NH Beer!

So far behind cousin Vt. it's not funny. Have never understood why.

 

A bit off the spirit of OP's topic, but this is as good a place as any to lay out some of the issues facing craft beer in NH. The main historical issues/recipe for disaster: It's a liquor control state, no sales tax state, beer in grocery store state, and Budweiser has a large plant in Merrimack.

Because of the lack of sales tax, liquor sales (wine and spirits only) are a huge revenue source for the state. It also means that the state has a heavier than normal hand in regulating the entire liquor industry (so much for Live Free or Die state), including beer. It also has an incentive for liquor and wine to be popular and with a large selection, but no such need to help beer. In some cases, the need for the state to protect itself from liability and the general regulatory bloat that comes from government meddling has created some unnecessary restrictions and red tape. The Budweiser plant and the company's interest in the liquor laws of the state have also no doubt helped create a harsher atmosphere for other outside breweries (the state also makes huge money on the excise tax from this plant).

The main reason OP has seen improvement can largely be traced back to a nano brewer license law that was passed a few years back that has begun sprouting fruit (plus the general trend of craft beer finally making a dent in NH). It eased restrictions and fees for very small breweries and allowed self-distribution, as well as samples and growlers at a brewery taproom without food. It's hard to overstate the importance of this law in opening the market and driving demand, even as some of the initial breweries to use it have graduated to the regular brewery license and some newer breweries are opening with the larger license (such as Stoneface).

The Portsmouth area has been great for beer and breweries for a while, with much respect due to Smuttynose/Portsmouth Brewery. The rest of the state is catching up, especially the Derry/Londonderry area, which has seen 4 breweries open in the small area in the last 2 years. Manchester will be the next place, as there are a bunch of breweries in waiting that shall open there in the next year.

So while brewing in NH has gotten a bit easier, not much has been done to help ease bringing your beer to NH from outside the state.

The main continuing issues:

• Label approval. Compared to neighboring states, the process for breweries to have a new beer approved for sale is arduous. Whereas in some other states, such as MA, the only approval needed for beers from out of state breweries is the Federal label COLA approval (and nothing for in-state breweries that abide by the guidelines), NH requires a bunch of other crap in addition, including laboratory analysis and live bottle samples. This means the product approval cannot happen before the beer is ready to ship; this is the primary reason NH often gets beers much later than other states. Legislation lifted the old abv cap of 12% in 2007, but now for a beer above 12% to be approved as a beer (and not liquor to be sold by the commission), it must be approved by a once-a-month meeting of the Liquor Commission. For example, it took FW Parabola over 3 months to get state approval in 2014 despite being previously approved (they changed the case size from 12 to 6 bottles per case so had to re-file for approval). The prohibition on minors in advertising label approval regulation has also come into focus due to Founders Breakfast Stout not getting approved for bottle sales due to the baby on the label. Looks like there's a bill with support in the House now that would give the commission more discretion in applying the law and by next year FBS bottles should hopefully be available.
• Fees. Out of state breweries pay a fairly high yearly fee ($720 compared to $200 for MA) to get licensed in the state (fees driven by no sales tax state status) that goes up to 2k if you sell enough beer in the state. This keeps some smaller breweries out, who would only sell a few cases in the state each year (think some specialty imported brands).
• Paperwork requirements. This is the secret killer. I don't know the firsthand details of what is required by the state, but by all reports it is intrusive and excessive. Affidavits, financial documents, and mountains of paperwork for not only the brewery, but each investor in a brewery. I've heard this cited as the primary reason brewers like Schneider are not represented in the state, despite their US importer being licensed and selling other brands in the state. This doesn't always keep a brewery out, but often delays their arrival. For example, Ballast Point announced expanding into NH the same time as Maine. BP hit Maine in late January, but I'm hearing next month for NH, if we're lucky.
• Demand. Still not what it is in the surrounding states, which can be attributed to a lot of things, however love of beer is not one of them. There is a HUGE home-brewing community in NH, and many of these prominent home-brewers are the ones who took advantage of the nano brewing law and went pro. Not to mention NH ranks 2nd in beer drank per capita. Grocery stores play a big role in demand, as they make up by far the largest chunk of beer sold in NH and can thus dictate the market to some extent. Of course, big brands (BMC and larger craft brands) are the biggest beneficiaries of the grocery store sales model. I think the tide on this is certainly changing, though, especially as more craft beer stores open up and higher-end grocery stores like Whole Foods move into the state and offer better beer selections.

Hope is on the horizon, though. Local breweries continue to open and flourish, and the possibility of retail growler sales like Vermont would be a big boon to the market.

 

The felony background checks are not law and not even regulation, it's just extra revenue. I'm waiting for someone to challenge liquor on the checks, perhaps some out of state brewer.

 

The live package requirement is nowhere in the rules:

Liq 506.09 Registration; Territories. Beverage vendors, brew pubs, and beverage manufacturers shall provide the commission with the following information to receive approval for the brand of beverage and package size prior to shipping into or selling any beverage within the state:


(a) A copy of the label;


(b) A copy of the federal label approval, if required, to produce such label;


(c) A certified alcoholic content analysis performed at 60 degrees Fahrenheit by volume;


(d) Package size approval requests;


(e) A copy of all territorial agreements between the vendor and the wholesale distributors, or a list of the towns in which the brew pub or beverage manufacturer will sell its own brands; and


(f) Any other information which might be required by federal law, rule, or state statute.

 

I stopped by Kelsen a few weeks ago too. I was impressed with all of their stuff. I think the IPA's are underrated, they were outstanding. I definitely wanna get my hands on Vinatta.

 

I think the IPAs get better with each batch. Naturally, Vinatta has run into a snag being 12% and is sitting in approval limbo.

 

First off I want to thank the OP for his post in praise of some NH beers. I'm not sure where the posts about all the regulations and how they affect the quality of beer produced in NH fit in. I'm sure that all brewers in NH were well aware of the regulations before they went into the business. There are breweries here in NH producing truly great beers. Stoneface IPA and APA are top shelf, there RIS is great, there Hopulization is a great DIPA and there new DIPA Mozaccalypse is IMO a truly great beer. White Birch Brewing in Hooksett, NH has a great line of beers, there sours and there smoked beers are all great, you need to try there Birchwood Smoked Stout. White birch has a new canning line going in this week which should help with availability of the great products. I visited a new to me brewery last Saturday, Garrison City Beerworks in Dover, NH they are Crowlers only at the brewery right now but making IMO some really good beers, there Galaxy APA was very good, there Anomalous DIPA was IMO the best beer they have it's as good as some of the bigger beers coming out of VT. I have to add one last brewery and that would be Flying Goose brew Pub in New London, NH they are making some of the best beers in NH but are only again available at the brewery.

 

I'll 2nd the FTB plug. Very under the radar brewery doing some good things with their hoppy offerings. Their porter (Remedy) is very good too. I'll say next time you're in the area drive 5 minutes farther north and go to Whole Foods off Exit 7. They have 32 craft beer taps with 16 locals and 16 nationals. Nothing more then $6/pour. I just had Backwoods Bastard a couple weeks ago while my family shopped for overpriced food. Made it all better.

 

And I'll second the Whole Foods plug. It's kind of sad that the best bar to drink craft beer in Nashua is located inside a grocery store, but it's pretty awesome all the same.

Stoneface's IPA is becomming the new Heady Topper, and their Pale Ale, which I was able to get freshly tapped at the brewery, is oh so good.

Throwback has become my favorite brewery. Really everything they brew is so unique. My recent favorites are the Beet Wit and the ginger molasses porter.

 

I think southern NH has developed a tremendous little brewing scene - hell, the Portsmouth area has become quite the hotspot.

Speaking of Kelsen, anyone else think their logo gives the impression of being a retro macro lager from Colorado? Maybe it's just me. I've only had a couple samples here and there, need to try more.

 

Can't wait for Deciduous to open and see what Dave has been up to.

 

It's definitely getting better. Stoneface is world class. Their new DIPA, Mozzacalypse, is the best hoppy beer to ever come out of the state of NH and is right up there with the big ones from VT and ME. I also can't wait for Deciduous to open. Based on the few of Dave's Blue Lobster beers I had (as well as his reputation), NH will be getting another world class brewery. I think Garrison City has potential to be right up there with those guys, though they're certainly not there yet. Kelsen hasn't done much for me yet. I had a really bad bottle of Space Town that I think turned me off . . . I'll give them another try though. Based on this thread, I also need to try FTB. I've kind of ignored their beers on the shelf for some reason. And of course, Smuttynose produces consistently excellent beers (even if some of them, like OBD, are not up my alley).

Distribution is a different matter. NH is a joke compared to all of it's neighbors for out-of-state beer availability.

 

The monopoly that the state has on liquor sales is good for the taxpayer but not for the beer lover. Tough making a living selling just beer at a "better beer store". Grocery stores are just as happy to sell 30 packs. Most of the best beers available in NH have to be hunted down still at a handful of specialty beer stores. State controlled liquor stores don't support craft beer either, even locally brewed. Most of the problem starts at the top with a government which is not business friendly.

 

What does "World Class" mean?

 

With how often people use it...nothing. I am also looking forward to Deciduous. I always liked hitting up Blue Lobster and Throwback on my trip to Portsmouth. Blue Lobster is just not making good beer anymore. There is some good stuff happening in NH right now. It's still a long way off from slowing trips to VT and ME though. It's certainly moving in the right direction.

 

Lots of good NH breweries already mentioned. And yes I'm pretty excited about the burgeoning beer scene in NH. While I agree NH has a ways to go to catch up to MA, VT, and ME it is definitely on the upswing.

If you find yourself in Portsmouth, Earth Eagle is definitely worth checking out. Small brewery making lots of interesting beers as well as a very good IPA called Gangsta. I don't believe they bottle/can so I think the brewery is the only place to get their beers. I think they just did a bit of remodeling although I haven't been there to see the changes yet.

 

I just had Garrison City "Anomalous" last night and found it to be quite good. I also enjoy the Citra, though I have been disappointed with a couple of the other offerings. Still, these guys seem to be on the right track. I want to stop in this weekend and try the Mosaic Pale. I do wish they did regular glass for locals as I am not a huge fan of the whole crowler thing...

As others have said, the newest Stoneface DIPA was excellent, a big step up over the previous one in my opinion/taste. I enjoy their IPA but do not agree at all about it holding up with the big ones from Vermont or even Portland. But that is likely just due to my individual taste. And the 16.9oz package size is my least favorite, think these guys missed the boat with not canning (though sales seem to be just fine so who am I to say?).

Also echo what others have said on Deciduous, looking forward to having some really great brews not far from home.

All in all, things are certainly on the rise..add that in with the striking distance to VT, Maine and Mass breweries and NH is doing OK.