• 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

Self-distribution key to craft beer growth in southern Illinois

March 31, 2016Keith Gribbins

Illinois map cbb crop Chicago had more than 60 local breweries in operation back in the early part of the 20th century. Today, it’s once again becoming a local brewing mecca, exploding with brands like Goose Island Beer Co., Two Brothers Brewing Co., Revolution Brewing, Metropolitan Brewing and Half Acre Beer Co. But that’s Chicago. What about the rest of Illinois?

Apparently, the southern part of the state is starting to catch the craft fever too, and according to an article on Southern Business Journal, self-distribution is playing a significant role in small breweries getting their feet wet and driving business.

The ability of breweries to self-distribute their own products was the key that unlocked an industry in Southern Illinois that had most likely been underserved, according to brewers in Southern Illinois.

In June 2011, former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill 754 creating a craft brewer license, and an exemption to self-distribute 7,500 barrels if a brewery manufactured no more than 15,000 barrels. That number has been increased to 30,000 barrels a year in 2013, and then increased again in 2015 when Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill allowing breweries to make up to 120,000 barrels of beer per year. The bill also allowed a brewpub to simultaneously own a craft brewer’s license.

Breweries across the nation are embracing and pushing for similar laws to help encourage craft beer growth in their local neighborhoods. As beneficial as a distributor or wholesaler relationship can be, for the small, local craft brewer just getting off the ground, self-distribution is the optimal route to take. But what will your state allow? That’s the $1 million question — or rather the 60,000 barrel (bbl) question — as many states divide up self-distribution privileges by production size. These distinctions are often the same as the state’s definition for “craft brewery,” but even those parameters are sub-divided into smaller amounts allowed for self-distribution.

The Brewers Association (BA) is a great resource for self-distribution laws across the country. The BA has created a database of U.S. state laws relating to self-distribution, i.e., the ability of a manufacturing brewery to make direct sales and deliveries to retailers. Check it out right over here.

According to the Southern Business Journal, small craft breweries in southern Illinois selling directly to retailers has allowed the community to grow strong, propelling a lot of good brands. From the article:

Little Egypt Beer, Scratch Brewing Co., Von Jakob Brewery, Abbey Ridge, Big Muddy and Route 51 Brewing — which is under construction now — are all in Jackson County. St. Nicholas Brewing Co. calls Du Quoin home in Perry County, and The White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery is under construction in Sparta.

…

[And] the boom of craft beer isn’t just felt by those in the industry, but restaurants and liquor stores have noticed the changes and have made adjustments.

Upland Brewing expands ohio distribution
Upland Brewing Co. partners with River North, expands distribution to Chicago
Chicago Beverage logo
BrickStone Brewery partners with Chicago Beverage Systems in Chicago
Michigan State Capitol
Michigan close to increasing self-distribution limit for craft breweries in state
Distribution contract law
North Carolina ups self-distribution cap, tweaks contract termination rules

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dana DanaDane Sievers says

    March 31, 2016 at 2:36 pm

    Dana DanaDane Sievers liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Jared Read says

    March 31, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    Jared Read liked this on Facebook.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Cheers to 10 Years: We should all strive to be Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
  • Watch famed gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman discuss his Flying Dog beer labels
  • The all-new Papago Brewing taproom opens Friday
  • Michigan’s Dog Star Hops wins Chinook Cup for second year in a row

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • 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
  • Distro update: Connecticut’s Two Roads Brewing goes to Colorado + news from Surreal, New Sarum and more
    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