Big news in Texas for Craft Breweries and Brewpubs!

Four bills filed by State Senator Kevin Eltife on Tuesday would loosen strict regulations on craft breweries and brewpubs in the great state of Texas. It’s an exciting time, similar to the excitement in 2011 when bills filed to allow our breweries to beer for home consumption out in limited quantities among other things, failed.

But I have a good feeling about this set of bills and their making it through due to the proven massive growth in the industry and after the consistent criticism of the outdated bills over the years.

Brewpubs allowed to sell a limited amount to retailers and get their beers to Texas consumers that don’t live in those cities or frequent the brewpubs. I’m excited about this part of the bills because I would love able to pick up more Texas beers in our grocery and liquor stores. It’s a fabulous idea for our economy and for our taste buds. Free market economy, folks! The taste of competition is freedom.

The bills also suggest an adjustment to the amount of beer that breweries can sell to retailers without a distributor.

518 proposes that breweries can sell to consumers for on-site consumption, which isn’t a far cry from an ultimate goal, to sell beer to take home with you from the brewery. I am excited to get to the off-site sales part but the vechicle of on-site consumption only leaves me wary and curious about the potential change to my beloved past time, visiting breweries. I love my brewery tours.

Does this mean breweries will become be designed to become closer to bars in Texas? Will this mean that the breweries required to sell bar food for patrons consuming more beers on premises?
I’m interested to see what will happen in the structure of the tours offered if the bills pass. Perhaps the unfamiliar isn’t as dramatic as I imagine and maybe it will result in glorious growth of our craft brewers in Texas. More craft brewers and having our state represented in the nation for our small businesses accomplishments makes me excited for the future of these bills!

Progress is the goal and let’s hope this year will be a step forward for our Texas breweries and brewpubs

Proposal 518

Sec. 12.052. SALES BY CERTAIN BREWERS TO CONSUMERS. (a) In

addition to the activities authorized by Section 12.01, the holder

of a brewer’s permit whose annual production of ale together with

the annual production of beer by the holder of a manufacturer’s

license at the same premises does not exceed a total of 225,000

barrels may sell ale produced under the permit to ultimate

consumers on the brewer’s premises for responsible consumption on

the brewer’s premises.

Sec. 62.122. SALES BY CERTAIN MANUFACTURERS TO CONSUMERS.

(a) A manufacturer’s licensee whose annual production of beer

together with the annual production of ale by the holder of a

brewer’s permit at the same premises does not exceed 225,000

barrels may sell beer produced under the license to ultimate

consumers on the manufacturer’s premises for responsible

consumption on the manufacturer’s premises.

(b) The total combined sales of beer to ultimate consumers

under this section, together with the sales of ale to ultimate

consumers by the holder of a brewer’s permit under Section 12.052 at

the same premises, may not exceed 5,000 barrels annually.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

“Out there things can happen, and frequently do,
To people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry, don’t stew.
Just go right along, you’ll start happening too!”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Here are some links to Texas newspapers with more information about the proposed bills.

Craft beer bills back in business: KXAN.com

BREAKING NEWS: Beer Bills Introduced: The Austin Chronicle

A Texas Lawmaker Filed Four Bills Yesterday to Make Life Easier on the State’s Craft Brewers Dallas Observer

Breaking news: New bills would help Texas brewers, brewpubs The Houston Chronicle