From the office of Sen. Barry Glassman:
Senator Barry Glassman, (R) 35, North Harford County, is offering his support for a new class of brewing license which would potentially aid all Maryland farmers looking to create their own small craft brewery.
As it currently stands anyone with a micro brewery under what is known as a Class 5 License must be attached to a restaurant license as well. This proposes difficulties for anyone not owning a restaurant looking to brew beer in small amounts.
This proposed license would mirror that of the Limited Wineries legislation. It would not harm the integrity or change the structure of the “Three Tier System.” Furthermore, it would allow for the brewing of beer on the premises of a farm in limited quantities. The beer could then be sold on premises in different quantities, as well as shipped to other restaurants or pubs. It would also require that a certain percentage of the products used to brew the beer to be grown on the premises of the farm.
Senator Glassman recently attended a meeting with the Brewers Association of Maryland (BAM). BAM relayed their concerns regarding the limitation on breweries, as well as voicing what they see as some of the potential benefits. According to BAM, this new law is an attempt by local breweries to make their product more viable to wholesalers, as well as address an area of the beer market which they feel can be profitable. One of their goals is to be able to sell beer which they can advertise as something which is truly an “All Maryland Product.”
Glassman said, “The great thing about this new market in addition to helping Maryland farmers, is that it is good for the environment. For instance, barley is an approved cover crop in Maryland and malting barley requires very little nitrogen fertilizer.”
Senator Glassman plans to introduce this legislation during the current 2012 Legislative Session and is working with western Maryland Delegate Kelly Schulz (R), 4, Carroll and Frederick Counties.
Maryland’s limited winery licenses have been a boost to Maryland efforts to expand local grape production and Glassman hopes the farm brewer concept will do the same for helping agriculture to capitalize on the “wide” craft beer market.
When did we decide that it was a good idea to ask Mother Government for permission to brew beer in the first place? Is there anything we can just do because we feel like it anymore?
no one needs permission to brew their own beer; you do need permission, however, to sell that beer. being an alcoholic beverage, it is a regulated product, and it should be. from what i read here, i can easily support this bill and i hope that is passes. my brother is a darn good home-brewer, although since he’s not a farmer, i don’t know if this would apply to him at all. i look forward to the day that i can pour myself a harford county brewed draft beer.
Jeff,
Why the comment “it should be” regulated? What good does the government do when they get into regulating anything? It just becomes a tool for politically influential people to make rules that suit them. Case in point, here. We must consider what we would expect a good government to look like and seek that out, rather than just dealing with what we have right now, before us.
Point stands: he can’t sell me craft beer that I want to buy without seeking permission from the masters first.
Senator Glassman: GREAT BILL! The kind of legislation that promotes MD business, MD agriculture, Chesapeake Bay health, and artisan brewing all at the sime time… LOVE IT!
Thank you Senator Glassman and Kelly Schultz for taking the time out to meet with and listen to a group of farmers/home brewers and introduce this bill! Bills like this create profitable options to help keep farms in business. Hopefully soon Maryland residents will be able to drive to a local farm and enjoy craft beer made right there on the farm using hops, barley, or other ingredients they can see in the field.