The Brewers Association (BA), the trade group for small and independent craft brewers, has published its read on what the Nov. 3, 2026, midterm elections could mean for the industry. In a Nov. 4 government affairs update, BA Federal Affairs Manager Michael Mohr-Ramirez writes that, by the BA’s account, Democrats won control of both the House and Senate, setting up divided government for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Below is what the BA says it is watching, separated into what is scheduled, what the BA expects, and what remains a proposal.
What’s on the calendar
- Lame-duck session: Lawmakers return in the coming weeks, and the BA says federal spending and hemp policy could still get attention before year’s end.
- The 120th Congress convenes in January 2027, bringing new leadership, committee assignments and priorities.
Tariffs on aluminum and other materials
The BA expects the incoming Congress to put more emphasis on oversight of the administration, particularly trade policy. In its view, that could give small brewers a chance to highlight the cost of tariffs on imported aluminum and other materials and push for more consideration of small domestic businesses in future trade decisions. That is the BA’s expectation, not an announced congressional agenda.
Intoxicating hemp products
The BA says the new Congress could revisit federal regulation of intoxicating hemp-derived products, including consumer safety, labeling and age standards. Hemp is also one of the issues the BA flags for the lame-duck session. No specific outcome is assured in either window.
Bipartisan cost-cutting proposals
The BA points to several proposals it says could keep drawing support from both parties:
- The Brews to Barns Act, a proposed tax credit tied to brewers’ spent grain
- Modernizing federal excise tax reporting requirements
- More competition in credit card processing
All three are proposals, not current law.
Small Brewers Caucus turnover
The bigger near-term change may be in who the industry’s allies are. According to the BA, at least 33 of the 147 members on the House Small Brewers Caucus roster won’t return to their current House seats next year. The BA says the Senate Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus loses three retiring members and at least one incumbent who lost reelection.
The BA says rebuilding those caucuses and meeting incoming lawmakers will be critical, and it is pointing brewers toward its annual Hill Climb in Washington. It also encourages breweries to invite newly elected representatives to visit, meet employees and see the business up close.
What brewers can do now
For brewery owners, the BA’s practical takeaway is relationship-building: learn who represents your district in January, and make the case early about costs like aluminum and the reporting burden. The full update is on the Brewers Association website.
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