• 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

Updated craft brewing regulations proposed in Michigan

August 27, 2013Chris Crowell

Michigan craft beer legislation
Are the Michigan brewing laws [pictured above] about to get an upgrade?
Michigan lawmakers are considering a few pieces of legislation that could change the barrelage threshold for micro brewers in the state and ease up certain restrictions on brewpub expansion and on-premise drinking.

According to this great article on MLive.com:

House Bill 4709 would increase the barrel threshold from 30,000 to 60,000 barrels for micro brewers. HB 4710 would allow brewpubs to have an interest in five other brewpubs if the combined production doesn’t exceed 18,000 barrels of beer per year. Current law restricts it to two additional brewpubs with a total production of 5,000 barrels. HB 4711 allows brewers to sell their beer for on-premise consumption at two brewery locations instead of one.

The article states the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association had been an opponent of prior proposed reforms, but the group has worked to find this common ground with the Michigan Brewers Guild in the hopes of further growing the state’s craft beer scene. The wholesalers association also is open to allowing small start-up breweries to self-distribute their beer, but the group still opposes allowing a sole proprietor the ability to own both a micro brewery and a brewpub. While the two groups have stamped these bills with their approval, they have yet to actually clear the committee and be tabled before the House.

The distributors and brewers had hoped that the House would pass three bipartisan bills before leaving for summer break, but they haven’t yet passed committee. And while some consensus has been reached, disagreements over other regulatory issues may be holding up the process.

Another notable portion of the article on MLive.com focused on the thoughts of Bell’s Brewery Founder Larry Bell:

Bell’s Brewery founder Larry Bell said he’s generally supportive of the bills but wants an amendment that would prohibit microbreweries and brewpubs from transferring beer between locations. He said that would prevent corruption in the industry and maintain the spirit of the law.

Bell said he’s concerned about breweries or large restaurant companies controlling a finite number of liquor licenses and only offering their products at the sites. The Kalamazoo brewer runs the largest craft beer operation in the state and hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with the brewers guild.

What do you think about these proposed changes? Yay or nay? And if any Michigan brewers out there would like to share their story on how the current laws have helped or hurt their business, we’d love to hear it: [email protected]

Michigan Proposed Craft Beer Bills
Michigan raises self-distribution bbl cap, eases festival licensure just as another craft beer festival cancels
Michigan State Capitol
Michigan close to increasing self-distribution limit for craft breweries in state
Michigan craft beer regulation
Michigan Governor signs bill to establish a true Craft Beverage Council
money beer
Hey Michigan, Rep. Tom Hooker wants to nearly triple state beer excise taxes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nathan Stano says

    August 27, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    Nathan Stano liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  2. CbusSuperiorBev says

    August 27, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: Updated craft brewing regulations proposed in Michigan. http://t.co/lqxhFFpCgn

    Log in to Reply
  3. NEOhioSuperiorB says

    August 27, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: Updated craft brewing regulations proposed in Michigan. http://t.co/HNQE9ZbbVo

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Shot and a beer: Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and Stone Brewing announce partnership
  • Lone Tree Brewing is a brewery that gives back
  • Local Time Brewing is set to open in Holly Springs, NC, in 2023
  • Olde Mecklenburg Brewery has a newe look

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • madtree-HangerCheers to 10 Years: MadTree Brewing keeps growing and giving a f#ck
    February 7, 2023
  • 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

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