Progress? HB 660 & 602

Mixed news about HB 660 & HB 602 as told by Travis Poling and Ronnie Crocker. Looks like brew pubs will not be able to distribute their own product (wholesalers got that taken out) & Poling ends his short article*: "Although it is a very consumer-friendly bill, expect distributors to put up more of a fight on this one because they will be doubly cut out of the equation for every barrel sold." I'm terrible with this kind of thing, so I'm not sure how that works exactly, but I trust Poling does.

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A clearer & more positive outlook comes from Brewed and Never Battered, a blog with updated information about the bills (specifically HB 660) from Scott Metzger, Freetail owner. Check out the testimony he gave before the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee on March 22, 2011.

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*According to the same article, Alamo and Rahr both faired well at the World Beer Championship in Chicago.

John Lee -- Freetail Brewing Co. Brewer

A very brief interview with John Lee, brewer at Freetail Brewing Co. I talked with him years ago now, as well as with Scott Metzger, the owner, for a San Antonio Current article about Freetail and the state of microbrewing in Texas.

HB 660 Filed in the Texas Legislature

Cheers, hopefully, to progress in the Lone Star State. Both for small businesses that deserve our local support and for beer enthusiasts state wide.

Mike Villarreal, State Representative of District 123 here in San Antonio, filed HB 660 that would allow Texas brewpubs, which can currently only sell on premise, to sell their products through retailers (wholesale distribution system). It seems ridiculous that this isn't legal already, but at least someone is trying to do something about it*.

Scott Metzger, owner of Freetail, and other San Antonio brewers worked closely with Villarreal to draft the bill. Check out Brewed and Never Battered, the blog Metzger created to keep you up to date on the bill as the Legislature moves, ever so slowly, through its 140-day session.

Keep your fingers crossed and pint glasses filled with local brews. And always write to your representative. Let them know that you support this bill. If you don't know your jurisdiction you can find out on the Bexar County Elections Jurisdiction Helper. Then look over the Elected Officials & Precinct Guide. We, the drinking public, can make this work.

*There's another beer related bill HB 602, which according to I Love Beer is on tap at the Legislature every session, that would allow microbreweries to sell their product on premise.