It puts a gag on collaborations and forces breweries to close earlier.
The Maryland House of Delegates passed a new bill (HB1283) that's a blow to breweries. While it does raise the cap on the amount of beer a brewery can sell in its taproom from 500 to 2,000 barrels, it cuts operating hours from 12 a.m. or 2 a.m. (depending on the brewery) to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.
The bill also restricts beer sold in the taproom to beer produced at the brewery, meaning breweries can't give props to fellow brewers by selling their beer too. They can't sell collaboration brews, either. This provision makes entering the market extremely difficult for start-up breweries.
HB 1283 lands just a few months after Guinness announced that it would be spending about $50 million to open a brewery in Baltimore County.
While Denizens Brewing Co. in Silver Spring will not be affected because it's a Class 7 brewery, and the legislation regulates Class 5 breweries, it has long been active in state policy. Co-owner Julie Verratti has issued the following statement because she believes the bill, "sets a dangerous precedent and any damage to a local brewery is damage to the whole industry." It reads:
"Bill HB 1283 will be detrimental to local Maryland craft breweries if passed without amendments. This legislation will cause brewery closures, lay-offs, stop start-ups in their tracks, and thwart expansions across the state. We all want Guinness to come to Maryland, but it needs to be done in a way that does not simultaneously harm the many local craft breweries who have built the beer industry in this state.
The two specific amendments we seek are:
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
12 comments:
Why in the world did I think that things would get better with O'Mally gone?
Good bc its supposed to be a brewery not a Bar.
It passed the house so the logical question is how did our legislators vote? Do they represent us or did they play politics? We need to hear from the local guys, EVO, TallTails, Rubber Sole and others.
There thick heavy beer is overated and overpriced for a "local Brewery".
It reminds me of Ireland, where the pubs close at 10 p.m.
Wow those tards in annapolis sure know how to creat jobs and make chase bussiness away make people vote with their feet
Not a big beer drinker but have visited some of the local craft breweries. Liked some of What I tasted more than others.
What is the motivation for this bill? It appears to have a linkage to Guiness' new operation. If so, I'll drink even less of their products.
Guiness should be good sports and recognize that there is room for all brewers, and let the customers decide not the legislature.
Excellent bet that small brewers won't be open during unprofitable hours, and since the state is their silent partner on every ounce they sell the Governor should veto this if it passes.
Wrong use of "There". It should be "Their". It's possessive. You lost all credibility with your ignorance of correct English grammar.
And to think,Maryland was beginning to become a destination for craft brew. Oh well.
Declare war on legal use of pain medication legally obtained by people with chronic debilitating health problems but its acceptable to have a brewery/tap house in every city in the state. We accept and promote alcohol abuse and addiction. I can purchase and consume limitless amounts of alcohol and its accepted behavior but I have to submit myself to drug testing, random prescription checks by doctors to count amount of meds consumed in 30 day period and you have to go every thirty days for doctors appointment to get medication refills. I personally agreed with neurosurgeon at johns Hopkins that removing three discs from my spine and fusing is a last resort and should be put off as long as possible. By Maryland standards I should just start treating my condition with a fifth of liquor a day and become a full blown alcoholic
This makes no sense at all. They like changing the rules mid game in MD. No wonder businesses dont stay here.
I am in the the middle stages of opening a small brewery and tap room in one of the lower shore's smaller towns. I will pull out and go to another state if this passes. Small brewers make their money in the taproom. They do not make much on selling kegs to bars or distributors.
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