Brewing’s use of Washington malt, fruits, and water reflects this tradition, creating beers that are unmistakably regional. The 2025 tariffs, targeting canned beer imports (38.5% of imported beer in 2024, or 16.1 million barrels) and empty aluminum cans, challenge industrial breweries reliant on global supply chains. Major importers like Constellation Brands, handling 72% of U.S. beer imports, face steep cost increases, but hyperlocal breweries, rooted in domestic ingredients, are better positioned. These tariffs encourage a return to brewing’s roots, where local resources define the craft.

Brewing’s accessibility is its superpower. Requiring just a pot, grain, water, and yeast, it’s inherently low-tech. Traditional methods—Sahale beers fermented in cedar, Swedish log brews, or open fermentation in wooden vats—showcase this simplicity. The homebrewing revolution post-Prohibition, which revived craft beer, thrived on this low barrier to entry. Prohibition (1920–1933) nearly erased brewing, shuttering thousands of breweries and criminalizing the craft. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Brewers, ever resourceful, turned to homebrewing in secret, preserving recipes and techniques that fueled the craft beer renaissance.

These tariffs, adding costs to imported beer ($7.5 billion in 2024, with Mexico at $6.3 billion) and aluminum cans, demand creativity. Brewers, known for their random talents and problem-solving prowess, can adapt by:

• Sourcing Local Packaging: Shift to U.S.-made glass bottles or kegs, reducing reliance on tariffed aluminum. Glass accounted for 26.9% of craft beer distribution in 2023, making it a practical alternative.

• Reviving Traditional Methods: Use wooden barrels or clay vessels for fermentation, creating unique flavors without imported equipment.

• Partnering with Local Farmers: Secure malt, hops, and fruits locally to insulate against global disruptions, strengthening regional economies.

• Crafting Low-ABV Beers: Develop small beers or herbal gruits, using local ingredients to cut costs and appeal to health-conscious consumers.

These strategies leverage brewers’ resourcefulness, ensuring they can hunker down and maintain their craft, even if it means reverse-engineering finances to go bare bones.

Consumers are essential to sustaining hyperlocal brewing amid tariff-driven price hikes (potentially $8 billion annually for aluminum and steel). By supporting local breweries, they can help masters of the craft—not just marketing mouths—thrive. Here’s how:

• Choose Growler Fills: Use reusable growlers at taprooms for fresh beer, bypassing tariffed cans and reducing waste.

• Engage in Bottle Returns: Support breweries with glass bottle return programs, lowering costs and promoting sustainability.

• Visit Taprooms: Buy directly from local breweries, cutting out distributors and fostering community ties.

• Crowdsource Support: Contribute to brewery crowdfunding campaigns or membership programs to provide financial stability during economic shifts.

• Advocate and Explore: Share local brewery stories online, attend events, and try low-ABV or experimental beers made with regional ingredients.

Beer is more than a drink—it’s nourishment and connection. Low-alcohol “small beers” were once daily staples, offering calories and vitamins. Breweries can revive this with low-ABV beers or gruits, using local herbs or fruits to create affordable, nutritious options. Neighborhood taprooms serve as community hubs, where locals share stories or celebrate harvests. Lantern Brewing exemplifies this, offering a space for Seattleites to taste their region’s bounty.

Tariffs driving up aluminum costs will push brewers to pivot to local packaging like glass bottles or reusable growlers, echoing that same ingenuity. As tariffs and retaliatory measures threaten exports, local markets gain importance. Brewers’ resilience, honed during Prohibition’s dark days, ensures they can adapt, perhaps by crowdsourcing funds or simplifying operations to maintain these vital spaces.

The Brewers Association notes that small breweries, producing under 10,000 barrels annually, are most vulnerable to aluminum price hikes. Yet, their agility allows them to pivot to local supply chains, from farmers to glassmakers. Some may need to strip operations to the essential bare bones or seek community funding, but their talent for problem-solving ensures survival.

Consumers must act, too. Every growler filled, bottle returned, or crowdfunding pledge supports a brewing culture that prioritizes place and craft over profit. By seeking out local beer, consumers affirm that the industry’s heart lies in neighborhood taprooms, not corporate boardrooms.

The tariffs on canned beer and aluminum cans aren’t the death knell for local beer—they’re a catalyst for its rebirth. Breweries like Lantern Brewing prove that hyperlocal brewing, rooted in regional ingredients and low-tech methods, is not only viable but vital. By adopting creative solutions like local packaging, traditional techniques, and low-ABV beers, breweries can navigate supply chain challenges. Consumers, through growler fills, bottle returns, and taproom visits, can drive this revolution, ensuring that neighborhood breweries remain vibrant community hubs. The beer revolution, sparked by homebrewers and sustained by local passion, is far from over—it’s returning to its hyperlocal roots, stronger than ever.

Lantern Brewing proves regional ingredients and low-tech methods are vital. By adopting local packaging, traditional techniques, and low-ABV beers, breweries navigate challenges. Consumers, through growler fills, bottle returns, and advocacy, ensure taprooms remain vibrant third places. The beer revolution, sparked by homebrewers and sustained by craft masters, thrives in neighborhood hubs. Raise a glass to local beer—support breweries like Lantern, Stoup, or Holy Mountain in Seattle, and check how they’re adapting to tariffs. Every pint poured is a vote for community, creativity, and resilience.

Seeking out and supporting local breweries ensures that these small operations thrive. Every pint poured at a neighborhood taproom is a vote for a brewing culture that values place, people, and creativity over profit-driven uniformity. What are the local breweries in your area, and how are they coping with the tariffs?