UPDATE I: Idle Hands Craft Brewery reports being the first to suffer the consequences of these new rules.
UPDATE II: According to Brewbound‘s Chris Furnari, the cost difference between the two licenses is nearly $4,500.
The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (“the Commission”) endeavors to support and enhance the agricultural community, ensure the long-term viability of agriculture, and support farms that protect the common good in many ways including maintaining open spaces in communities. Through the issuance of Farmer-Brewery licenses, the Commission proudly encourages the development of domestic farming and the people who help it thrive.
Each Farmer-Brewer license exists for the specific public purpose of “encouraging the development of domestic farms.” To advance this public purpose, the law requires that a Farmer-Brewer grow cereal grains or hops for the purpose of producing malt beverages. While a licensed Farmer Brewer may import malt, cereal grains fermentable, sugars and hops, this does not eliminate the basic growing requirement. The Commission recently issued a decision relative to Farmer-Brewery licenses. A Farmer-Brewer is any person who grows cereal grains or hops for the purpose of producing malt beverages and who is licensed to operate a Farmer-Brewery.
In its decision, the Commission held that each applicant for a Farmer-Brewery license must document that it grows cereal grains or hops of at least 50%, in the aggregate, of the quantity of cereal grains and hops needed to produce the gallonage of malt beverages estimated to be produced by the applicant during the license term. The Commission also held that when that applicant contracts exclusively for the rights to the yield of cereal grains or hops produced from acreage of domestic farmland that applicant will also be considered to grow “cereal grains or hops for the purpose of producing malt beverages” as required by this law.
For example, if an applicant estimates it will produce “X” barrels of malt beverages in calendar year 2012, and that to produce this volume of malt beverages it will require 200 bushels of cereal grains and 4 bushels of hops, the applicant is required to produce evidence that it grows at least 102 bushels of cereal grains and/or hops used to produce the malt beverages, or that the applicant has exclusive contracts rights to the yield of cereal grains or hops produced from acreage of domestic farmland, or some combination thereof that reaches the “at least 50%” required amount.
The decision dictates compliance with the letter as well as the spirit of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 138, §19C. The Commission put the industry on notice that it will apply this ruling prospectively and, specifically, during the next annual renewal cycle to ensure that every applicant for a Farmer-Brewer license meets the state law definition of farmer-brewer.
Moreover, applicants that do not meet the criteria for a Farmer-Brewer license are welcome to apply for a manufacturer’s license. If you have questions concerning this Advisory or would like more information, please call Executive Director Ralph Sacramone at 617-727-3040.
The cost difference is certainly one thing, but the self-distribution and tastings on premise I believe are the larger issue.
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So someone created legislation that would have required a Farmer-Brewer to grow 50% of the grains and hops used in their product, beer.
When analyzed it was revealed that the entire state of Massachusetts did not create enough grains and hops for the amount of beer brewed in the entire state by Farmer-Brewers. This is NOT a coincidence.
Every freedom loving American, especially independent small business people, must look into who (what entity) crafted this legislation as that group was willing to kill over 1,100 jobs (in a depressed economy) in order to cater to larger corporations (probably distributors, possibly larger breweries who make a much higher percentage of profits, thus can afford the higher permit fees required by the state to sell beer and not grow their own grain/hops.
While this legislation impacts Farmer-Brewers, you can bet your bottom dollar that the same group and pro Corper groups related to this group (all of them can be traced back to 10% of Americans that control 90% of the wealth in America per the college study of 2010) are crafting anti-freedom, anti-competitive, anti-job legislation that only protects their large corporate donors and their bought and paid for political shills.
While Steve Grossman, MA State Treasurer, appears to be supporting this legislation today, how much money used to put out negative campaign advertising, ala Citizens United vs FEC, can he and other freedom loving politicians withstand.
One thing is for sure, if you, the people, do not get active and find out who is doing this and oppose every one of their Corper politicians (all parties) that attempt to put their pro-corprate legislation through the MA state legislation you will ultimately lose your freedom, end up with few if any jobs and the few jobs you have will be minimum wage or below…good luck living on that.
They have been doing this for over 60 years, here is yet another example. Its not good for families, your kids and their future! No job killing legislation ever is.
Awake yet?