Beer battle brewing in Tallahassee

Lawmakers could change how craft beer makers can sell their product

ORLANDO, Fla. – There's an old fashioned beer war brewing in Tallahassee. A proposed Senate bill would limit how craft beer establishments will be able to sell their brews.

Investigator Mike Holfeld uncovered it all comes down to the size of the bottle and who makes the beer.

At the Hourglass Brewery in Orlando they make 60 craft beers.

The recipes have created a hometown following much like the rest of the nation.

In fact, the USA Today proclaimed craft beer sales to be bubbling, but beer lobbyists have convinced state lawmakers the sale of craft beers need regulation.

Under the proposed law Florida craft beer tap rooms would be allowed to sell 64 ounce growlers; beer speak for half gallon bottles.

But if a microbrewery wanted to sell smaller bottles of their craft beer in bottles or cans they would be forced to sell to a distributor then buy it back at about a mark-up.

The Florida Brewers Guild has created a petition on Change.org asking voters to call their representatives

Supporters of the craft beer legislation say it's all about fair competition and protecting the marketplace.

Another proposed version in the house is expected to be reviewed Tuesday, April 8.

Right now there are seven craft breweries in Central Florida and 50 statewide.


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