Sometimes when you review the news about beer and law you are struck with how simple some of the obstacles to success are. Usually we focus on the multiple layers of taxation or the rules on where you can have a beer - my favorite repeal being the one in Nova Scotia until the 1980s that forbid you from having a beer on your front porch or lawn. But this lobbying effort in Texas set of 2007 seems so obviously reasonable that you wonder why it even has to be made:
Texas' five microbreweries have teamed up to lobby the Legislature next year to make their beer more available to the consumer and ensure the survival of their businesses. They want the same privilege that lawmakers gave to Texas wineries in 2005: selling directly to consumers where the beverage is made. If they get their wish, the breweries would be able to sell up to 5,000 barrels of their lagers and ales a year, such as at the end of tours or keg sales from their docks. "It would be so great at the end of a brewery tour to sell them a six-pack," said St. Arnold Brewing Co. founder Brock Wagner. The Saturday tours of St. Arnold's Houston brewery routinely draw 100 to 200 people.The problem all brewers face is the need for customers and one of the best things a craft brewer can have to make contact with those customers is a retail outlet that lets the customer meet the beer and the people who make it. A few years ago I was privileged enough once to get a surprise personal tour with one of the brewers at Shipyard in Portland, Maine when, while picking up a six at their retail store, my pal asked about how they made the stuff that I liked so much. In reply we heard: "well, I'm the brewer so let me show you". We were up the ladders to look in the big open square vats and had a Laverne and Shirley moment in the bottling line room. They did not get just the sale of whatever I bought that day but, by being fulsome, got a fan for life. Similarly, when I lived in Halifax, the shop at Garrison Brewing was where I headed to get their beer, not the government store, as I got a chat, got the news about their brewing plans as well as the freshest beer that I could find. Which is all anyone really wants so hopefully they'll get what they want and get this law out of the way.
Comments
Jeff - December 17, 2006 10:16 am
I have a feeling the distributors are going to object. I guess their afraid someone in El Paso might drive 8 hours to Houston to buy a 6-pack. But I am contact my state representative next week to encourage him to support the idea.
Alan - December 17, 2006 10:23 am
Hey Jeff! Just remember: don't mention a foreigner - one of them socialist Canadian-type retail brewery store lovin' Canucks - got you all riled up on this.
And hard to believe there are only five micro breweries in Texas. Imagine there are about that many in Portland or Syracuse. Did the story get that right?
Tedo - December 17, 2006 10:27 am
Alan,
I have been talking about Saint Arnold's quest to change Texas law for a couple of weeks now, I'm glad that others are picking up the story outside of Texas, (heck outside the US is good too). The more coverage they get I hope the better. Its amazing that Texas Wineries can sell Wine out of their tasting rooms, but Texas Breweries can't.
Yes the Story got that right there are only a handful. 19 have started up, only 5 remain. Real Ale, Independence, Saint ARnold's, Live Oak, and Healthy Brew (Texas's only All organic brewery).
As for Jeff's Question, Brock (CEO and Owner of Saint Arnold's) answers that question on their Blog: http://www.starnoldgoestoaustin.com/blog/
Travis - December 17, 2006 6:25 pm
As a resident of the Empire State (NY) I can sympathize with outrageous legislation. A few years ago NYS passed legislation that added a $70 deposit on kegs and required you to have the kegs back (with the paper receipt still stuck to the side of the keg) to the distributor within 30 days to get your $70 back. This was an attempt to curb underage drinking, but it instead punished people with home keg setups.
The good news is that I understand they have since made changes to the legislation, but to be honest I lost track when I started home brewing and kegging my own. "Why roam when you can get it at home?"
Ian in Cowtown - December 21, 2006 11:21 am
Saint Arnold is great beer! I drink it regularly whenever business sends me to Houston. In fact I just tried this year's Christmas beer back in November. Delicious!
I sincerely hope Texans can change the law and treat Texas breweries fairly. Here's another socialist-Canadian-type who supports Texas micros!
Alan - December 21, 2006 12:51 pm
Hey - the cause of Texas craft beer had got its own blog!