The Support Your Local Brewery (SYLB) Action Alert network was activated several times over the last 7 months in order to help the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild in their efforts to pass small brewer legislation in New Jersey. After passing both chambers of the legislature, Assembly Bill 1277/ Senate Bill 641 moved to Governor Chris Christie who signed it into law on Friday, September 21. This bill permits limited breweries (production microbreweries) to sell and distribute their products to consumers on the licensed premises of the brewery:
- For consumption on the premises only in connection with a tour of the brewery
- In an amount of up to 15.5 fluid gallons for consumption off the licensed premises
- For sampling if properly permitted
Licensees are prohibited from selling food or operating a restaurant on the licensed premises. In addition, the quantity of malt alcoholic beverages that a restricted brewery (brewpub) may annually produce increases from 3,000 to 10,000 barrels. Finally, the bill allows a restricted brewery to sell its products to licensed wholesalers and acquire up to 10 restricted brewery licenses (currently capped at 2).
With this adjustment to New Jersey law, craft breweries will be able to expand, allowing for local economic growth and job creation. The Brewers Association would like to thank the New Jersey Support Your Local Brewery members who took action to help the Garden State Craft Brewers Association.
If you are interested in becoming a Support Your Local Brewery beer activist to receive Action Alerts for important issues affecting your craft brewing community, sign up today!
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