While this database has undergone several rounds of fine-tuning, it should not be considered the final word on self distribution laws across the country, but rather as a signpost pointing you in the right direction.
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Alabama
License to self-distribute: No
(b) No manufacturer licensee shall sell any alcoholic beverages direct to any retailer or for consumption on the premises where sold, nor sell or deliver any such alcoholic beverages in other than original containers approved as to capacity by the board and in accordance with standards of fill prescribed by the U. S. Treasury Department, nor maintain or operate within the state any place or places, other than the place or places covered by the manufacturer license, where alcoholic beverages are sold or where orders are taken.
Alaska
License to self-distribute: Yes
Chapter 04.11. LICENSING Unlimited self distribution to licensed wholesalers and retailers (provided by brewer)
Arkansas
License to self-distribute: Yes
Title 3, Chapter 5-SubChapter 1405
(A)Manufactures at its licensed facility no less than thirty-five percent (35%) of its beer and malt beverages to be sold in the state or purchases from a producer brewery beer or malt beverages in an aggregate quantity not to exceed sixty thousand (60,000) barrels per year; (B)Sells to wholesale or to the consumer for consumption either on or off the premises brand name products of the licensed facility;
Arizona
License to self-distribute: Yes
4-205.08. Domestic microbrewery license D. A licensed domestic microbrewery is subject to all of the following requirements: 5. The microbrewery may make sales and deliveries of beer that it has produced to both: (a) Retail licensees that are under common ownership with the microbrewery in any amount. (b) Other licensed retailers in an amount not to exceed ninety-three thousand gallons in any calendar year. (up to 3,000 bbl under 20,000 bbl production cap; unlimited to same-ownership outlets)
California
License to self-distribute: Yes
Business & Professions Code, Div.9
A holder of a beer manufacturers license can sell to a licensed retailer. No restrictions on production size or on-premise (brewpubs). Holders of a Type 75 Brewpub license with liquor may only distribute through a licensed wholesaler.
Colorado
License to self-distribute: Yes
Title 12, 47-402. Manufacturer's license; §12-47-415
12-47-402. Manufacturer's license. Brewers or winers licensed under this section may solicit business directly from licensed retail persons or consumers by procuring a wholesaler's license as provided in this article; except that any malt liquor sold at wholesale by a brewer that has procured a wholesaler's license shall be unloaded and placed in the physical possession of a licensed wholesaler at the wholesaler's licensed premises in this state and inventoried for purposes of tax collection prior to delivery to a retailer or consumer. Brewpubs may sell at wholesale to licensed retailers in an amount up to 300,000 gallons per calendar year.
Connecticut
License to self-distribute: Yes
Sec. 30-16. Manufacturer permit. (a) A manufacturer permit shall allow the manufacture of alcoholic liquor and the storage, bottling and wholesale distribution and sale of alcoholic liquor manufactured or bottled to permittees in this state and without the state as may be permitted by law.
Delaware
License to self-distribute: No
Statutes only specifically mention the right to sell to a wholesaler.
District of Columbia
License to self-distribute: No
Title 25, Ch.1,Subch. 2, sec. 110
(B) The license shall authorize the licensee to sell the beer manufactured under the license to (i) another licensee under this title for resale; (ii) to a dealer licensed under the laws of any state or territory of the United States for resale; and (iii) to a consumer. The licensee may sell beer to the consumer only in barrels, kegs, and sealed bottles, which shall not be opened after sale, or the contents consumed, on the premises where sold.
Florida
License to self-distribute: No
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), no entity or person specified in paragraph (a) may have an interest in the license, business, assets, or corporate stock of a licensed distributor nor shall such entity sell directly to any vendor in this state other than to vendors who are licensed pursuant to s. 561.221(2).
Georgia
License to self-distribute: No
Based on 3-5-32 (no manufacturer can have an interest in a wholesaler operation)
Hawaii
License to self-distribute: Yes
1. Manufacturers' licenses. A license for the manufacture of liquor shall authorize the licensee to manufacture the liquor therein specified and to sell it at wholesale in original packages to any person who holds a license to resell it and to sell draught beer or wine manufactured from grapes or other fruits grown in the State in any quantity to any person for private use and consumption.
Iowa
License to self-distribute: Yes
A class "A" permit allows the holder to manufacture and sell beer at wholesale.
Idaho
License to self-distribute: Yes
A brewer licensed under the provisions of subsection (d) or (e) of this section may be licensed as a wholesaler for the sale of beer to retailers other than at the licensed brewery and one (1) remote retail location.
Illinois
License to self-distribute: Yes
ARTICLE V. LICENSES Class 3. In state brewers may make sales and deliveries of beer to importing distributors, distributors, and to non licensees, and to retailers provided the brewer obtains an importing distributor's license or distributor's license in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Manufacturers of beer outside of Illinois must: obtain a non-resident dealer license (NRD); file registration statements and label approvals, and; sell only to licensed importing distributors.
Indiana
License to self-distribute: Yes
(<20k) (5) If the brewer's brewery manufactures not more than twenty thousand (20,000) barrels of beer in a calendar year, do the following (A) Sell and deliver beer to a person holding a retailer or a dealer permit under this title.
Kansas
License to self-distribute: No
41-308b. Microbrewery license A microbrewery license shall allow: (1) The manufacture of not less than 100 nor more than 15,000 barrels of domestic beer during the license year and the storage thereof; (2) the sale to beer distributors of beer, manufactured by the licensee;
Kentucky
License to self-distribute: No
243.157 Business authorized by a microbrewery license: (2) A microbrewery license shall not be deemed to be incompatible with any other license except for a distributor's license under the provisions of KRS 243.180.
Louisiana
License to self-distribute: No
§273. Limitations on the issuance of state permits; exceptions – A. The commissioner shall not: (2) Issue a wholesale dealer's permit to a person or his spouse possessing a manufacturer's permit, retail dealer's permit of either Class A or Class B, or a microbrewer's permit.
Maine
License to self-distribute: Yes
C. A holder of a small brewery license may sell or deliver the product to licensed retailers and wholesalers. The licensee may sell, on the premises for consumption off the premises, malt liquor produced at the brewery by the bottle, case or in bulk to licensed retailers, including, but not limited to, off-premise retail licensees, restaurants and clubs.
Maryland
License to self-distribute: No
§ 2-208. Micro-brewery license. 2) Notwithstanding § 2-201(b) of this subtitle, may not be granted a wholesale alcoholic beverages license.
Massachusetts
License to self-distribute: Yes
A 19 license, allows brewers to distribute an unlimited amount. A 19C farmer brewers license allows sales at retail and brewers may hold a Sec. 18 wholesalers license to distribute their beer or another brewer's beer.
Michigan
License to self-distribute: No
436.1401 Wholesalers to be granted exclusive sales territory by manufacturer and outstate seller of beer and malt beverages.
Minnesota
License to self-distribute: Yes (limited)
The commissioner shall issue a wholesaler's license to a brewer only if (1) the commissioner determines that the brewer was selling the brewer's own products at wholesale in Minnesota on January 1, 1991, or (2) the brewer has acquired a wholesaler's business or assets under subdivision 7a, paragraph (c) or (d). (g) A brewer that manufactures malt liquor in Minnesota may, if the brewer does not manufacture in Minnesota in any year more than 25,000 barrels of malt liquor or its metric equivalent, own or have an interest in a malt liquor wholesaler that sells only the brewer's products.
Missouri
License to self-distribute: No
Sec. 311.195 The holder of a microbrewer's license may also sell beer and malt liquor produced on the brewery premises to duly licensed wholesalers. However, holders of a microbrewer's license shall not, under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, have any financial interest in any wholesaler's business, and all such sales to wholesalers shall be subject to the restrictions of sections 311.181 and 311.182.
Mississippi
License to self-distribute: No
§ 67-3-46. Manufacturers of light wines or beer prohibited from acting as wholesalers or distributors.
Montana
License to self-distribute: Yes
(<60k) 16-3-214 a brewer who manufactures less than 60,000 barrels of beer a year (a) sell and deliver beer from its storage depot or brewery located in Montana to: (i) a wholesaler; or (ii) any retail licensees who are entitled to purchase beer from a brewer under this code; or (iii) the public.
Nebraska
License to self-distribute: No
Section 53-169 The holder of a craft brewery license shall have the privileges and duties listed in section 53-123.14 with respect to the manufacture, distribution, and retail sale of beer, and the Nebraska Liquor Control Act shall not be construed to permit the holder of a craft brewery license to engage in the wholesale distribution of beer.
Nevada
License to self-distribute: No
NRS 369.382 a supplier shall not engage in the business of importing, wholesaling or retailing alcoholic beverages in this State.
New Hampshire
License to self-distribute: Yes
Brewers ("Beverage Manufacturers") who produce less than 15,000 barrels and sell less than 5,000 barrels in-state per year can opt for self-distribution. Brewpubs can also self-distribute, though brewpubs can only produce fewer than 2,500 barrels. (provided by brewer).
New Jersey
License to self-distribute: Yes
Limited brewery license. 1b. The holder of this license shall be entitled, subject to rules and regulations, to brew any malt alcoholic beverages in a quantity to be expressed in said license, dependent upon the following fees and not in excess of 300,000 barrels of 31 fluid gallons capacity per year and to sell and distribute this product to wholesalers and retailers licensed in accordance with this chapter, and to sell and distribute without this State to any persons pursuant to the laws of the places of such sale and distribution, and to maintain a warehouse.
New Mexico
License to self-distribute: Yes
60-6A-26.1. Small brewer's license
60-7A-8. Sales to wholesalers. Unless he has a wholesaler's license, no New Mexico manufacturer shall sell or offer for sale any alcoholic beverages manufactured within this state to any person in New Mexico other than wholesalers licensed under the provisions of the Liquor Control Act [60-3A-1 NMSA 1978].
New York
License to self-distribute: Yes
Alcoholic Beverage Control, Article 4
If you apply for and receive a microbrewers license, you are entitled to apply for a distributors permit. This permit allows you to self distribute up to a capacity of 60,000 bbl. annually. Once you reach that plateau you must work through distributor networks. If you have a brewpub license the water is murky as to what you can do (some distribute, but most serve on premises only). A brew pub can apply for a Restaurant/Brewer license which allows them to distribute themselves off premises, but only up to 3,000 bbl. per year. This also allows them to operate up to 3 brewpubs in New York State and the distribution is capped at 8,000 bbl. off premises per year aggregate. - provided by brewer. Also see § 51. Brewer's license, sec. 2.
North Carolina
License to self-distribute: Yes
§ 18B 1104. Authorization of brewery permit. (7) In areas where the sale is legal, sell the brewery's malt beverages at the brewery upon receiving a permit under G.S. 18B 1001(1). The brewery also may obtain a malt beverage wholesaler permit to sell, deliver, and ship at wholesale only malt beverages manufactured by the brewery. The authorization of this subdivision applies to a brewery that sells, to consumers at the brewery, to wholesalers, to retailers, and to exporters, fewer than 25,000 barrels, as defined in G.S. 81A 9, of malt beverages produced by it per year. A brewery not exceeding the sales quantity limitations in this subdivision may also sell the malt beverages manufactured by the brewery at not more than three other locations in the State upon obtaining the appropriate permits under G.S. 18B 1001. A brewery operating any additional retail location pursuant to this subdivision shall also offer for sale at that location a reasonable selection of competitive malt beverage products.
North Dakota
License to self-distribute: No
5-01-11. Unfair competition - Penalty. A manufacturer may not have any financial interest in any wholesale alcoholic beverage business. CHAPTER 5-01 14 A microbrew pub (>10k barrels per year) may not engage in any wholesaling activities.
Ohio
License to self-distribute: Yes
§ 4303.02. Permit A-1 may be issued to a manufacturer to manufacture beer and sell beer products in bottles or containers for home use and to retail and wholesale permit holders under rules promulgated by the division of liquor control. The fee for this permit is three thousand nine hundred six dollars for each plant during the year covered by the permit. § 4301.24 This section does not prevent the holder of an A permit from securing and holding a wholesale distributor's permit or permits and operating as a wholesale distributor.
Oklahoma
License to self-distribute: Yes
Title 37
§37-521. Acts authorized by the various licenses. A. A brewer license shall authorize the holder thereof: To manufacture, bottle, package, and store beer on licensed premises; to sell beer in this state to holders of Class B wholesaler licenses and retail licenses and to sell beer out of this state to qualified persons.
Oregon
License to self-distribute: Yes
Brewery licensees can self distribute with no volume restriction. Brewpub licensees can self distribute to one other location and if their production is less than 1000 BBL's in the previous calendar year they can self distribute. 471.220 Brewery license. (1) A brewery license shall allow the manufacture, importation, storage, transportation, wholesale sale and distribution to licensees of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, and the export of malt beverages.
Pennsylvania
License to self-distribute: Yes
PA has historically viewed brewers as always being the 'master distributor' of its brands, permitting PA brewers to self distribute in territories that they have not assigned a wholesaler to do so for them. (provided by brewer)
Rhode Island
License to self-distribute: Yes(?)
§ 3-6-15 Manufacturer's interest in business of wholesaler prohibited. – No manufacturer of distilled spirits or wines whose principal place of manufacture is outside of this state shall hold a wholesaler's license
South Carolina
License to self-distribute: No
61-4-940 (D) A manufacturer, brewer, and importer of beer are declared to be in business on one tier, a wholesaler on another tier, and a retailer on another tier. A person or an entity in the beer business on one tier, or a person acting directly or indirectly on his behalf, may not have ownership or financial interest in the beer business operation on another tier.
South Dakota
License to self-distribute: No
35-8A-8 no manufacturer or brewer, or party directly interested in either of them, may be granted a wholesale license.
Tennessee
License to self-distribute: Yes
57-5-101 (2) A manufacturer operating as a retailer pursuant to subdivision (c)(1)(A) may not sell its beer directly to retailers that are located in a county other than the county in which the manufacturer is located. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any transfer or sale by a manufacturer operating as a retailer to an off-site retailer's location shall constitute a wholesale sale.
Texas
License to self-distribute: Yes
Alcoholic Beverage Code Title 3, Ch. 12
Brewpubs are not allowed to distribute (self or otherwise) in Texas. Shipping breweries can self-distribute if they manufacture less than 75,000 bbls of beer per year. You need a manufacturer's license in Texas to make "beer" defined as less than 4% ABW. You need a brewer's permit to make "ale" defined as more than 4% ABW. The 75,000 bbls is calculated as total "beer" and "ale". (synopsis provided by brewer)
Utah
License to self-distribute: Yes (<60k)
32A-8-401 (1) A brewery license allows the licensee to: (d) in the case of a small brewer, sell in accordance with Subsection (5) beer manufactured by the brewer to: (i) a licensed retailer;
Virginia
License to self-distribute: Yes
§ 4.1-208. Beer licenses (brewer stated a brewery can form a separate distribution company as a distinct legal entity)
Vermont
License to self-distribute: Yes
A brewer can hold a wholesalers license and self-distribute. (provided by brewer)
Washington
License to self-distribute: Yes (<60k)
66.24.244 (2) Any microbrewery license under this section may also act as a distributor and/or retailer for beer and strong beer of its own production
Wisconsin
License to self-distribute: Yes
125.29(3) Activities. Subject to s. 125.34 (2), a brewer may manufacture, possess and store fermented malt beverages on the brewery premises and transport fermented malt beverages between the brewery premises and any depot or warehouse maintained by the brewer for which the brewer has a wholesaler's license issued under s. 125.28.
West Virginia
License to self-distribute: Yes
A brewer whose place of brewing or manufacture is located within the state of West Virginia may act as distributor of his own product from such brewery, place of manufacture or bottling, but must have a distributor's license for distribution from a place other than the place of brewing or manufacture.
Wyoming
License to self-distribute: Yes
12-2-201 (a) A wholesale license authorizing the sale of malt beverages only may be granted by the commission to breweries, microbreweries and malt beverage wholesalers resident within this state.
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