The June gathering of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild turned out to be the last. Thankfully, the demise was in name only, as the membership voted to officially change the organization’s name to the New Jersey Brewers Association (NJBA).

Meeting at Pennsauken’s Double Nickel Brewing Co., attendance was strong among both brewery and allied trade members. Following the vote approving the name change, a variety of updates were provided including on the upcoming Battleship Brew Fest, an annual fundraiser held on the USS New Jersey docked in Camden, and the development of a new festival directly benefiting the NJBA to be held in the fall. Executive Director Jason Carty reported that he’s putting the finishing touches on a state tourism grant application which, if successful, will be used to develop a mobile brewery app.

On the government affairs front, the NJBA continues to advocate for legislation that would remove the tour requirement from the ability for breweries to sell for on–premise consumption and would allow patrons to buy/be provided light snacks. Also a priority is legislation that would provide brewers a capital expense tax credit.

(MORE: Craft Brewers Take Their Seat at the Table)

With the public relations committee busily engaged in developing a new logo and the governance committee undertaking a comprehensive review of the bylaws, come autumn the NJBA will not only be sporting a new name, but a new look and a reaffirmed organizational basis from which to pursue an ambitious agenda on behalf of New Jersey’s small brewers.