• 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
  • COVID-19

The Beer Institute honors Senator Mark Udall, we fume over Congress

May 19, 2014Keith Gribbins

beer institute logo
No photo was available at press time, so we went with this classic.

Two big beer bills have been floating around Congress for some time now focused on beer excise taxes. Of course neither has much chance of passing, at least according to articles like our look at Big Beer’s lobby efforts. Fun fact: Only 11 percent of bills made it past committee in Congress from 2011-2013 and only about 3 percent of those were enacted — it’s a wonderful example of Congressional speed and ingenuity. That did not stop the Beer Institute, “representing America’s brewers, beer importers and industry suppliers,” from awarding Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado with the 2014 Jeff Becker Beer Industry Service Award for his vigorous commitment to both beer and American beer drinkers.

Udall is the lead sponsor of the Brewers Excise and Economic Relief Act (BEER Act), which would reduce the federal excise tax on beer for “all brewers and beer importers.” Sen. Udall has introduced the bill in three consecutive Congressional sessions, and we applaud his commitment, noting that the BEER Act is very much supported by ominous/yet adorable Big Beer. According to www.govtrack.us, it has 0 percent chance of passing. This legislation is foiled by the Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce Act of 2013 (Small BREW Act), which is supported by the Brewers Association, which “supports craft and small-scale breweries around the United States.” According to that same site, the Small BREW Act has a 4 percent chance of getting past committee and a 1 percent chance of being enacted.

WTF? And what’s the difference anyway? Why, taxes of course. Learn about both here, but don’t get too attached to either because Congress seems to have little to no interest in pursing the matter, outside of guys like Udall (slow clap) and the Representative for Pennsylvania’s 6th congressional district Jim Gerlach, lead on the Small BREW Act (thunderous applause).

Back to the Beer Institute (sorry, this started out as a simple press release gig): Senator Udall accepted the award on Tuesday, May 13, during the Beer Institute’s Annual Membership meeting, held in Washington, D.C.

“Senator Udall has been an outstanding advocate for the brewing industry from Colorado to Capitol Hill,” said Luiz Edmond, beer institute chairman and chief executive officer of Anheuser-Busch. “He has proven over and over again his passion for and dedication to brewers and beer drinkers across the U.S. by fighting federal beer excise tax increases and protecting the industry from unnecessary government regulation.”

“Colorado is not only the largest beer-producing state in the country, we’re also the most innovative. That’s why I am honored to receive the Jeff Becker Beer Industry Service Award,” said U.S. Senator Mark Udall. “The brewing industry has played such a vital role in our state’s economy, contributing millions of dollars in wages and creating Colorado jobs. We need to help our brewers keep our pint glasses full and our economy strong.”

The Jeff Becker Beer Industry Service Award is named in honor of the late Beer Institute president. The award is given annually to an individual who embodies Becker’s passion for the work he loved through his or her loyalty, dedication and outstanding efforts on behalf of the nation’s brewing industry — a business that employs more than 2 million Americans and creates more than $246.5 billion in annual economic activity. Jeff Becker served as Beer Institute president from 1999-2010 before losing his battle with cancer in 2010.

beer american flag
The BEER Act vs. the Small BREW Act: What’s the difference?
Save the cans hardywood craft brewery recycle
Bill reintroduced to bring transparency to aluminum price reporting
beer bartender mask brewer serving-001
Beer Institute poll says drinking habits unchanged during the pandemic: ‘The perception that people are drinking more is false’
Unsurprisingly, Craft Brew Alliance shareholders approve Anheuser-Busch full acquisition

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BeerLawCenter says

    May 22, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    The Beer Institute honors Senator Mark Udall, BEER Act http://t.co/d8qwWkz7Ak

    Log in to Reply
  2. jason_osburn says

    May 19, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: The Beer Institute honors Senator Mark Udall, lead sponsor for the BEER Act. http://t.co/VPUOg5RNoL

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Yeast Analysis app Oculyze is offering free demos
  • SF Beer Week kicks off with This Beer Creates Opportunity fundraiser to launch diversity endowment
  • Michigan’s Short’s Brewing down 10% overall vs. 2021, but its Local’s Light lager is up 10%+
  • Cheers to 10 Years: We should all strive to be Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • Michigan’s Short’s Brewing down 10% overall vs. 2021, but its Local’s Light lager is up 10%+
    February 6, 2023
  • Arizona Wilderness BrewingCheers to 10 Years: We should all strive to be Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
    February 2, 2023
  • Watch famed gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman discuss his Flying Dog beer labels
    February 2, 2023
  • Michigan’s Dog Star Hops wins Chinook Cup for second year in a row
    February 1, 2023
  • fort point both-ciders-3Fort Point Beer debuts cider line, explains why ciders instead of seltzers
    January 31, 2023
  • Watch a drone release insects over hop yards for sustainable pest control in this Yakima Chief Hops video series
    January 30, 2023

Footer

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

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC