Growler Limit from CT Breweries?

Jam23 · Feb 16, 2018

ams0286 said: ↑

@Jam23, the 9 liter/person/day is specific to CT based manufacturing breweries carrying either the "Manufacturer For Beer" or "Manufacturer For Beer and Brewpub" license. I can't speak to the "Farm Brewery" license that was just released as I have yet to read about it.

Further you are correct in your assumption that if you had enough money and the desire to do so you may visit any licensed liquor store and purchase the entirety of their inventory at one time. What makes the limit on direct to consumer sales imposed on breweries even more arbitrary, is that you can visit any CT based wine maker and purchase an unlimited amount of wine directly from them, so again, who are we protecting?
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That’s a very good question. It would make more sense if you could sell unlimited amounts like every liquor store or winery. Although you may want to impose your own limits to spread out your inventory to reach more customers, but that should be your call as a brewery, not government imposed limitations. There is always corruption in these type of organizations. Lots of lobbying for different interests. I wish you well in getting new laws passed.

sulldaddy · Feb 17, 2018

ams0286 said: ↑

The timing of this conversation couldn't be better! As a small CT based brewer we have always followed the 9 liter/person/day limit to the T as painful as it may be. It was 8 liters/person/day but Two Roads got this changed when the manufacturer for beer and brewpub license was created, allowing for taprooms without food service. Four and a half four packs of 16 oz cans is the most you can purchase at one time out of any CT based brewery in that format, so not even one full case of cans. When you really dig into why this limit exists, and start asking who we're protecting (Hint: It's not the consumer), it becomes clear that heavily paid lobbyists play a major role in keeping the current climate the same.

With that said, we've been conducting a bit of a grassroots campaign focused on eliminating this arbitrary limit. We've garnered the attention of several lawmakers throughout the state and as such, because this is a "short session" they have petitioned General Law to consider the issue, as a bill cannot be directly proposed by any member due to the "short session." At this point we have verbal confirmation that a public hearing will be scheduled this session. This is where you all come into play. You do not need to be in attendance to voice your support of this change, written testimony is considered just as valuable as someone speaking on the mic in front of the committee. It is however, rather impressive and overwhelming when large groups of supporters show up to the public hearing, often making a big impression on the committee.

This type of change is already being challenged and is sure to meet a large amount of opposition from those with the opposing view point and deep pockets to buy the favor of the committee. A letter to General Law drafted by Senator Heather Somers already reflects the fact that push back exists as the requested limit has been adjusted to 30 Liters/person/day.

I could go on and on about why we think this would be a move in the right direction, but I imagine most out there can formulate their own reasoning. The big takeaway here is if you care to see the government removed from your purchasing decisions, let those that make the laws know. A simple email, letter or phone call to your local Senator or Representative carries drastically more weight than most people think. We managed to get this far with a few pre printed post cards that carried constituents signatures! As soon as we receive word about the public hearing date and bill #, I'll circle back here with those details. If anyone has any questions or concerns about this initiative you can either visit me in our taproom to discuss it over a beer or email me directly at [email protected] Change starts somewhere, the spark is there, now we all need to fuel it!
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Im glad there are efforts to change the limitations on volume. When we were working to initially legalize growlers in 2005 we put in an 8L limit (4 growlers) and times that they could be sold at the brewery to appease the powerful package store lobby. Otherwise the growler legalization was likely to fail during those efforts.
I move to 30 L seems a good start and that is a large volume of beer per day. Obviously unlimited is the most fair and the fact that CT wineries dont have limits is a great talking point in how unlimited beer sales would make equal footing with wineries and help support local businesses.

Good luck and definitely post when there is a bill# for this amendment and the date of a public hearing.

ams0286 · Mar 1, 2018

As promised, the bill # HB 5036. The Governor proposed this new legislation himself and while it’s unfortunate that it lumps a few things together, it does include a removal of the 9 liter cap for in state brewers. There is a public hearing slated for Tuesday the 6th of March at the LOB 10 AM room 1A. First come = first served for testimony. You can also submit testimony via email [email protected] use the bill # in the subject line. A link to the full bill is here:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/TOB/h/2018HB-05036-R00-HB.htm

As always, any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

DougC123 · Mar 20, 2018

Ounce limits not getting voted on yet, being deferred to be included with other legislation.

https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Vote-on-brewery-sales-cap-will-come-later-by-12767016.php

Newport_beerguy · Mar 21, 2018

Love this quote from the above article:

Connecticut beer distributors oppose the change, however, saying it could turn breweries into monopolies, armed with the power to manufacture, serve and sell more of their beer.

“It is dangerous to go down that road,” said Jude Malone, executive director of the Connecticut Beer Wholesalers Association, which represents six major distributors around the state, in an interview earlier this month. “This really concerns us - how big they want to be.”
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"Dangerous" to go down that road, haha. So the distributors in those nearby states that have no taproom limits like Massachusetts must be folding like crazy!

Also it concerns them how big "they" want to be. Yeah god forbid the local craft brewers make a bunch of money selling product out of their taprooms thereby growing their production then sending out more beer for "you people" to fill the shelves in place of months old Ballast Point.

Growler Limit from CT Breweries?

Jam23 Initiate (0) Oct 21, 2016 Massachusetts

sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
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ams0286 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2008 Connecticut

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Growler Limit from CT Breweries?

Jam23 Initiate (0) Oct 21, 2016 Massachusetts

sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

ams0286 Initiate (0) Feb 25, 2008 Connecticut

DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

Newport_beerguy Pooh-Bah (1,860) Feb 24, 2011 Rhode Island Pooh-Bah Trader

sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
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Newport_beerguy Pooh-Bah (1,860) Feb 24, 2011 Rhode Island
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