Beer lovers will soon be able to buy up to a case of beer a day from their favorite brewery after Gov. Nathan Deal signed a law this morning loosening restrictions on breweries, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Under Georgia’s three-tiered system, breweries are not allowed to sell directly to the public; instead, they charge for tours that include free samples.
For years small craft breweries have fought that law, arguing that direct sales would boost their bottom line while having a negligible impact on distributors and retailers. Most other states allow direct sales.
A compromise last year allowed breweries to include canned and bottle beer to-go with tours, but this new law—which takes effect Sept. 1—goes further, allowing consumers to buy beer from breweries without taking a tour.
“On behalf of the association, I would like to thank Governor Deal for signing Senate Bill 85 and his continued efforts to keep Georgia as the top state in which to do business,” Martin Smith, executive director of the Georgia Beer Wholesalers Association, said in a statement. “Our state leaders have been committed to ensuring Georgia remains a great state in which to brew beer and that local economies benefit from the industry’s steady growth. We are excited to have worked alongside our brewer partners and retailers in supporting the bill and look forward to the positive impact the new law will have on the industry.”
In other news, local brewery Creature Comforts has released a new seasonal beer, Tritonia (4.5% ABV), a gose brewed with cucumber and lime. It’s available on draft and will be packaged in cans later this month for the first time.
Terrapin’s latest offering is Cumulus Lupulus, an 8.1% ABV unfiltered imperial IPA brewed with four pounds of Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy and Mosaic hops.
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