New Brewery Legislation in Texas

Cheers !!!

In keeping with the theme of this blog I felt the need to give a quick update on some important legislation currently making it's way through the Texas Legislature.  Anyone who has been to the "tour" at Rahr Brewery has asked the same question: "Why the F can I only get 3 beers?!?!?"  Turns out it was a consequence of the State's antiquated alcohol laws. The last update to the state law was in 1993 back when Miller Lite could be considered a small batch beer.
The new rules allow breweries to sell beer on site (say for like a $1.00) and also be able to bottle small batch beer for sale locally with only a $250.00 state fee. The bill has made it through what is  called "committee," a huge hurdle, and is backed by both small and big beer interests. Look for it to become law by September 1, 2013.

Highlights:

Highlights of the beer-related bills passed Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce:

• On-site sales for breweries: Production breweries that make less than 225,000 barrels of beer annually would be allowed to sell up to 5,000 barrels’ worth directly to customers for consumption on site each year. Take-away beer and growler fills to go still would be prohibited.
• Off-site sales for brewpubs: Brewpubs could make up to 10,000 barrels of beer annual and sell some on site and package beer for off-site retail sales. Once it reaches the 10,000-barrel limit, a brewpub would have to switch to a production brewery license or stop growing.
• New limits on self-distribution: Breweries that produce up to 125,000 barrels annually would be allowed to self-distribute up to 40,000 barrels. Out-of-state breweries also would be allowed some self-distribution rights.
• Distribution rights: Breweries could not receive payment from wholesalers for the right to distribute their beer in specific geographic regions. The breweries would be allowed, however, to continue to share marketing, promotional and some other costs with distributors.
• Note: The legislation moves forward as Senate Bills 515, 516, 517, 518 and 639.

http://blog.chron.com/beertx/2013/03/beer-legislation-passes-committee-on-path-to-senate/