GA breweries and the laws that keep them down

I agree 100%, but it seems like all past attempts have failed. The fact that GA has no limits on campaign financing allows a couple of big, good ole boy distributers to pour big $$$ into making sure politicians maintain the status quo...

I went to meetings for the reincarnation of Georgians for World Class Beer (the original group got the ABV increase in '04), but they seemed more focused on Sunday sales and it sorta fizzled...

We also lost one of the only GA politicians to support beer laws in Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, who supposedly has decided not to seek another term.

 

In general, most of the beer drinkers locally seem to be happy once the Sunday Sales passed and growlers were determined to be legal. It seems to be more difficult to get people energized for making laws better for start up brewers. That is probably mainly due to it being more of an uphill battle than other issues mentioned. The distributors did not see how it would make them lose any money with those law changes (or interpretations) so they were ok with them.

At this point, the only possible change I could see people getting behind is having on and off-premise licenses. You can argue we got pretty close to that with the new brewpub distribution limits (this one also meant more money for distributors so they didn't object). However, tastings at beer stores or a growler to go from a bar tap would be a nice change. Unless it also involved breweries selling direct, it should not draw any complaints from the distributors.

ETA: I guess removing the ABV cap could also pass without a distributor challenge. Not sure if it is worth the fight though.

 

I don't know much about GWCB, but I'd certainly get involved if there was an organized group pushing for some of these changes. On a day to day basis, the laws aren't terribly important. I mean it'd be nice to allow breweries to have brewpubs and allow brewpubs to sell beer to go, but the important part of this is the changes that would ensue because of these changes. It'd get rid of the necessary distinction between brewpubs and breweries and would allow for much more brewery freedom and creativity, making it much easier for new breweries to brew their own beer from the start and experiment with new recipes.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I think what we need is someone who has knowledge in the laws to lead people to push for a change. I feel the ATL beer group is a bit disjointed.

 

i agree completely that the atl beer group is not organized. we should def work on that and if that ultimatly leads to a large enough group of people who want to see change then thats great!

 

Why not create our own. Realistically we need someone that knows the law. But most importantly we need a base. I've been in this industry for 6 years now and have yet to see a "true" group. If it exists please accept my apology I just havnt met you yet (and would love to). But as an earlier person posted up...it seems to me the ga hop lovers are disorganized. Whether its for tastings or to change the law. So if this group exists please introduce yourself and if not then by all means, let's get this started. I'd love to set up regular tastings and from there..if there's interest, we can work towards changing some very backwards laws

 

I just want to be able to buy a damn beer at a brewery, like I can in North Carolina when I'm at the summer house.

I also want to be able to go into a bottle/growler shop and be able to have a taste before I buy, I'd even be willing to have to PAY for it, if that had to be part of the law.

That, and get over the ABV law. It's ridiculous. I can't understand the whole reasoning to begin with it in the first place. I'd think the MORE beer we could get here, more sales, more taxes and ultimately more money for the clowns to spend on crap in this state.

 

I think a well-organized person or group of persons with time and dedication could make a compelling arugment about the financial and political benefits to liberalizing the state's beer laws.

Look at North Carolina -- Asheville in particular. They've got no less than three major breweries from the west coast that are opening up multi-million dollar facilities as part of their east coast presence. Asheville got that business because they've got a thriving craft beer scene, largely due to their liberal beer laws -- self-distribution, on premises sales, etc.

Georgia's antiquated beer laws are literally costing the state money and job opportunities.

 

Lots of good points here, and in some cases, they have been mentioned before. I think the issue is having someone with the free time to drive this movement. I'd be happy to be involved, but it is a serious time commitment to lead this thing. I'll also echo the sentiments of some saying we need someone who knows the law. Not sure we have our Legal Beer Advocate yet...

I think people need to recognize exactly how much work and time the guys in Free The Hops put into accomplishing their goals. Right now we have a lot of people (myself included) that want the laws changed, but don't have the time or legal background to truly lead the charge.

My background would lend itself to building the business case for self distribution & tap rooms. I think Tampa (including surrounding cities) is a good example of how more open beer laws can truly impact small business growth (but not without a lot of hoop jumping). I am in Tampa often, and remember when I visited CCB in 2009, just Joey & Wayne in the roll-up garage at the end of an industrial park. Now they occupy the entire park and run hourly tours on weekdays! It's not just them now, though, as many new small breweries are opening up all around Tampa creating unique beers, and able to do so due to a more open beer laws.

All this said, people who know more than I continue to say that the single biggest hurdle will be all the money behind not changing these laws...

 

take it from someone very involved in the Alabama group - Free the Hops - the time commitment is substantial, the amount of people needed for this change is substantial, the amount of money involved in bringing around this change is substantial, and the likelihood is that it will take several years to achieve this kind of change.

 

Agree that Georgia is losing jobs to NC and other brewer friendly states right now because of the silly laws. Sierra, New Belgium etc never would consider opening a brewery in Georgia because they cannot have a bar and restaurant on the premises of the brewery. Georgia could become a brewery incubator if the laws were a little more pro-brewer. It can also bring in a ton of tourism.
I don't have much free time right now, but I will help in any way I can. I know a little about the alcohol laws in Georgia and how to work on changing them.

 

well i propose this:

talking about it on the fourm is one thing but i think we need to get together. for those of you interested in having a tasting and discussing what we would like to see change as well as how to go about it please BM me. from there i will try and coordinate a good time for everyone. i will also work on getting some local liscensed brewers to come. i know several personally and im sure they have ideas as well. if i can get enough interest in this i will gladly hold the meeting at my house.

 

We have a decent amount of money in the bank from http://bit.ly/z49i75

Saving it for this cause

 

Eton from twains, Bob from Wrecking bar and Crawford at five seasons also have been working on this and may have some good names to start with

 

It is really a matter of money. The effort would need money. One big challenge is that the packaging breweries, (Sweetwater, Terrapin, Red Brick) can't actively participate in the effort because their distributors would not be very happy. I think a consumer based effort rather than a solely business association could be more effective. Obviously the breweries themselves could then assist that organization. I think the resources are there, but it would take a HUGE effort and a pile of cash.

 

ive had a few people contact me already but could def use more! like i said before if there is a group with these ideas already under id love to hear about/from them. we need to move as a unit, lots of small groups certainly doesnt get much done!