RE: Off-premise growler sales at Hops

Mr. Neal, I apologize for anyone who has been at all rude about this. That was certainly not the intention of anyone I personally know. I've blind-copied several distribution lists and ask EVERYONE to please act in the responsible manner you would want associated with homebrewers and craft-brewers. We have only passed on the information we have received, which I admit has been a bit contradictory and confusing. I won't point any fingers at any city staff, but I've heard conflicting information myself which makes this issue sound like the city does not have it's act together. Between what Hops has told me, what the mayor's office has told me, then add in the Finance/Liquor office and the Police department, I'm now very glad that you truly seem to have the matter in hand. Everyone involved who lives and/or works in or near Eden Prairie is looking forward to purchasing Hops' craft-brewed beers for off-premise consumption. We've already lost the facilities at Water Tower and Sherlock's Home has closed completely. Let's do what we can to help a quality establishment survive and bring positive recognition to the city. Thanks! Look forward to sharing a pint with you at Hops. //Michael Behrendt E-mail - Mike.Behrendt(a)us.ibm.com "Scott Neal" <SNeal(a)edenprairie.org> 08/12/2003 11:13 AM To: Michael Behrendt/Minneapolis/IBM@IBMUS, "GRP-AllCouncil" <GRP-AllCouncil(a)edenprairie.org>, "Don Uram" <DUram(a)edenprairie.org>, "Police E-Mail" <Police(a)edenprairie.org>, "Dan Carlson" <DCarlson(a)edenprairie.org> cc: Subject: RE: Off-premise growler sales at Hops Mr. Behrendt, As you know the new state legislation obliges the City to adopt an ordinance to authorize the sale of growlers. The City has not denied Hops the right to sell growlers. The City has not granted the right either. We just haven’t taken either step yet. The City Council is scheduled to take up the issue for discussion for the first time at their regularly scheduled meeting on August 19, 2003. The City’s Liquor Store Operations Manager, a representative from the City Attorney’s staff, and I will be meeting with Hops representatives on Friday to discuss the growler issue. This will be our first meeting on the matter. I look forward to meeting with them and they look forward to meeting with us. I believe there is a win-win resolution to the growler matter. I have been receiving quite a volume of e-mail from people in the home brewing clubs that is threatening and a bit rude. I don’t understand this strategy. We are in the very early stages of this process. There is no need for negative political strategies. I truly believe that the City and Hops will reach a mutually satisfactory resolution without all the bad feelings that come with threats and incivility. You sound as though you were influential in getting this legislation passed at the state level. If you have influence with local home brewers, and if you would care to use it, perhaps you could influence them to turn their advocacy to be a bit more positive. I understand that they are citizens and have the right to advocate any way they want, but a positive campaign would be more effective and leave everyone with a better taste in their mouths when this is all over. Just an idea. I hope you will consider it. Thanks, Scott H. Neal Your Friendly City Manager City of Eden Prairie 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344 952.949.8300 sneal(a)edenprairie.org -----Original Message----- From: Michael Behrendt [mailto:Mike.Behrendt@us.ibm.com] Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 5:16 PM To: Scott Neal; GRP-AllCouncil; Don Uram; Police E-Mail; Dan Carlson Subject: Off-premise growler sales at Hops I've lived in Eden Prairie for the past 7 years with my wife and son who now attends the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. I work for IBM out of a home office in Eden Prairie and know there are several hundred other IBM employees who live and work in Eden Prairie as part of the 2,000+ IBM employees in Minnesota. I'm a member of the Minnesota Homebrewers Association and the American Homebrewers Association and we are affiliated with the St. Paul Homebrewers as well as with other clubs throughout the US. I'm writing about the refusal of the city to issue an off-premise sales permit to Hops in Eden Prairie. Our organization was instrumental in getting the new state law passed and has received thanks from the Governor's office for doing so. Now, we discover that the only brewpub in the area is not allowed to sell growlers due to a city ordinance. Hops in Maple Grove is selling growlers, as is Rock Bottom, Town Hall, Great Waters and Vine Park. I'd like to make the city aware of several things: 1 - The law requires that containers be sealed by the brewpub. This sealing is the equivalent of buying closed cans and bottles from a store. The state legislature was not fully aware of this until brought to their attention and it helped allay their fears about too much open drinking. 2 - People who are interested in growlers are not the same people who would buy a keg of Budweiser and cause safety issues. The growler sales are for hand-crafted high-quality beers, not the supermarket, mass-marketed beers. 3 - Eden Prairie is the only city in Minnesota which is not allowing their brewpub(s) to sell growlers. The reasons we've heard indicate there may be a legal conflict of interest. By owning the only stores in the city that sell beer, the city is furthering their monopoly power by restricting competition and punishing a local business. 4 - Eden Prairie will lose business. It may not be major, but it will certainly stand out as a bad example to the rest of the state. Our club has regular events, that will now, NOT be held in Eden Prairie. Others, will take both restaurant business and liquor/beer business to other establishments in neighboring cities and towns. So, PLEASE consider changing the ordinance to allow off-premise sales of growlers in Eden Prairie. Thank you! //Michael Behrendt E-mail - Mike.Behrendt(a)us.ibm.com