Defeating DMTS: How Quantum Extracts Prevent Flavor Defects
Discover how Abstrax’s proprietary extraction technique gives brewers superior control over their top notes for a cleaner, more hop-forward flavor...
Microbreweries are the beating heart of the beer industry and are often at the center of brewing innovation. With fewer resources than larger breweries, it’s not unusual for them to have to get creative. With recent tariffs, that creativity is being put to the test in an entirely new way.
Craft Brewing Business explains, “U.S. craft breweries face growing financial strain as steel, aluminum, barley, and malt tariffs intensify. According to a new report from GlobalData, these trade barriers are inflating costs across the industry — from raw materials to essential brewing equipment.”¹ For the many microbreweries that rely on imported fruit, they can expect tariffs to significantly raise the price of whole fruits and fruit purees.
These kinds of cost increases can be difficult for smaller breweries to absorb, leading many to pass those costs to customers. There are several strategies for retaining customers when raising prices, but many brewers are turning to Terpene Brewing Solutions like our Skyfarm Series to offset tariff-fueled costs.
Our TTB-approved flavors provide cost-effective solutions for brewers needing access to tariff-impacted fruit flavors without sacrificing the quality of their beverages. Learn more about tariffs, the changing brewing landscape, and discover how the Skyfarm Series helps brewers keep costs down so they don’t have to pass them on to consumers.
Skyfarm is built with terpenes so you can brew with recognizable fruit flavors with no added sugar, calories, or mouthfeel. There are no “off flavors,” potpourri, or floral junk. Just high-amplitude fruit flavor top notes that are perfect for a variety of beverages.
Whether you use whole fruit or fruit purees, tariffs are going to make brewing with fruit flavors a lot more complicated. While imports from USMCA-compliant sources like many from Canada and Mexico are exempt from additional tariffs (for now), those from Central and South America are going to have higher price tags. This adds another challenge to an already strained supply chain that’s been impacted by climate issues and inclement weather.
Many breweries will be forced to pass these costs onto customers who are already feeling the economic squeeze. Alcohol is a discretionary purchase and consumers will have to decide how it does or doesn’t fit into their budgets.
Some may reduce consumption altogether, others may choose to drink at home instead of at bars or restaurants, and others may opt for quality over quantity. Mintel states, “Trusted and premium brands will retain a competitive edge, as consumers prioritize quality over quantity. 55% of US adults aged 22+ who drank alcohol away from home agree they would cut back on volume to continue enjoying premium options.”²
For the growing number of consumers considering foregoing alcohol altogether, these premium prices may be what drives them toward affordable NA beverages. While that might sound negative, breweries can minimize losses to non alcoholic competitors by offering their own NA or low-alcohol options.
For example, many breweries are adding hop water to menus because they’re cost-effective to produce, appeal to current consumers with changing habits, they offer an NA bev option for those wanting to pace themselves, etc. However, this doesn’t address the expensive fruit issue, and ANY beverage relying on whole fruit or fruit purees will need to find a solution.
Fruit flavors in beer isn’t a new phenomenon by any means. Certain hop varieties and strains of yeast can impart a wide array of fruit flavors and aromas. Obviously, brewing with whole fruit and fruit purees is an option, but many brewers have also begun using fruit extracts to avoid things like additional calories, sugars, haze, etc.
In the face of fruit tariffs, one of the most valuable advantages of brewing with extracts is that they’re significantly less expensive compared to whole fruit and fruit purees. They also have greater scalability and ease of use, they’re more sustainable, and they can multiply fruity flavor and aroma meaning much less is needed.
At Abstrax, our Skyfarm Series takes these advantages to the next level and provides a much needed solution for brewers needing flavors from tariff-impacted fruits.
Skyfarm has been built from the ground up using isolated terpenes. We extract, purify, and rebuild them into the brightest flavor expression possible for precise control that lets us create repeatable natural flavors and aromas with no added sugar or calories. Each blend is TTB-approved, shelf-stable, and the flavor is ALWAYS consistent.
These are strong, recognizable flavors and aromas that brewers can easily use to infuse beverages with trending fruit flavors. Brewers can still brew with flavors of tropical fruits like Passionfruit or Guava without having to pay the high tariffs on imports from South America.
While popular next-gen citrus like Blood Orange can be sourced domestically, it’s not always available year-round and brewers may scramble when these fruits aren’t in-season. With Skyfarm, there’s no scrambling. Just consistent, potent flavor and aroma.
Plus, brewers don’t have to completely replace whole fruit and/or purees with Skyfarm. They can be used to supplement, complement, or create unique contrasting flavors and aromas with other ingredients while giving brewers an energy efficient and cost-saving advantage.
And those cost-saving advantages? They go a lot farther than helping brewers avoid the high cost of tariffs.
Between the cost of equipment, supplies, ingredients, keeping the lights on, paying living wages, AND doing it with far fewer resources compared to macrobreweries, microbreweries need all the competitive advantages they can get — and Terpene Brewing Solutions like our Skyfarm Series offer serious advantages.
First, Skyfarm flavors don’t require workflow modifications, they don’t soak up potential beer, and they don’t require refrigeration before opening. That means there’s no additional labor required to use them, no additional labor to clean gunk from the tank, and no additional labor required to haul them into cold-storage before using them. That’s a 100% utilization rate with ZERO yield loss.
Additionally, unlike whole fruit and aseptic fruit purees, Skyfarm flavors have zero risk of refermentation since they don’t contain sugar. Simply add it to the brite tank, and you’re done.
Even without the added costs of tariffs, some fruits are just difficult to brew with. This includes fruits with a high water content like Watermelon and delicate Strawberry. Instead of using larger amounts of fruit to avoid pale flavors, brewers can easily infuse beers, hop waters, ciders, and more with the boldest versions of these fruit flavors without risk of seasonal flavor drift.
Honestly, this is just the beginning. Skyfarm offers similar ease-of-use benefits as flavor extracts, but goes way further in terms of flavor, aroma, and handling. It also requires only a fraction of the dosing you’d typically need. When costs are rising, Terpene Brewing Solutions help breweries save money while crafting the best beverages they’ve ever brewed.
At Abstrax, we provide novel solutions for beverage manufacturers looking to streamline, innovate, and gain a competitive edge. With our knowledge, technology, and extensive resources, we’ve crafted our Skyfarm Series to make it easier than ever to add the most aromatic fruit flavor top notes to beverages.
Are you a microbrewery with questions about using our products in your next formulation?
Gribbins, K. (2025, June 2). Tariffs Stack More Pressure on U.S. Craft Breweries. Craft Brewing Business. https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/tariffs-stack-more-pressure-on-u-s-craft-breweries-according-to-globaldata-report/
Zeggler, Jenny (2025, May 12). Navigating market disruptions: tariffs and US snacks and drinks. [Market Report]. Mintel. https://www.mintel.com/