A set of bills allowing microwbrewers to provide tastings and sell their beer at farmers markets, HB 5426 (Rep. Marcia Hovey Wright) and HB 5427 (Rep. Andy Schor), passed out of the House Regulatory Reform Committee this week.  Microbrewers would be defined as not producing more than 6,000 gallons of beer a year and would be limited to only allowing the sale of growlers (2 per person per day) under the legislation that passed committee.

Similar legislation was signed into law last year creating a farmers market permit that would allow a small wine maker to conduct tastings and sell wine at farmers markets. These two pieces of legislation expand that to allow for microbreweries to do the same.

Nikki Brown is a legislative associate for the League handling economic development and land use issues.  She can be reached at nbrown@mml.org or 517-908-0305.