Finding Craft Beer During 2015 Masters Week

@The_Masters is here, and you can find good #CraftBeer while you're in AGS.

I give this town a bit of a ribbing by calling it "Beer Purgatory". Truth is, there is plenty of beer here. But not so much when it comes to craft beer and its culture, as can be found in other major cities. This is Georgia's second largest city, yet we have no breweries or brewpubs. We have recently added several growler fill locations, and we do have a few good bottle shops to speak of, but taps can certainly be hit or miss. Craft beer is starting to take over tap handles, but in most places Big Beer is more easily found than Craft beer. So, if you are coming to Augusta to enjoy the 2015 Masters, and you want to enjoy good Craft Beer, where should you go? Read on... 

TAPS/RESTAURANTS

Washington Ave between the country club and I-20.  To the best of my knowledge, most of what you are going to find here will be the "best" of Big Beer.  Locations like Somewhere in Augusta, Hooters, and Carrabas are going to have exactly what you expect.  Though SIA does do bottles as well, and has some OK selection especially from GA biggies Sweetwater and Terrapin.  Probably the same for TGI Fridays, Olive Garden, and Outback.  Bonefish occasionally will have an interesting tap, the same with Wild Wing Cafe, and I haven't a clue about either Tbonz Steak House or Rhineharts Oyster Bar.  Let's just put it this way....I have never heard the craft beer enthusiasts recommend any of these for good Craft Beer.

Just to the south of the country club is Surrey Center (Corner of Highland Avenue/Berkmans Road at Wheeler Road), with a few popular restaurants.  Calvert's Steakhouse, Surrey Tavern, French Market Grille, and Oliviana's Grille offer a variety of food.  What they don't offer however is a wide variety of beer.  Again, pretty standard offerings, though the Tavern has a larger selection of bottles (with Sweetwater/Terrapin).  But for Craft Beer, the lone standout is new arrival Finch & Fifth. 
 

While the selection is small (only 3 taps and 10+ bottles) it is all craft.  To add to the party they also have both a charcuterie and cheese menu.  Good Craft Beer, smoked meats, and cheese pairings.  Finch & Fifth is definitely a place to go!

If you go to Downtown Augusta, which I recommend, there are many places to find alcohol.  Some more respectable than others.  However on the Craft Beer front, there are a handful that rise to the top.  First up is The Bee's Knees, a venerable Tapas eatery (don't miss the Smoked Gouda Nachos!) that always has a fresh assortment of good Craft Beer on 6 taps and numerous bottle selections.  Check them out and you won't be disappointed. Also, if you return for the 2016 Masters, you will be able to enjoy their new 70-tap growler bar, The Hive, right next door.

Craft & Vine

Coming in right behind them are a trio of restaurants founded by the same ownership.  Frog Hollow Tavern, Farmhaus Burger, and the new Craft & Vine. With both Frog Hollow and Craft & Vine, you are going to find upscale (locally sourced) dining and cocktail experiences.  I am not sure of the current selection at the former, but C&V does offer a pretty good Craft Beer selection with 6 taps and 10+ bottles.  No Big Beer here.  Next door at Farmhaus Burger (again locally sourced) you will also find a good selection of Craft Beer with 6 taps and numerous cans.  Not only do these three use locally sourced produce, but they also feature some of the smaller craft breweries in Georgia.

Other notables downtown are Stillwater Taproom, the Whiskey Bar, and Metro Pub & Coffeehouse.  My bud John Pylant, new writer at porchdrinking.com, says that Stillwater earns high marks for its good tap and bottle selection.

Last but not least are the two big local pizza restaurants, Mellow Mushroom (15 major label taps) and Pizza Joint (30 mostly major label taps, along with Georgia's Eagle Creek and Southbound).  Both also have locations up in Evans, so more on them later.

Near the I-20/520 Interchange is Robert C. Daniel Parkway which is home to numerous restaurants and stores.  If you are in the area, your best bet for Craft Beer can be found at either the Carolina Ale House, or Buffalo Wild Wings.  The Ale House as ~40 taps with usually a good Craft representation.  The same can be said for BWW and their 30 or so taps.  Both places of course have plenty of TVs and pub food.  Also of note, is the Limelight Cafe, with a good number of Craft taps on hand, but be prepared for a smokey environs.

Further up Washington Ave in the town of Evans, where a lot of Masters patrons will rent houses for the week.  While there are many places to eat, there are not too many places that one will find a good Craft variety.  Probably the best is the second location of the Pizza Joint.  Over 30 taps taps with a good rotation, to include the newest "local" brew, the excellent Eagle Creek Pale Ale and Blonde out of Statesboro, GA.  Further up the road you will find better pizza (IMHO) at the second Mellow Mushroom.  MM-Evans has roughly a dozen taps, and a good selection of bottles. 

Like a good number of folks, you might be staying up in Aiken, SC.  While I don't get up there very often, it is the home of the regions one and only brewpub.  The Aiken Brewing Company features a line-up of 5 beers brewed on premises, and full menu.  The tap offerings are constantly rotating from their stable of 19 brews.  If you are up in horse country, visit downtown Aiken and check them out.

About an hour north of Augusta on I-20, you will find the capital of SC, Columbia.  Being a capital city, they have numerous locations for Craft Beer consumption.  In the downtown area, you can find Flying Saucer, World of Beer, Liberty Taproom, Hunter Gatherer, Thirsty Fellow, as well as another Mellow Mushroom.  

Columbia also has a trio of young craft beer breweries, with Conquest, River Rat, and Swamp Cabbage. On Fri-Sun, you can visit all three easily using the Columbia Brew Bus.  An embarrassment of riches...

 

Keg Cowboy

Finally, just south of Columbia is Lexington, SC.  Just off of I-20, you will find two gems in this small hamlet.  First is Keg Cowboy, which is half pub, half growler station with constantly rotating taps with high quality Craft.  Also in town is the Old Mill Brewpub, with up to 20 more taps and many more bottles.  Sounds like a good place for lunch!

BOTTLE SHOPS

After looking at where one can find good Craft Beer out on the town in AGS, let's take a look at where you can good to fill your fridge with the same.

As with restaurants and pubs around here, there are plenty of places to buy beer.  But there only a handful which can scratch the Craft Beer itch. 

Toast Wine & Beverage

There are a trio in my mind that offer the best selection in the Augusta area. First is Toast Wine & Beverage (417 Fury's Ferry) in Martinez.  Located close to where a lot of folks will be staying, this outlet strives to bring in new and different craft, and is extremely responsive to customer input and requests. They probably offer the most diverse and freshest selection that you can find in the CSRA.

Close behind are the related stores, Beverage Outlet (247 Bobby Jones Expy, Martinez) and North Augusta Wine & Beverage (1135 Knox Ave, North Augusta, SC).  Beverage Outlet is also pretty conveniently located on a major thoroughfare, and sports a large beer selection with probably the overall largest Craft selection in town. 

Just across the river, it's SC cousin NA Wine & Beverage also offers a nicely diverse craft line-up.  An added benefit to it being located in another state, is that this outlet can often get some brews that are not distributed inside Georgia.  If you are staying in Aiken, or near downtown, they will be an easy trip.

A few  other locations offer smaller, but usually worthy Craft offerings.  One is in Surrey Center, right near Augusta National, is White Horse Wine & Spirits (497 Highland Ave).  Size wise they are tiny, but they still manage to offer some pretty good Craft names.  A second way up on the north end of Washington Rd, but near really nice neighborhoods where patrons rent houses for the week.  Woody's Wine & Spirits (5121 Washington Rd, Riverwood Town Center) strives to keep it's smaller collection populated with good Craft, especially smaller regional offerings like Monday Night Brewing, Red Brick, Cigar City.   Closer in, in central Evans you can find Vineyard Wine Market (4414 Evans to Locks Rd).  

Another is located literally just across the 13th St Bridge from Downtown Augusta.  Wine World (133 Georgia Ave, North Augusta, SC) is an eclectic little wine & cheese shop that has a large offering of beer in bottles.  Wine World I am told used to really excel at Craft Beer offerings, but unfortunately personnel changes have not allowed them to maintain that level.  Still a pretty good selection, but not what it used to be.

Lastly, in Downtown Augusta, you can find Afficianados (307 8th St).  This outlet is primarily a Tobacco shop, but they have a pretty good variety of Craft Beer.  They are a little pricey, and they don't sell singles (like all the others listed above).  However, they do have 7 growler taps.

Somewhat surprisingly, you can also find some Craft selection at some local supermarkets.  Publix has some larger Craft beers, and can be convenient.  Augusta's lone Earthfare also has a better than average Craft selection.  Both now offer singles coolers, so that you can mix and match.   Lastly, but definitely not least, Augusta's newly opened Whole Foods Market (Washington & I-20) offers a vast selection of beers, as well as 5 growler taps.   

If for some reason you are up nearer to Columbia, SC (or down in Atlanta), you can find Green's Beverages.  I particular, Green's Piney Grove is an impressive warehouse with a huge selection of Craft .  Alas it is an hour away.  Green's Assembly St (Columbia) and Green's Atlanta, while still with good selections in their own right, don't approach the vastness of Piney Grove.  If you are up that way, stop in and stock up!  

GROWLER STORES 

One of the most significant additions to the craft beer culture in Augusta over the last year, has been the emergence of growlers.  There have been places here and there that offered them in the past, but nothing like the options we have now. 

In addition to the aforementioned Whole Foods and Afficianados, last April saw the opening of Gravity Growlers (341 Furys Ferry Rd, Martinez).  Gravity was opened by two brothers with local restaraunt experience and a nose for beer, and offers 25 taps of crafty goodness in addition to numerous large bottles and glassware.

The most recent addition to the market is this weeks arrival of Tip TopTaps (4317 Washington Rd, Evans).  This growler station located in an former gas station, has 20 taps.

Both of these locations fill 32 & 64oz growlers.  If you didn't bring one, you can get either size for a $5 deposit . 

So there you have it. A brief rundown (though longer than last year!) of places you can find to help scratch your craft beer itch, when you are in Augusta to enjoy the Masters.  Enjoy your day watching some golf, and then sit back and tip back some suds.

Drink up! 

AGS gains another Growler Store - Pt 3

My first purchase

After adventuring over to Lowes this morning, I stopped across the street for my first stop at Tip Top Taps, and picked up a growler of Smuttynose Finestkind IPA.

TTT just opened for business yesterday, and is offering 20 taps of craft beer goodness.   Buy a 32oz or 1gal growler for a one time cost of $5 (sizes can be interchanged for no charge), and fill it from your choice of constantly rotating taps for the cost of the beer.  Then drink & repeat.  Owner Marty Koger, who previously owned the gas/mini-mart at the same location, said that he was looking to reinvent his store and help fill a need for which the Augusta area has limited options.  The location also offers an e-cigarette/vapor counter, for those looking for nicotine, rather than hops.

Tap list and availability at tiptoptaps.com

A year ago, Augusta couldn't spell Growler, let alone fill one conveniently.  Now with 4 local growler stations, and a 5th one coming, AGS has plenty of options for great take-home craft beer on tap.

Augusta, lets make sure that they all prosper!  Drink up!

AGS gains another Growler Store - Pt 2

Tip Top Taps is now open for business with 20 taps of #craftbeer.

We are excited to announce that Tip Top Taps is now open for business!

Come in to say hello, try a few beers, and buy some to take home with you!

Check out our beer selections to see what’s currently on tap. You’re welcome to try before you buy, and we’re confident that you’ll find something you love on our diverse menu.

We offer 32-ounce and 64-ounce growlers, filled with your choice of delicious craft beer from one of our 20 taps. Growlers are a convenient way to enjoy draught beer at home and without paying bar premiums.

If the draught options don’t strike your fancy, we also stock bombers (large 22-ounce bottles) of a variety of other craft beers.

We are open from noon to 8 pm, 7 days a week. We are located at the corner of Washington Road and Belair Road in Evans, Georgia — just down the street from Evans Towne Center Park.

@BeesKneesTapas To Open 70 Tap Growler Pub

@JennaNMartin says Downtown AGS will soon get a lot more craft beer, courtesy of The Hive Growler Bar.

Bee's Knees restaurant owners prepare to open growler pub
By Jenna Martin

The couple that brought The Bee’s Knees downtown to Tenth Street will soon add a “Hive.”

Eric and Kristi Kinlaw are in the midst of gutting a storefront next to the Bee’s Knees tapas bar for their second full-service eatery, The Hive Growler Bar, a hybrid retail growler shop, restaurant and bar.

“Here, we’re kind of limited on space,” Eric Kinlaw said of Bee’s Knees, which has room to offer only six beers on draft. “We really wanted to expand our on-tap offerings, so we’re going to have over 70 taps and we’re going to sell growlers to go.”

Kinlaw said the pub-style restaurant will emphasize beer selections from Georgia and other regional breweries, and offer monthly beer events.

[...]

They’ve been working on their new concept for about a year and a half and decided now to lease the adjacent space...Kristi Kinlaw said.

“We’ve been down here for a long time and seen the ebbs and flows of downtown,” she said. “A lot of great restaurants have opened up over the past few years, and we just want to keep the momentum doing down here.”

This will be interesting, given that both the Bee's Knees and old Rooster's Beak restaurant next door (where The Hive will be) only have/had several taps at most.  I am wondering where The Hive will be able to find room to store kegs to feed *70* taps, without giving up kitchen space and/or dining space.

No matter what though, I know this will have a lot of people lining up for opening night!  I can't wait...

Augusta gains another Growler store!

In the near future Columbia County will add another growler fill location - Tip Top Taps.

Coming soon to the Augusta and Columbia County area, Tip Top Taps will be located at the corner of Washington and Belair Roads, convenient to Evans Towne Center Park and Lady Antebellum Amphitheater.

We strive to offer a wide selection of craft beers representing the myriad styles available. From pale ales to porters, you’re sure to find something you’ll love.

If you have a special request, please contact us.

Whether you’re a beer novice or an old pro, we hope you’ll feel right at home at Tip Top Taps.

The exact location will be: 
Tip Top Taps
4317 Washington Rd
Evans, GA 30809

GA Politics v. #GABeer, Round 1

Greased Palms take Rnd 1 w/a TKO.  @austinlouisray from @ctl_atlanta & @EWErickson bring the details:  

Decimated Beer Jobs Bill passes through Regulated Industries

After an eventful week at the Gold Dome, both sides of the Beer Jobs Bill fight convened once again in Room 310 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building Friday morning for a second hearing and voted in favor of Senate Bill 63, albeit a drastically altered version of the original bill designed to loosen the state's three-tier beer distribution laws for Georgia brewpubs and breweries.

The new version of SB 63, a committee sub (basically, a last-minute substitution for the original bill) proposed by Regulated Industries Chairman/State Sen. Rick Jeffares (R-McDonough), allows for no direct sales for breweries. Instead, it alters the current tour structure so that brewers can give away 36 ounces on-premises during the tour (compared to the current 32 ounces) as well as a "souvenir" malt beverage container of no more than 64 ounces to-go. In other words, what was originally a bill allowing direct sales has been reduced to a bill that expands on the current "free beer" tour structure, except that breweries would be able to charge various rates for tours (they sold glasses before, into which they poured the free beer) depending on how much beer is consumed by attendees.

As for brewpubs, they'll no longer be limited to draft-only production. In addition to bottle and can production, the new SB 63 allows for a growler provision similar to 2014's Senate Study Committee report. In short, consumers who buy a meal at a brewpub could also buy a growler with the meal, then take home the remainder of the growler that they don't drink with their food.

The only thing likable in this bill is that Brewpubs may now bottle and can their brews.  Though it validates the idiotic brewpub growler provision that says one has to drink some of the growler before going home....

Erickson provides some outlet for your apoplectic rage displeasure should you choose to do so (nicely please...).

They Gutted the Beer Jobs Bill

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee in Georgia has gutted S.B.63, the beer jobs bill. Breweries will continue to be prohibited from making direct sales to customers. Now, you’ll have to buy a tour and, in the price, be able to pay extra for no more than 64oz. of beer in a single container.

This is ridiculous. So many of these guys got major contributions from beer wholesalers and they are listening to them and not the voters.

Clearly we need a change in tactic. Try these phone numbers. They are their in-district office numbers. They won’t listen at the Capitol. Make them listen in their offices back home.

Tell them how angry you are that they gutted S.B.63. And then go find someone to challenge them in a primary.

Name                   District Number
Rick Jeffares       (678) 432-7676
Frank Ginn         (706) 680-4466
Joshua McKoon  (706) 442-9130
Ed Harbison        (404) 656-0074
David Shafer       (404) 497-0048
Renee Unterman (404) 463-1368
Brandon Beach   (678) 640-1811
Bill Cowsert        (706) 543-7700
Steve Gooch        (404) 656-9221
Steve Henson       (404) 243-5107
Jack Hill              (912) 557-3811
David Lucas        (478) 254-7600
Butch Miller        (678) 989-5301
Jeff Mullis           (706) 375-1776

While this may seem like a loss, perhaps there is some optimism to be had.  Ray points out that this is not the end of the line, for this bill or future ones...

"No matter how silly it may seem, the main thing is to get a bill passed," GCBG president and co-founder/president of Terrapin Beer Company, John Cochran, says. "Any bill. And we are thankful to the committee for doing that. We will work on improving this bill when we go to the House side. There really is a long way to go."

Augusta Beerfest Special Offer!

@GravityGrowlers is offering a special deal for those dressed appropriately at the Augusta Beerfest: 

"Hey Folks, we are really excited for Augusta's first beer festival. From the sound of it, the attendance is going to be great, and that should really help elevate Augusta on the Georgia craft beer map. For anyone who is unsure about going, please do. Supporting events like this only increases the likelihood more craft beer related events will happen in the future. There are lots of reasons Augusta, with its population and resources, should be an active venue for craft beer enthusiasts, so vote with your dollars and support stuff like this!

We have a fun promo for those attending. If you have one of our shirts and wear it to the festival, take a picture of you wearing it...show us the pic next week and get 20% off of any 64oz growler fill. If you don't have a shirt, get one!! We just reduced the prices!"

So get your butts over to 341 Furys Ferry Rd in Martinez tomorrow and get yourself a shirt!

Columbia Beer Envy

@CraftAndDraftSC has opened for business!

Columbia, SC has just added to an impressive and growing list of craft beer offerings with 'Craft & Draft'.  While the city is only an hour or so away, I rarely get up there for a variety of reasons.  I may need to rethink that now that they have yet another beer locale downtown.  

Their initial tap list does look impressive, with an all-Carolina line-up. Now if they can get NoDa Hop, Drop & Roll on tap...

"Check out our draft list! We will sell growlers to go and pints on premise from any of our 12 rotating taps. We will (try to) post a picture of our draft lineup each morning, so stay tuned to our social media pages for the latest info! Thanks again, and see you soon beer lovers! #CraftBeer #DrinkLocal"

 Good luck guys!  Hope to see you soon!

 

Gravity Growlers Opens Its Doors to Augusta Craft Beer Lovers

The best beer selection in the CSRA arrived today!   After much anticipation, the owners of the former (and much missed) Rooster's Beak restaurant opened their next enterprise.
 
Sporting 25 taps of fresh draft beer, a couple dozen unusual bottles, a variety of beer glass, and t-shirts, Gravity Growlers welcomed its first customers.

Several members (and alumni) of the Augusta Homebrewers Association stopped by to welcome the new store, and pick up some libations for the weekend. 

For all those in Augusta who love beer, Gravity Growlers can be found at 341 Furys Ferry in Martinez (across from Earth Fare).

Phillip & Jonathan Marks - Owners

For those of you who really miss the Rooster's Beak, they did salvage a little of the ambiance and are using them to decorate the mannequins...

Gravity Growlers Update

When in doubt, GO BIG! The CSRA's soon-to-arrive craft beer hotspot will have 25 taps! 25!!

While the former Rooster's Beak's several taps served exclusively American craft beer, Gravity Growlers will expand the palate to include foreign brews, as well as include some niche tastes like sours.  In a great bonus, the new county regulations now allow for on-premise tastings as well.

During a Columbia County Commission meeting last night, Gravity Growlers was approved to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption.  So now the owners will work through the maze of remaining regulatory requirements, as well as complete the construction of their storefront.

Hopefully if everything goes smoothly, we will see Gravity Growler open for business in a few weeks.  Rejoice, for real soon we may enjoy something that looks like this picture (minus the 3 taps on the left)!

It's Raining Growlers!

Rejoice Augusta! For you aren't just getting 1 new growler fill station...Whole Foods is coming and later this year when it opens its new location at Washington Ave & I-20, they will have a growler station!

Since this had been a topic of interest amongst craft beer-minded friends, I sent in an inquiry.  The WFM home office promptly replied with: 


"Yes, the Augusta store will have a growler station with 5 taps."

Right now I have not seen any solid estimate for when Whole Foods will open its doors, but I will certainly keep an eye out.

Growlers Are Back In Town!

Long live Rooster's Beak!  Raise a growler in their name!

While the Beak's departure may have left many of us with a empty feeling deep in our soul where great grub and beer reside, fear not!  For the former owners have a new venture on the drawing board that will satiate at least half of that equation.  The need for Craft Beer!

Those owners put out a hint on the former Beak Facebook page, with a picture of a storefront with the caption "Huh..."  An eagle eyed commenter posted an address, so I decided to check it out.  And here is what I found... Gravity Growlers!

Indeed the rumors are true, and it appears that craft beer will be conveniently available to Columbia County in growlers sometime in the near future!!  

If you couldn't tell, I am totally psyched about this.  And if you like good craft beer, you should be too.  First, because there are currently no growler stations in the county.  But more importantly,  if the quality, variety, and price of excellent craft beer formally available at the Beak was any indication, this set of rotating taps should be awesome!

So rejoice y'all!  Growlers are back!

[Edited]

Do Georgia Politicians Hate Craft Beer?!?

First they screwed up homebrew laws, now possibly on-premise growler sales....

Ironically, in the homebrew arena federal laws are actually pretty common-sensical.  Homebrew "may be removed from the premises where made for personal or family use at organized affairs, exhibitions, or competitions such as contests, tastings, or judging".  Nice and simple.

Of course, never underestimate the ability of well intentioned politicians with no practical knowledge on an issue to screw things up.  Back in 2013, Georgia legislators passed HB99 with the intention of addressing the transportation and consumption outside of the one's household, an activity which previously was not mentioned in Georgia laws.  So one could debate whether this made transport technically illegal, or technically legal.  But either way, the state of Georgia had gotten along fine for decades without it being addressed.  

This where the politicians step in.  And as we know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions...

"Recently, House Bill 99 (HB99) passed and became law matching the federal production limits... It also attempted to legalize transportation and consumption outside of the household. However, instead of following the federal language and treating transportation of homebrew the same as transportation of commercial beer, it only allows for "transportation and delivery by the producer for use at home-brew special events in a quantity not to exceed 25 gallons". By default, these homebrew special events can only be held "at locations not otherwise licensed under this title" and a new special event permit is now required."

Awesome! From fairly unregulated to bureaucracy and required permits (which have to be issued by separate municipalities that probably don't have a process for this requirement) in one easy step!

"To add even more red tape, any homebrew leaving your household is now required to be labeled with personal information as well as the new permit number. No permit, no transportation. Prior to HB99, despite being technically illegal, transportation of homebrew was completely unregulated and monthly club meetings and contests were held at any venue that would tolerate them. No government oversight was needed or wanted.

[...]

HB99 appears to have been written to finally legitimize competitions, but ironically it seems to have had more of a negative impact. Municipalities with little or no knowledge of the aspects of homebrewing and little resources, time, or perceived benefit are now slated to draw up an ordinance allowing an event in their jurisdiction...and several annual competitions are in jeopardy with at least one having already been cancelled.

Thanks again helpful politicians!  Why did we even ask for your help?

If you think that is bad, let's move to the simple idea (in over 3 dozen other states) of letting craft brewers let their on-site customers take some fresh beer home with them.  Surely the politicians couldn't crew this up, right?

Well, initially in 2013 proposed pieces of legislation (HB 314/SB 174) actually took some straightforward approaches "...to allow packaging breweries and brewpubs to sell a limited amount of beer (only 288 ounces per person per day) for consumers to take home."  However, those bills languished in committee, and never got to a vote.  What did get passed however was the establishment of a "Senate Study Committee on Brewpubs and Alcoholic Beverage Tastings".  Yep, it was as bad as it sounds...  

And whodathunkit, the outcome of said committee was pretty craptacular.

"Despite an abundance of compelling testimony from Georgia craft brewers, the Study Committee Report favors prohibition-era, big-government regulation over modern free market principles. After three hearings held in August, September and October, the FINAL REPORT OF THE GEORGIA SENATE STUDY COMMITTEE ON BREWPUBS AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TASTINGS was released on Friday January 17, 2014. While the Committee Hearings provided an unprecedented opportunity for Georgia craft brewers to explain the craft beer industry to our State legislators and the public-at-large, the report reveals ongoing misunderstandings and shortcomings that must be addressed."

Would you like to see stupidity in action?  Check out how the report from this distinguished panel of public servants recommends that growler purchases at breweries and brewpubs should work.

1. The growler contains malt beverages manufactured on the premises;
   

2. The patron purchased and consumed a meal on the premises and consumed a portion of the growler containing 64 ounces of malt beverages manufactured on the premises;

3. The partially consumed growler is capped by the patron and placed by the licensee or its employees in a bag or container that is secured in such a manner that it is visibly apparent if the bag or container has been subsequently opened or tampered with, and a dated receipt for the growler and meal shall be provided by the licensee and attached to the bag or container; and

4. If transported in a motor vehicle, the bag or container with the capped growler is placed in a locked glove compartment, a locked trunk, or the area behind the last upright seat of a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a trunk.

Interesting.  I have never seen politicians actually recommend that people drink a portion of their alcohol purchase before driving home.

But seriously...in order to get a growler of fresh beer one must buy a meal AND drink a portion of said growler before leaving.  Where the heck did that come from?  Before I get more profane, I will let the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild (GCBG) to again express their frustration.

First, the recommendations of the Report entirely ignore packaging breweries. The Study Committee heard testimony that breweries in forty-two other states are allowed some form of beer sales to-go. Further testimony was provided on the bounty of economic and other benefits that would result from the proposed limited to-go business for packaging breweries. Yet, the Report is silent about whether Georgia's packaging breweries should be given a fair opportunity to strengthen their consumer relationships in the same way that out of state competitors can in their home states. The Legislature needs to address laws which impede our craft brewer's ability to effectively compete, before Georgia's craft beer industry loses additional ground to neighboring states.

Secondly, the “merlot-to-go” recommendation on page 20 of the Report for how brewpubs should be allowed to sell growlers shows an apparent lack of understanding of the realities of beer service and quality. The recommendation limits the consumer to only one 64oz growler, WHICH MUST BE PARTIALLY CONSUMED AT THE BREWPUB. The remainder can then be taken home if it is wrapped and sealed in a plastic bag. The report even goes so far to specify where the container can be placed in the patron's car, creating additional burdens and risk on consumers who simply want to enjoy their favorite beer in their own home. Not only would the recommendation require the patron to drink part of the growler before getting back on the road, it overlooks the fact that beer is not wine. A half-filled container of beer will be flat and oxidized before the consumer can return home. The “merlot-to-go” recommendation is unworkable, as written, and does not serve the interests of Georgia’s craft beer industry or the interests of Georgia’s adult consumers.

Another major flaw in the Report is the lack of any meaningful consideration of the consumer demand. The Senate Study Committee was provided with reports, analysis, news stories and other background material that indisputably proves the enthusiasm and sophistication of craft beer consumers in Georgia. The Report does not seem to understand or appreciate this sophistication and the recommendations seem to indicate that these sophisticated consumers in Georgia should just accept the status quo. This is unacceptable for many reasons and the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild will continue to fight to create the best possible environment for craft beer consumers throughout the state of Georgia. It's time to bring the laws governing Georgia's craft brewers up to speed with the rest of our country. The Georgia Craft Brewers Guild is opposed to the Study Committee’s recommendations and will continue to push for passage of HB 314/SB 174 into law.

So....while one can buy a growler of their favorite local beer at growler stations throughout the state (where by the way quality of the beer cannot be guaranteed) and take it all home.  But if they buy an identical growler at that beer's brewery, they must buy a meal and drink some before they go home.  Makes perfect sense!

I don't get why the pols are making things so complicated.  It is not like this is a real threat to the three-tier system (Certainly not here in Augusta). And has been shown in other states in the region, updating these very types of laws can have an immediate and positive affect on the state's brewing industry, and by extension, its tax base.

Changes in State Law Fueled S.C.’s Brewery Boom

"No matter where you go in South Carolina, there’s little doubt that craft beer is experiencing something of a boom. “South Carolina is right on the edge of an explosion,” says Nick McCormac, who blogs about South Carolina beers at drinkblogrepeat.com. 

So, what was the spark that lit that explosion? Two words: Pint Bill. On June 6 of last year, Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law an amendment that granted microbreweries the ability to sell up to 48 ounces of beer to patrons on site instead of limiting their intake to free samples, giving breweries a much-needed up-front source of income beyond selling through distributors. 

While it took a coalition of brewers and enthusiasts lots of hard work to get the bill created and pushed through, the results were immediate and dramatic. “Already [since the Pint Bill passed] there are about 10 different breweries of various sizes and in various locations in the planning stages, and that’s just going into 2014,” McCormac notes" 

Alas this type of progress, as has been advocated by the GCBG, seems to elude the narrow minds of Georgia state legislators.  One can only hope that sanity will prevail, and the original proposed text of the House and Senate bills will become law, without the idiotic recommendations of the esteemed Senate Study Committee on Brewpubs and Alcoholic Beverage Tastings...