Legislative, Government Affairs & Legal Updates

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Featured Legislative, Government Affairs & Legal Updates Content

Bart Watson: If You’re Trying to Ride Out This Wave, ‘You Should Probably Reconsider’

Bart Watson: If You’re Trying to Ride Out This Wave, ‘You Should Probably Reconsider’

Anyone looking for an answer to when craft’s current era of compounding hurdles and declines will come to an end received a reality check Wednesday during Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson’s state of the industry address, held at the start of Day 2 of the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Indianapolis.

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Brewers Association: Craft Production Declines 9% in 2020 Amid Pandemic; Number of Breweries Tops 8,700

Brewers Association: Craft Production Declines 9% in 2020 Amid Pandemic; Number of Breweries Tops 8,700

The COVID-19 pandemic put hard times on the U.S. craft brewing industry in 2020, as production declined for the first time in the modern craft era, the Brewers Association (BA) announced today. The number of barrels produced by craft breweries had steadily grown in recent years, from 24.3 million barrels in 2016 to a peak of 26.3 million barrels in 2019.

Great American Beer Festival Competition to Go Forward in 2021 Despite Postponement of In-Person Event Until 2022

Great American Beer Festival Competition to Go Forward in 2021 Despite Postponement of In-Person Event Until 2022

The consumer-facing, in-person Great American Beer Festival tasting event will not take place for a second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brewers Association (BA) announced today. However, the competition that accompanies the festival will go on as planned this year, while the in-person event is slated to return in 2022 for GABF’s 40th anniversary.

Brewers Association Shares 2020 Rankings of Top 50 US Craft Breweries By Volume

Brewers Association Shares 2020 Rankings of Top 50 US Craft Breweries By Volume

The Brewers Association (BA) released its annual top 50 rankings of craft breweries by beer sales volume in 2020. Although there was some jockeying for position, the top of the list remained largely unchanged, with D.G. Yuengling & Son, Boston Beer Company and Sierra Nevada holding down the top three spots again.

Kentucky Legalizes Self-Distribution, Reforms Franchise Law for Small Breweries

Kentucky Legalizes Self-Distribution, Reforms Franchise Law for Small Breweries

Some Kentucky craft brewers will soon be able to distribute their own products and terminate wholesaler contracts more easily after Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 15 into law on March 18. The new law will allow breweries producing fewer than 50,000 barrels of beer annually to self-distribute up to 2,500 barrels per year.

Jack’s Abby Seeks to Terminate Atlantic Beverage Distributors

Jack’s Abby Seeks to Terminate Atlantic Beverage Distributors

Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers is attempting to sever its relationship with Atlantic Beverage Distributors, its Massachusetts wholesaler. The Framingham, Massachusetts-based craft brewery provided Atlantic with notice on January 14, two days after franchise law reform was enacted in the state.

Press Clips: Oregon Bill Would Make State Excise Tax Highest in US; Perishable Tax Credit In Senate Bill

Press Clips: Oregon Bill Would Make State Excise Tax Highest in US; Perishable Tax Credit In Senate Bill

Oregon lawmakers are considering a tax hike on alcoholic beverages that would increase taxes on malt beverages by $70 per barrel. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill in the early hours of Saturday, February 27. The bill includes a $25 billion fund for grants for bars, restaurants and breweries.