On Tuesday, March 22 members of Minnesota's Craft Brewer's Guild rallied against legislation with demands for change to the state's outdated liquor laws that prevent them from selling their own products.
The changes to the tax law passed in December by the federal government will have a direct impact on small brewers. Part of the change included the "Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act". It cuts the federal excise tax in half from $7 a barrel to $3.50 a barrel on the first 60,000 barrels a year.
The owner of a brewpub in New Brighton is frustrated with a Minnesota law that says he can't sell his craft beer on store shelves - so he's decided to build a new brewery across the border in Wisconsin.
The St. Cloud city council has made a pair of changes to the city's liquor ordinance. The council has added an amendment to allow for a brewery and taproom in the city. The city council also approved an amendment to allow for a Consumption and Display permit -- more commonly known as bottle clubs or set-up bars.
Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a bill making changes to state liquor laws that will allow Minnesota breweries to sell pints of beer on-site. The omnibus liquor bill that Dayton signed Tuesday includes a provision sought by Surly Brewing Company, based in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center.
Legislation allowing a Brooklyn Center brewery and other Minnesota beer-makers to serve their brews directly to customers at their establishments cleared a state Senate panel Wednesday, after a concerted social media lobbying effort by Surly Brewing Co. helped soften opposition from the powerful liquor lobby.