Omnivore - Governor Deal signs beer bill into law

• Photo courtesy the Governor’s office
• L-R: Crawford Moran of 5 Seasons, Attorney Taylor Harper, Sen. Hunter Hill, David Larkworthy of 5 Seasons, Governor Nathan Deal, Nancy Palmer of GCBG, Chris Herron of Creature Comforts, Lobbyist Mo Thrash, Joel Iverson of Monday Night, and Attorney Brooks Binder

Well, that’s a much different photo than the last time Creative Loafing wrote about Governor Deal and beer.

Tuesday morning, Deal signed into law Senate Bill 63, the piece of legislation initially introduced as the Beer Jobs Bill. Representatives from the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, along with one of their lobbyists and a couple of their attorneys, were on hand for the photo opp, which was mostly that—a PR moment for Georgia’s governor to pay lip service to Georgia’s small business beer makers after taking money from Georgia’s well-heeled alcohol wholesalers.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Department of Revenue still has to publish its regulations pertaining to the bill’s changes, which in itself is a confusing and not-very-transparent process that nevertheless determines how the law will be interpreted. SB 63’s changes become law on July 1, at which point breweries can change up their tours depending on the DOR’s regulations.

While perhaps understandably frustrated, GCBG Executive Director Nancy Palmer thinks the bill is a positive change for Georgia beer makers.

“We’re very grateful for the leadership of Sen. Hunter Hill and we’re excited to share this important step with him,” Palmer tells CL. “Though the final law isn’t what we initially asked for, this signing marks a huge accomplishment for the brewers of Georgia.”

Indeed, the bill’s changed quite a bit from its introduction in late January. What would have initially allowed a limited amount of direct sales for both Peach State breweries and brewpubs (something only a few states aside from Georgia still don’t allow) was substantially watered down throughout the legislative process. That being said, it’s still the most progressive Georgia beer legislation to pass in more than 10 years, and supporters argue that at least Peach State breweries have earned a proverbial seat at the table with a number of Gold Dome politicians who have previously ignored them.

“I’m thankful to Governor Deal and our legislature for taking a limited but important step for small businesses in our home state,” GCBG Vice President and Monday Night Brewing co-founder Joel Iverson says. “As Georgia breweries, we’re excited for any step that will allow for more of the craft beer consumed in Georgia to be made right here in Georgia, and we look forward to growing sales with our distributor and retail partners across the state.”

Amidst the bill’s decimation, brewpubs got the shortest end of the stick. While breweries can send some “souvenir” beer home with tour attendees (and distilleries were granted similar rights), brewpubs get no off-premise rights from the newly passed bill. Max Lager’s brewmaster John “JR” Roberts says this is a direct result of wholesaler discrimination.

“It makes absolutely no sense that brewpubs are now the only alcohol manufacturing businesses in the state of Georgia where you cannot take a sample of product home with you,” he says. “It’s a discriminatory action that is spawned by our opponents. They feel we already break the three tier system and are the cause of all of this demand for change, so they are taking it out on us. It’s a personal thing with them against certain brewpubs who helped start the Guild.”

Brewpubs did earn the right to bottle and can their beer with SB 63, which is a first, and an important step for those hoping to grow and reach more customers through grocery and package stores. But Roberts says that’s only the beginning—that the fight has only just begun.

“That’s great, but even that was opposed by the wholesalers,” he says. “Luckily, the retailers stood up and asked that it be included. I can promise you they haven’t heard the last of us.”

Read all of Creative Loafing’s Beer Jobs Bill coverage.