New Brewery Relief

Normally I don't pass on press releases but I thought this deserved some space here. This change is overdue and I can think of a couple of new breweries coming to Santa Cruz that will be very grateful.

Governor signs brewery tasting room bill

AB 1014 reduces unnecessary restrictions on brewery tasting rooms.

Sacramento, CA ~ August 1, 2011 -- A bill to make it easier for breweries to install tasting rooms was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today.
AB 1014 exempts breweries from unnecessary and burdensome building requirements that were designed for food facilities but not relevant to improve the safety of brewery tasting rooms. Previously, craft brewers wishing to have a tasting room at the brewery would be required to install several industrial sinks, redo plumbing and electrical wiring among other requirements, simply to provide beer samples. These renovations can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars creating a huge burden for small breweries.
“This bill will relieve craft brewers from the unnecessary burden of installing restaurant grade equipment that simply isn’t needed to pour a taste of beer,” said Tom McCormick, Executive Director of the California Small Brewers Association. “This is a common sense law that garnered bipartisan support at the Capitol. Yet another example that good beer brings people together.”
The bill, authored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego and Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, passed both the Senate and Assembly floor votes unanimously. There are over 250 craft brewers in California, many of which are expanding and adding jobs on a regular basis to meet demand. Nationwide, craft beer grew 11% last year while major brands were flat.
“We are an industry the state can be proud of,” said McCormick. “Craft brewers by nature tend to have environmentally sound practices, we employ a lot of people and we give back to our communities in many ways”
For more information please feel free to contact the CSBA at 530-265-0422