----- Forwarded by Allan V Boyce/MN/USB on 03/30/2006 09:18 AM -----
"David Berg" <bergbrew(a)juno.com>
Sent by: owner-mcbg(a)mncraftbrew.org
03/30/2006 07:32 AM
To
mcbg(a)mncraftbrew.org
cc
Subject
Greetings All-
Ryan at
mnbeer.com asked me to comment on some things that have been
floating around the internet, and I guess it's easier to tell everyone at
the same time.
The MCBG has been working on a bill that would allow brewpubs to sell beer
to distributors. What this would mean to the consumers is the opportunity
to have beer from, let's say Fitger's, at bars in Minneapolis. What a
novel idea, huh, market access?
I credit the folks at Fitger's for all their hard work on the issue (I, in
fact, had very little to do with it). The bill was sponsored by Sen Solon
in Duluth. The bill had support from brewpubs, the wholesalers, and
Summit was very helpful in arranging meetings between Fitgers/Wholesalers
Association. The Dept of Public safety also had no issues with it.
The bill passed through a subcommittee with no opposition. It was slated
to be added to the liquor omnibus bill, which in my experience, is almost
sure to get a green light.
Unfortunately, on Monday, opposition occurred from the place we least
expected it. Two production breweries in Minnesota (neither of which are
members of the Guild) got involved and got Sen Solon to change her mind on
the bill she had written.
I am not sure the rationale behind the opposition, just as I was confused
at the time when the same people opposed the original growler law. I have
been told, but this may be only conjecture, that it was desired to add to
the bill language that would allow breweries to sell pints of beer at
their premises. I immediately had flashbacks of 2001, when we tried to
get such a bill passed--we got slaughtered. And I'm not being
melodramatic--it was the kind of mind-numbing drubbing that makes you go
underground for a couple of years wondering how you could have been so
stupid in the first place. Our opposition at the time included: the Beer
Wholesalers, Minnesota Licensed Beverage Assoc, MADD, numerous bars,
liquor stores, the Dept of Public Safety, and the Teamsters! I didn't
want to relive that battle. It's not that I don't think it's a grand
idea, I just don't think it currently has a chance of winning. On top of
that, our production brewery members don't want it for very valid reasons.
So where does this leave us? Well, there's always next year. That's
where all of you come in. We'll be needing you to contact your Sen/Reps
to say you support giving market access to the brewpubs. I'm quite
confident we can get this bill passed, if we can focus on this issue and
not include issues that will spell doom for the bill.
In closing, I'd just like to ask you that you not act irrationally about
the events that have taken place. I've heard people say the word
"boycott" a little too quickly, and I don't think that will benefit
anyone. Breweries in Minnesota, whether they are members of the Guild or
not, have worked incredibly hard against some rather archaic laws to
produce good beer and get it into your hands, and they all deserve your
full support. I've seen too many breweries close since I've been back in
Minnesota--I don't need to see any more.
Sorry for the long post, and as always, thanks for supporting Minnesota
Breweries.
David Berg
Head Brewer, Bandana Brewery
President, Minnesota Craft Brewer's Guild
http://www.mncraftbrew.org
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