FYI

From: Steve Benson [mailto:spbevets@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2014 5:22 PM
To: gary@brewersassociation.org; alboyce@comcast.net; jkeeler@bsgcraft.com; Andrew Schmitt
Cc: Chad Haatvedt; Mike Twite
Subject: MN Homebrew Legislation

Gary, Andrew, Jake, Al

I decided to copy all of you in one email, having communicated with each of you either by phone or previous emails.

The Minnesota homebrewing legislation has been introduced.  The bills are HF2999 and SF2604. 

After long discussions, and a great deal of worry, we went ahead with this.  The discussions with some of you focused on the Deer River event, and concern about the perception of sales of alcohol due to an entry fee.  The Deer River Chamber of Commerce will straighten that out, as it’s their event. 

But while Deer River was a catalyst, the sleeping dog waking up, we did not move forward to promote or save the Deer River event.  It is simply one of the events we support.  There are other events we support, and still more we’d like to support.  We are focusing on the public sharing of homebrew, something we have been trying to do as a club for years.  We have repeatedly tried to turn Big Brew Day into a public event, a six-hour ongoing exhibition of brewing, as you can see at our 2009, 2010 and 2013 Big Brew events.  For 2011 and 2012 we went to private property.  We always run into the lack of supporting statute when we try to arrange to serve samples.  We hope to change that, as we support a number of community events, partner events with KAXE Radio and would like to be a positive presence for the homebrewing craft. 

The MN Senate Commerce Committee will hear SF2604 on Wednesday, March 19, along with sixteen other alcohol related bills.  The session begins at noon, and both Chad Haatvedt, also of the Boreal Brewers, and I will be there.  Chad and I will also make it to any other hearings to provide any testimony or explanation of intent required.

We do want to avoid any negative outcomes, such as the measure failing, and attention suddenly focusing on homebrewing events.  But we did have an event get shut down, right now we have a sympathetic bill author in each house, both in the majority, and the proposed change is very simplistic in wording.  We have hopes and worries aplenty.

I will send out an email today to all the MN clubs for whom I have an address, and will keep them and you informed as other hearings arise.  I've attached our talking points document.

-Steve Benson

Cell 218.259.0919

Chad Haatvedt

Cell 218.301.9544