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Craft Brewing Business

Alabama plays catch-up, looks to allow breweries to sell beer growlers and six-packs

Alabama sign
Slowly but surely, Alabama beer laws are moving in the right direction.

You could make the case that Alabama is sometimes behind the times. Let’s take beer making and distribution as an example. Alabama was the last state in America to legalize homebrewing, way back yonder in 2013. In the Heart of Dixie (that’s Alabama), beer can only be sold warm in stores. And our personal favorite: “There shall be no electric signs, painted signs or signs of any kind displayed outside any place of business advertising alcoholic beverages.” Wait. No signs? But, how will we know what’s inside?

Luckily, times should be changing. The Alabama Law Institute (a legislative agency whose “purpose is to clarify and simplify the laws of Alabama”) is seeking a bill allowing breweries to sell beer growlers and six-packs. According to an article on a local 19 News station:

“You can go to a retailer and buy those things but as a brewery we’re not allowed to sell it directly to a consumer, unlike virtually every other state in the United States,” said Jay Kissell, co-owner of Salty Nut Brewery.

The craft beer industry is hoping state lawmakers will okay a bill to change that, so they no longer have to explain it to tourists familiar with breweries elsewhere.

The breweries seemed both embarrassed by having the law and having to explain it. The bill looks like it should be a winner — especially since everyone seems to be behind it, even the wholesalers. According to an article on Brewbound:

Particularly notable, leaders say, is that Alabama lawmakers managed to bring together representatives from all three tiers to propose the changes. While craft brewers in Georgia and Mississippi appeal to local officials for updated industry regulations, the state’s example is one that some hope will serve the rest of the South.

“This was a very joint effort because one wrong leak in the wall would have pushed it all down,” said Donna Alexander, executive director of the Alabama Wholesale Beer Association (AWBA). “But everyone met together, and I have to say the ability of everybody to come together is what made this work.”

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