Craft Breweries in Florida Under Attack

Jan. 19, 2015 – Shanken News reports that a whole lot of big guns are going after the craft brewers with a lawsuit challenging tasting room sales.

Retailers and distributor groups, including associations representing Anheuser-Busch and Miller Coors distributors, have filed a suit against Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation.  They seek clarification of the law that allows craft brewers to serve draft beer in their tasting rooms along with beer packaged for off-premise sale, which in English means the beer that is sold in retail stores.  These sales are an important revenue stream for craft brewers, especially for the smaller ones.

The Florida Independent Spirits Association has filed its own challenge on this matter with the department.  Florida’s biggest retail chain, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is a member of the Independent Spirits Association.

The law was originally passed to allow Anheuser-Busch to sell beer at Busch Gardens, which it owned at the time.  It was known as the “tourist exception” to the three-tier system.  Florida has about 90 breweries, up from six in 2007.  Interestingly, the beer distributors are not fighting a bill that will legalize 64-ounce growler sales.  It will be interesting to see how this shakes out.