Welcome to Craft Beer Headlines! Each Saturday we use the Craft Beverage Jobs blog to highlight events in the craft beer industry around the world. The Craft Beverage Jobs staff spends several hours each week searching the latest headlines in craft beer news. We then take our top picks in craft beer legislation and growth to share with you right here each Saturday!
Craft Beer Legislation
Indiana: Bill Increases Craft Beer Production
Indiana governor signs bill allowing increased craft beer production, by Jesse Folk – wcpo9
Indiana craft brewers recently came together to push new legislation to increase production limits for craft beer in the state. At the end of April, Senate Bill 297 was signed into law by Indiana’s Gov. Mike Pence.
The bill raises the production levels from 30,000 to 90,000 barrels annually. But there is a catch. Breweries who pass the 30,000 barrel mark will now have to go through a wholesaler for distribution. Sen. Ron Alting, the author of the bill, says this was the compromise agreed upon between brewers and wholesalers.
An additional piece of legislation, House Bill 1053, allows anyone with at farm winery or brewery permit to sell “by the glass” on site.
Pennsylvania: Tax Credits Coming For PA Breweries
Bill would grow Pa. craft beer breweries, by Jim Hook – Public Opinion Local News
This week in craft beer news: Pennsylvania’s Senate Finance Committee met this past Wednesday to approve legislation giving tax credits for small breweries. Senate Bill 73, will now move to the full Senate for approval.
The tax credit, called the Malt Beverage Tax Credit, creates a permanent $200,000 credit for small breweries for the purchase of equipment and machinery. Sen. Richard Alloway, R-Chambersburg, sponsored the bill and made this statement,
This is a situation in which a relatively small investment at the state level could pay huge dividends in the long run. Pennsylvania’s small breweries are a significant contributor to our state and local economy, and supporting this tax credit will pay an important role in helping this industry thrive and grow.
Ranked 7th in the US for craft beer breweries (108 total to date), craft beer brings almost $2 billion to the Pennsylvania economy.
Craft Beer Growth
California: A $6.5 Billion Economy
Craft Beer Contributes $6.5 billin to the California Economy: Report, by Monica Garske – NBC, San Diego 7
A top headline in craft beer news this week: The California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) has reported that craft beer contribution to the California economy was up 18% in 2014, from the year previous. Perhaps even more significant is that craft brewers brought 48,000 jobs to California in 2014.
Craft breweries were up 24% from 2013 to 2014, maxing out at 540 working breweries producing 3.5 billion barrels of craft beer. 1.3 million of that was exported to other states.
Craft Beer Still Growing, No Bubble In Sight
Craft beer bubble? No way, says Boston Beer co-founder Koch, by Michelle Fox, CNBC
In a recent interview the CNBC’s “Closing Bell”, Boston Beer’s Jim Koch stated,
The revolution’s started and now the best place in the world to be a beer drinker is in the United States.
Koch does not believe there is a craft beer bubble. He bases this belief on the fact that craft beer is at an 11% market share. That leaves almost 90% of beer drinkers still to experience craft beer.
What percent wants to drink good beer? I think its more than 11 percent.
Boston Beer recently posted first-quarter profits of $13.7 million with a posted revenue of $199.5 million.
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