Bill will expand the amount of brew pubs and small breweries that can sell growlers
SAINT PAUL – State Representative Drew Christensen, R-Savage, introduced a bill on Monday to address a state law that has prohibited small breweries from selling growlers. Specifically, Minnesota forbids a brewer that brews more than 20,000 barrels from selling growlers.
“Minnesota’s growing small breweries and brew pubs have been successful at making Minnesota a craft brew hub,” said Rep. Christensen. “Rather than penalizing successful small businesses like Fulton Brewing, we should be encouraging their success and welcoming more of it.”
Fulton Brewing made news in September of 2016 by announcing they had hit the 20,000 barrel threshold and would no longer be allowed to sell growlers. This bill increases the amount of barrels a brewery can produce while still being able to sell growlers from 20,000 to 250,000 barrels.
“This law put an unnecessarily restrictive ban on one of Minnesota’s fastest growing industries,” said Rep. Christensen. “Small breweries and brew pubs have brought new jobs to Minnesota and grown our economy. We should remove this restrictive, job-crushing regulation on these small businesses. I am happy to carry this legislation that will allow our small breweries to continue to sell growlers.”
The bill, House File 1078, has been referred to the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.
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