Save Microbrewery Tours in Georgia!

As many of you know, I love my job. Recently my awesome job got about 30 notches more awesome-er with the arrival of our new neighbors...

That's right, the Atlanta Brewing Company moved in a scant 500 feet down the street from us! As if producing beer wasn't enough of a community service, they also offer brewery tours three times a week for $6 $7. This entitles you to generous samples from their tasting room, an ABC glass and a guided tour of the brewery. Needless to say I've taken the tours several times.

I wish my excitement and joy were the end of the story, but alas the government is interfering with this public service. I recently got word that the Georgia Dept. of Revenue is aiming to gun down these brewery tours. Why they'd want to do that I'll never know (my guess is that the big breweries and distributors are angry that they're not making money off of them). What I do know is that I'm throwing the full weight of this blog behind stopping it.

The proposed rule is GA DOR notice number AT-2007-1-560-2-2-.61. It would drastically limit the amount of alcohol served to patrons and guests on the tour.

If you're a local reader of NTSC, I implore you to communicate your disgust at this fascist action by our state government. You can communicate this directly to the DOR's head, Commissioner Graham, via e-mail, and to your local elected representatives through this site.

Here's my letter:

Commissioner Graham,

A recent proposal by the Georgia Dept. of Revenue was brought to my attention concerning the serving of patrons and guests at microbrewery tours in Georgia.

I oppose adoption of the proposed rule change and respectfully urge the department to withdraw proposed rule 3a. I believe that such a change would harm or destroy craft brewing in the state of Georgia.

At first glance, this proposed rule change would undermine the breweries' considerable investment in their facilities. Many breweries run on lean profits, and could not afford the financial hit.

Looking deeper, these brewery tours are a major marketing and advertising resource for the breweries. They're essential for their operation. By stripping them of this resource, we endanger their financial well-being and risk losing their many benefits to the community, such as their contribution to tax revenue, to the job base and their efforts to promote community goodwill and service.

On a more personal level, I frequently attend these tours, and use the tours to entertain out-of-state guests, friends and business associates. Without this important attraction, I will be harmed personally, professionally and financially.

Local breweries are already strained under the current "three tier" system of production, distribution and sales, and all help must be given to sustain this important cultural resource. Microbrewing is a craft, and to lose this craft would seriously mar the culinary landscape in Georgia.

Act fast! The Department must receive all comments regarding the proposed Rules from interested persons no later than 10am on June 19th, 2007.

Update 6/13/07 - Whew! Now that I've had a day to calm down, let me clarify a few things.

The rule would dramatically reduce the amount of alcohol served to guests on a brewery tour. For example, ABC limits their sampling to 6 pints of beer per person.

The proposed rule would reduce that limit to 2 oz. of beer per variety served to guests. If you've been to such a brewery tour in Atlanta, you'll know that these are major events, often drawing 50 to 100 people to sample beer and talk brewing with the staff. I feel that if they curtailed the amount of alcohol served that these tours would dry up and ultimately go away.

The government probably is cracking down on the "speakeasy effect" of serving so much to individual guests. In all honesty, I'm obviously a big fan of the cheap beer available on a Friday afternoon.

But I'm also concerned that we're losing our microbrewing industry in Georgia. My favorite brewery (Dogwood Brewery) closed it's doors a few years ago because they just couldn't compete under Georgia's draconian alcohol laws. I fear that the three remaining major microbreweries (ABC, Sweetwater and Terrapin) could face a similar fate. I think that these small breweries should be given any assistance possible.

I'm honest and sincere in my belief that craft brewing is an art and should be preserved.

Update 7/2/07 - Here's an excellent article from the AJC on the proposed action. It sounds like our collective voices are being heard! (Thanks LLA for the tip!)