Missouri embraces the American Beer Act

Missouri has signed a law that will cut taxes on US beer in a bid to support the state’s brewing and farming sectors.

This week, while at AB InBev’s St. Louis Brewery, Republican Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed the bill to slash taxes on US-made beer for the state.

The law, which is called the American Beer Act, follows the Trump administration rolling out its “America First” policies and will vastly reduce Missouri’s excise tax payments for US breweries.

The actions, which have followed President Donald Trump working to strike trade deals with foreign nations and signing various executive orders, are primarily to bolster US manufacturing sectors, including the US’s steel and aluminium industry.

Yesterday, Kehoe told reporters from Fox: “The American Beer Act will help strengthen the beer industry and the manufacturing sector within Missouri and across the United States.”

Kroger explained: “With this law, we’re not just supporting Missouri’s beer industry, along with farmers, suppliers, and retailers that help brew and serve American beers — we’re also setting an example for how we can support American manufacturers, the jobs they create, and the impact they have on their local communities.”

According to local reports, the new bill outlines that although the law currently requires the Missouri Department of Revenue to collect US$1.86 per barrel for all malt liquors, after 1 January 2026, the tax payment will be lowered to just US$0.62 per barrel for all malt liquor manufactured in an American brewery. The US$1.86 tax per barrel will remain on imported malt beverages.

Missouri Craft Brewers Guild executive director Sherry Wohlgemuth insisted that the successful passage of the American Beer Act is a “win for local entrepreneurship, for Missouri’s vibrant craft beer scene, and for beer lovers everywhere.”

Wohlgemuth highlighted how “the American Beer Act provides much-needed financial relief to Missouri’s homegrown brewers, enabling them to reinvest in their businesses, retain employees, and continue to grow and, just as importantly, serves as an excellent example for how we can recognise the contributions that American manufacturing makes to our state’s economy, culture, and tourism”.

Wohlgemuth added: “We’re proud that Missouri is leading the way with this legislation, which provides a great model for other states to follow when looking to support American manufacturing. For Missouri’s more than 170 craft breweries — many of which are family-owned small businesses — the American Beer Act represents real, tangible support. These breweries are creating jobs, revitalising neighbourhoods, and fostering community in towns and cities across our state.“

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