Where Have American Craft Beers Gone?

Where Are the West Coast IPAs?

While fans of American craft beers have spent months searching online for brands like Sierra Nevada, Anchor, Flying Dog, or Founders, the Spanish market is flooded with Budweiser brewed in Barcelona by Damm. The question isn't just about supply: some point to a disguised trade barrier.

The Trumpian Blockade Theory

A recurring argument in the beer world is that the Trump administration, in its trade standoff with the EU, restricted craft beer exports to Spain. There's no official confirmation, but the sudden disappearance of these brands from online and physical stores is striking. Meanwhile, big brands like Budweiser (which is neither craft nor truly American, brewed under license in Barcelona) keep going strong.

The Void in Specialty Shops

Platforms that used to sell these references no longer have them. Not in Spain nor in EU shops that ship here. The shortage isn't temporary: it seems structural. Super Costco appears as an exception, but its presence in Spain is minimal.

A Deeper Debate: Tariffs vs. Marginalization of the HORECA Channel

Some argue it's the fault of tariffs from the trade war; others believe Spanish distributors have prioritized deals with big groups (Damm, Mahou) and left out small importers. Whatever the case, the result is the same: lovers of West Coast IPAs are left wanting.

With trade tensions between Washington and Brussels still simmering, and no signs that imports will resume, the future of these beers in Spain is uncertain. Perhaps we'll have to wait for the specialty channel to push back, or for the next US administration to ease restrictions. Or perhaps we'll simply have to look for them on the black market.