Category: beer laws

Minnesota Pint Law: Next Step, Senate Floor

By on April 6, 2011in beer laws, breweries

SF416, The Minnesota Pint Law, (or “the Surly bill,” if you will) passed a senate committee hearing tonight and now moves to the floor for debate. Very cool. That puts us one step closer to allowing breweries to sell pints of beer at their brewery.

Thought I couldn’t make it tonight, it sounds like there was a great crowd that showed up tonight in support of the law change. I’m told (with bias, of course… hell, we are beer dorks after all…) that our friends such as Omar from Surly and Jason Alvey from The Four Firkins presented themselves well. Though this certainly doesn’t guarantee a slam dunk on the floor, it’s a good start.

If you showed up in support tonight we all thank you!

Here ye, hear ye! Senate Hearing on Wednesday!!

By on April 1, 2011in beer events, beer laws, breweries

PLEASE NOTE: The hearing has been re-scheduled to Wednesday, April 6th at 5:30 pm in room 123 of the Capitol. Also the bill allowing liquor stores to sell merchandise has been added to the agenda.

Do you live in the district of a Senator who sits on the Senate Commerce Committee? Then your voice is needed! Surly is asking folks to call in and voice support for the bill that would allow them (and other breweries) to sell pints. Also on the committee’s agenda is the legislation allowing brew pubs to expand their distribution.

From the Surly Facebook page:

Surly Needs YOU! On Tuesday, April 5,Wednesday April 6 the bill to allow Surly to sell pints of our own beer at our proposed Destination Brewery, will be heard by the Senate Commerce Committee. The bill needs to pass this committee to keep moving.

We need our supporters who live in the districts of the Senate Commerce Committee members to contact them. Let them know you support SF 416 and ask them to support the bill at the April 5th hearing.

We need these 15 members to know their constituents support Surly, Minnesota craft beer, jobs and small business, so please call or email them before next Tuesday.

Find your legislator here:
http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

Senate Commerce Committee member list here:
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1024&ls#members

(Click on the member’s name for their contact information)

If your Senator is NOT on the committee, don’t get surly. Keep following us here for ways you can help & have your voice heard. The hearing next week is the first step in the process. You can also attend the hearing next Tuesday at 10:30am Wednesday at 5:30 pm in Room 123 at the State Capitol.

Location and directions to the Capitol here:
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.aspx?subject=14

THANK YOU Surly Nation! With your help and support we can make this happen.

Minnesota Brewpubs Behind New Legislation

By on March 24, 2011in beer laws, brewpubs

Yesterday, we reported some news of a bill that would allow for brewpubs to sell their beer to wholesalers. Today we’ve learned that Barley John’s, Boathouse, Fitger’s Brewhouse and Town Hall have all lent their support for said bill (SF1013 and HF1276).

From Tim Nelson, owner of Fitger’s Brewhouse: “The bill is critical for Minnesota Brewpub owners and employees as they strive to grow along with counterparts throughout the United States.”

As many of you know, our laws are certainly not as lenient as some of our surrounding states with regards to brewpubs… brewpubs in Wisconsin can serve on site and also bottle and distribute beer in Minnesota while Minnesota brewpubs can not legally bottle and distribute their beer (aside from on-site, in growlers).

“Minnesota’s current law’s run counter to our state’s interests. It doesn’t make sense to shackle our own breweries in a way that other states do not. We simply want the opportunity to compete, it can only benefit everyone in our state through increased job growth, improved tax revenues and a richer regional culture.”

New Brewpub Legislation

By on March 23, 2011in beer laws

Aaron tweeted a link to an interesting new bill, SF 1013, which would essentially allow brewpubs to sell beer to wholesalers. Follow the link above to see the proposed changes. Our man at the capitol is working on more information as we speak… or doing his day job… or both… we hope!

Brewers who also hold one or more retail on-sale licenses and who manufacture malt liquor  at any one licensed premises, for retail sale at on-sale or off-sale at any licensed premises owned by the brewer,
as permitted and limited by subdivision 7, and for sale to licensed wholesalers for distribution to other
retail licensees without limit. A brewer licensed under this clause must obtain a separate license for
each licensed premises where the brewer brews malt liquor. A brewer licensed under this clause may not be licensed as an importer under this chapter