News

New York small brewers are asking beer consumers to support their efforts to to pass Senate Bill 7344 and Assembly Bill 10181 to create a Beer Production Tax Credit. These bills would allow New York’s craft breweries to remain competitive by utilizing a tax credit of 14 cents per gallon of beer produced in New York State for the first 200,000 barrels of beer. The fate of this important bill now lies in the hands of the Legislature and the Governor.

The legislative session has been extended through June 21 and brewers ask consumers to phone and email Assembly Speaker Silver, Senate Majority Leader Skelos, and Governor Andrew Cuomo, in addition to the Assembly Member and Senator for their own district, and ask them to vote “yes” immediately on S. 7344 and A. 10181.

Key Points

The Brewers Association (BA) and its Export Development Subcommittee have selected Andreas Fält to cover Europe as an American Craft Beer Ambassador within the BA’s Export Development Program (EDP).

Fält responsibilities include educating the beer community and media in Europe about the availability and quality of American craft beer. As an independent contractor, he will continue to serve as a consultant at Blue Yellow Media in the UK. He has previously held sales manager positions at Vertical Drinks, also in the UK, and Invicta Import and More Import in Sweden.

“Andreas’ appointment comes at an exciting time for American craft beer export market growth,” said Bob Pease, chief operating officer, Brewers Association. “Overall craft exports increased in record numbers in 2011, and regionally, Western Europe was the largest destination for American craft beer exports. Andreas will serve as a valuable bridge-builder to educate the growing audience of American craft beer lovers abroad.”

Globally, American craft beer exports increased 86% in 2011, with craft breweries exporting more than 110,000 barrels of beer, valued at an estimated $23.4 million.

White Labs, a yeast and fermentation supplies company, has opened of a tasting room at its San Diego headquarters. White Labs Brewing Co. held a “quiet opening” of its tasting room on March 22. A full grand opening, with expanded hours, is scheduled in June.

The White Labs Tasting Room, located at 9495 Candida St., offers a continuously-rotating menu of 35 taps pouring experimental beers brewed on site. White Labs may feature ten different pale ales simultaneously, brewed to the exact same recipe except for the yeast. The following week, beers on tap might include a similar number of stouts, pilsners or IPAs.

The beers will change regularly as the experiments continue. Each beer served comes with a complete analysis report so that tasters can learn where the flavors come from. The initial opening beers were brewed by a team of White Labs employees led by general manager Johnny Oliphant, former head brewer at Rock Bottom Brewery in downtown San Diego.

The newly-designed White Labs Tasting Room will introduce new small-batch beers brewed on-site many times per week.

Hours (to be expanded in June):
Wednesday – Friday: 4 to 8 p.m. (tours available at 5:30 p.m. both days)
Saturdays: Noon to 8 p.m. (tours available at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays)

The Brewers Association reports record exports of American craft beer in 2011. American craft breweries exported more than 110,000 barrels of beer in 2011, valued at an estimated $23.4 million — an increase of 86% by volume and 97% by dollars over 2010 exports.

Canada remained the industry’s largest export market, with shipments increasing 127% by volume (up to 27,976 barrels) in 2011, largely as a result of increased demand in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

Additionally, the United Kingdom and Sweden remained the next two largest markets. Exports to both countries totaled approximately 13,065 barrels. Regionally, Western Europe is the largest destination for American craft beer exports. Shipments to the region increased by 52 percent in 2011 and now surpass 51,613 barrels.

“The growth in international sales is remarkable in light of the lingering global economic recession. Despite decreasing purchasing power, consumer demand for American craft beers has remained strong and importers have continued to expand their portfolios of American craft beer brands, even in emerging markets, like Brazil and India,” said Bob Pease, BA chief operating officer. “These export figures speak for themselves. They are a testament to the innovation of small, independent American craft brewers and their focus on creating products of value to the consumer.”

Mississippi beer drinkers celebrated Monday when governor Phil Bryant signed into law a bill that raises the alcohol-by-weight limit in beer from 5% to 8%.

Senate Bill 2878, effective July 1, will expand the variety of beers sold in the state, especially craft beers. After the new law goes into effect, about 70 of what he called the top 100 brands in the world could be on shelves and on tap, said a thrilled Butch Bailey, founder and president of the nonprofit group Raise Your Pints. Currently 15 on that list are.

“It’s a great day to be a Mississippian!” Bailey exclaimed Monday on Twitter.

Bailey said the new 8% alcohol-by-weight limit translates to about 10.% alcohol-by-volume. Mississippi and Utah are the only two states that measure alcohol content by weight.

Mississippi still has the lowest beer alcohol content compared to neighboring states. Alabama has a 13.9% alcohol-by-volume cap, while Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee have no caps.

“The current law really hampers Mississippi and restricts Mississippians’ access to gourmet products,” said Bailey, who has sought the new law for the past five years. “We are thankful to the governor for recognizing this is a good bill for Mississippi.”

Monday was the deadline for Bryant to act or do nothing, allowing the bill to become law unsigned.

Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, who authored the new law, said the measure paves the way for job creation and more “cottage” and home-based industries like Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. in Kiln and up-and-comer Lucky Town Brewing Co. in Gluckstadt.

“Sometimes it takes five years for a measure to catch on and get accepted, and that was the case with this particular measure,” Horhn said. “The craft beer community was better organized this year than ever before.”

This call to action is intended for Iowa residents.

The Iowa Brewer’s Guild is asking for your support in opposing certain provisions in Amendment S-5084 to HF 2337 (the specific language we are opposed to begins on line 20, page 14 and runs through line 1, page 16) that has been proposed by the Iowa Wine Growers Association. The wineries are hoping to transfer funding and control of the Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board out of the state’s Tourism/Economic Development Department and place the funding (and program) under control of the Midwest Wine Institute at Iowa State University.

We are asking you to act immediately. Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and ask them to remove these provisions from the amendment before taking a vote. Time is of the essence as the amendment is scheduled for a vote this coming Monday, March 19.

We are asking you to express opposition to these provisions because:

1. The Economic Development Authority has been doing a very successful job of promoting BOTH the wine and beer industries and the proposed amendment will transfer the program to the Wine Institute where there is an unproven record of marketing and promotional efforts. The Wine Institute in Iowa is a higher education authority that may not have compatible goals with the beer industry.

2. The brewing industry hasn’t been a participant in discussions and currently doesn’t believe this is in our best interests. Additionally the Iowa Economic Development Authority has expressed opposition and would like to see this halted until all affected parties can come to agreement. Many wineries have also expressed concerns about this legislation.

3. The Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board has spent considerable resources preparing for this year’s programs and promotional efforts. These efforts will be abandoned and wasted if the proposed amendment proceeds. This will be a waste of over $80,000 to the Wine and Beer Promotions Board’s programs.

4. Brewing industry representation on the proposed amendment is assigned by the Wine Institute, not the brewing industry. We feel we are being locked out of support to a legislatively mandated tourism and economic development program that has existed since 1986.

First priority is to contact the senators on the appropriations committee. Here’s the contact information: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Schedules/committee.aspx?GA=84&CID=2

Again, ask them to remove these provisions from the amendment.

Second priority is to contact all our state senators. You can look up your local senator here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/senate.aspx

Thank you for your support of Iowa Beer!

Cheers,
Dave Coy
President, Iowa Brewer’s Guild