The Kentucky Brewers Guild officially formed just under a year ago. Since then, the group has been working to pursue an important part of its mission: “To act as a singular voice and advocate for the Kentucky brewing industry in all pertinent matters of legislation and governmental administration”. The guild recently succeeded in its efforts to pass craft-friendly legislation. Governor Steve Beshear signed a bill that will make it easier for beer to be served in tap rooms. Previously, breweries were required to first transfer the beer to a distributor before serving it on-premise in tap rooms.
Kentucky has been a historically difficult place to pass alcohol legislation. This win will likely be a stepping stone for future lobbying efforts. In turn, the industry will begin to see a legislative environment that allows the brewing community to flourish. Congratulations to the Kentucky Brewers Guild on this success!