Farmers Pushing For Passage Of Beer Bill [View all]

Farmers and brewers in Connecticut are pushing the General Assembly to pass legislation allowing farms to manufacture and sell craft beer.

“With the farm brewery bill, state lawmakers have a chance to help strengthen growing industries,” Barry Labendz, founder of Kent Falls Brewery Co., says in a new ad produced by the Campaign for Tomorrow's Jobs. “When a farm and brewery partner up, it supports local businesses, creates markets for local goods, and creates jobs. That’s a win-win.”

Under the legislation farm-based permittees would pay a $300 annual fee to make, store, bottle, distribute and sell up to 50,000 gallons of beer a year. Farmers will also be required to use a certain percentage of Connecticut-grown crops in their beer production.

According to the Campaign for Tomorrow's Jobs, more than 130 farm brewers have been authorized in New York since legislators there passed a law in 2013 allowing farmers to make and sell beer.

Read more: http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-new-ad-supports-brewery-legislation-story.html