Welcome to Craft Beer Headlines: A Week In Review! Each week, we spend significant time keeping up with the latest events in the craft beverage industry. On Saturdays, we pick our favorite headlines and share them with you in a convenient digest of news snippets and links.
In today’s issue, we share the week’s top headlines in craft beer news for legislation, industry growth and festivals across the United States.
Craft Beer Legislation
Specialty Craft Beer License
Legislation could create a specialty craft beer license, by Ryan Phillips – Birmingham Business Journal
The Alabama Brewers Guild (ABG) has put together legislation (HB96) for a specialty license for craft brewers that would allow them to have a restaurant on the brewery premises. This would also allow that brewery to sell their craft beer on the property for consumption.
State Representative K. L. Brown introduced the bill. Only craft breweries who make less than 2 million barrels of beer annually and are in locations restricted to 10,000 barrels annually, qualify.
Craft Beer Growth
Small Distributor Growing Craft Beer Portfolio For New York
This company is bringing some of the world’s highest-rated craft beers to New York, by Megan Rogers – Albany Business Review
There is a craft beer distributor in Altamont, Remarkable Liquids, now bringing some of the top brands 
in craft beer to New York state. Remarkable Liquids general manager Spencer Noakes has set a goal to double their distribution this year from 100,000 cases to 200,000!
We felt like there was a huge void and there needed to be a craft-specific distributor. – Spencer Noakes
Currently, Remarkable Liquids only distributes 30 of the top craft beers from U.S. breweries. They are wanting to catch up with the market in New York as consumers are demanding better quality beer.
Sonoma County Economic Growth Attributed To Craft Beer
Craft brewing boosts county economy, by Cynthia Sweeney, The North Bay Business Journal
The Sonoma county Economic Development Board released a report that shows 17 new craft brewery establishments have opened since 2012, bringing the total to 42 craft breweries. (24 craft breweries, 7 cideries, 11 distilleries)
In 2013, craft brewing brought $169 million to the county, with over 850 industry related jobs created.
There is still work to do when it comes to permitting and regulation on state and federal levels, according to Anchor Steam’s owner Keith Greggor. Positive signs for the local industry is the interest from new investors and banks who see craft beverage as a smart investment.
“Support Indiana Brewers”
Three Floyd’s latest craft beer looks to change state law, by Joseph S. Pete – nwi.com
Currently, craft breweries contribute $610 million annually to the Indiana economy. Craft Breweries like Three Floyds and Sun King believe it could be even more should Indiana legislators lift current production caps placed on Indiana breweries.
The Indiana House, with an 87-7 vote, supports raising the amount craft breweries can brew for sale in the state to 90,000 barrels. The bill now sits in the Indiana State Senate, awaiting approval.
To show support, as only craft beer can do, Three Floyds and Sun King collaborated to brew 120 barrels of Slacktivist. The name Slacktivist represents a word coined in the 1990’s to represent “slacker activism” – the support of a cause because it’s easy to do so.
Craft Beer Festivals & Expos
Craft Beer Festival In Coconut Grove
Craft beer festival: Coconut Grove hosts 200 varieties of beer, by Carlos Frias – PalmBeachPost.com
It’s time for Sprung Spring Beer Festival in Coconut Grove’s Peacock Park, where over 4,000 people are expected to sample more than 200 different craft beers this weekend!
This event is 4 years old and is known as one of Miami’s signature events for craft beer. It will feature a great mix of nationally known craft beer favorites to local breweries like Funky Buddha, Tequesta Brewing, and Saltwater Brewery.
Craft Beer Week Goes BIG In Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Largest Craft Beer Week, by Jamie Johansen – AgWired
It’s the fifth anniversary for the Madison Craft Beer Week and will be its largest to date. With over 350 events scheduled, attendees will have lots of craft beer options to choose from.
Each year we have worked hard to grow this festival into becoming
Wisconsin’s largest craft beer week. No matter your level of interest in craft beer, we can offer something for everyone. The craft beer culture here is extraordinary, and we want the spread the word. -Jeff Glazer, event co-founder
Wisconsin’s largest craft beer week. No matter your level of interest in craft beer, we can offer something for everyone. The craft beer culture here is extraordinary, and we want the spread the word.The event will continue through this weekend and the firs part of next week.
Thinking About A Career In Craft Beer?
Take advantage of the Craft Beverage Jobs FREE Job Seeker resources! 