Passing the Senate, House Bill 5928 establishes a farm brewery manufacturer permit, which allows for, among other things, the manufacture, storage, bottling, and wholesale distribution and sale of beer manufactured at any place or premises located on a farm. A permittee may produce up to 75,000 gallons of beer annually. Under the bill, a farm brewery permit allows for the offering and tasting of free samples and retail sales for both on- and off-premises consumption, though a town may prohibit the activity by ordinance or zoning regulation. Such permittees may also sell their beer at farmers’ markets if they also obtain the farmers’ market beer sales permit. The bill requires permittees to use a certain amount of hops, barley, or other fermentables grown or malted in the state. After fulfilling these requirements, permittees may then advertise and sell their product as “Connecticut Craft Beer.” The bill also increases, from five to seven liters, the amount a farmers’ market beer sales permittee may sell to a person per day at a farmers’ market.
Connecticut Craft Beer Bill Advances
Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
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Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
See Pete Johnson's Articles