• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers

California Craft Brewers Association: Assembly Bill 2307 would allow more brewery satellite locations

September 27, 2022Pretty Much a Press Release

Nearly 5,000 San Leandrans showed up the first week of the soft opening of Fieldwork Brewing Co.’s new taproom in its city, drawn by the brand’s reputation for excellent beer and airy, comfortable taprooms. Despite the success, it’ll be the last opening Fieldwork has for a while, unless something changes. The brand has hit its limit on locations as currently set by the state without building a new production facility into the back of any future taproom. 

“San Leandro was our biggest opening ever,” Fieldwork Cofounder Barry Braden said. “We believe in meeting customers where they’re at, bringing them a community-centered space with great beer, but this will be as big as we get without some kind of change.” 

Assembly Bill 2307 would be that change. The bill would increase the number of satellite locations a brewery could have from six to eight. Currently, only two of those locations can be a “bona fide eating establishment,” which means having a full restaurant kitchen and the ability to serve wine and other brands’ beer. AB 2307, authored by Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), raises that cap to four.  

There are twice as many craft breweries in California right now than there were eight years ago, when the existing law capping expansion was written. At the time, a six location cap might have seemed like a limit very few would reach. But now the industry is straining at the seams to meet customer demand for good beer and family-friendly gathering spaces and the legal limit is holding craft beer back. Fieldwork’s various locations serve 25,000 customers a week. 

“We like this model that focuses on selling directly to the consumer because we can keep everything in house,” Braden said. “This way we make the beer our customers want and not the beer a distributor wants to sell. It allows us to be more creative and respond to on-site customer demand.” 

Craft breweries are inherently local businesses and collectively, they pump billions of dollars into the state’s economy. Fieldwork alone employs more than 200 Californians. Brewery tap rooms function as community gathering places for adults with kids, and often dogs. Many tap rooms are the hub around which their neighborhoods turn. AB 2307 merely grants breweries the right to continue delivering for their communities. It passed out of the legislature with bipartisan support and awaits a signature on the governor’s desk. 

Craft brewing is an industry that continues to grow — expanding opportunities for taproom locations will help out brewers whose businesses are still just a twinkle in their eye. 

“It’s for the breweries that haven’t even started yet,” Braden said. “It’s for the brewers who are putting pens to paper, planning, and thinking about whether this is something they can make a living doing.” 

This piece was put together by the California Craft Brewers Association, which is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association representing the craft and specialty brewing industry in California. Formed in 1989, the CCBA is the oldest state trade association representing craft breweries.

California Craft Brewers Association Executive Director Kelsey McQuaid-Craig
People news: California Craft Brewers Association announces Kelsey McQuaid-Craig as executive director + more people moves
beer-store-grocery-distribution-wholesaler-cartoon-rendering
What craft brewers can learn from PMMI’s 2025 Beverage Packaging Trends Report
Station_26_Firehouse_Location_7045_E_38thAve_Denver
Wilding acquires Station 26 Brewing, expanding its Colorado craft beverage empire
brooklyn brewery pride
Proud ‘Pride’ support: Brooklyn Brewery commits $25K in direct aid for trans New Yorkers

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Hop Zombies, Maibocks, Strawberry Season Magic and more beers to know this week
  • Giveaway: Enter to win a trip to Lawson’s Finest Liquids in honor of Sip of Sunshine IPA’s 10 year anniversary
  • What craft brewers can learn from PMMI’s 2025 Beverage Packaging Trends Report
  • Reminder: Crafted For Action conference is June 18-22 in Atlanta

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • beer-store-grocery-distribution-wholesaler-cartoon-renderingWhat craft brewers can learn from PMMI’s 2025 Beverage Packaging Trends Report
    June 12, 2025
  • Ohio signOhio’s craft beer industry delivers $1.29 billion economic impact in 2024
    June 11, 2025
  • Station_26_Firehouse_Location_7045_E_38thAve_DenverWilding acquires Station 26 Brewing, expanding its Colorado craft beverage empire
    June 9, 2025
  • brooklyn brewery prideProud ‘Pride’ support: Brooklyn Brewery commits $25K in direct aid for trans New Yorkers
    June 5, 2025
  • thielmannThielmann completes transition to Irestal ownership, poised for growth
    June 3, 2025
  • B3 Beverage teamYards Brewing, Bald Birds and Two Roads unite to launch B3 Beverage Co.
    June 3, 2025

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2025 · CBB Media LLC

Continue ...

sponsored by