Illinois to increase size of craft brewer that falls under self-distribution exemption

Craft Brewing Business supports the government of the state of Illinois because it seems all they do there is pass pro-craft brewing bills. The latest: The Illinois General Assembly approved an amendment that will allow craft brewers to manufacture up to 30,000 barrels (bbls) of beer and maintain their exemption to self-distribute 7,500 bbls.

The bill, HB 1573, was sponsored by Rep. Charles Jefferson in the House and Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) in the Senate and now goes to Governor Quinn for consideration.

The amendment was introduced after several meetings with Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois (ABDI), the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG) and the Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois (WSDI).

“ABDI has been supportive of the craft brewers,” said Bill Olson, ABDI President. “We supported their efforts to be allowed to sell growlers and to self-distribute in order to help them get established to create a consumer base.”

ABDI members, who are local, independent beer distributors, have established craft divisions to handle the new products and deliver as many different choices as possible to consumers.

On June 1, 2011, SB 754 was signed into law creating a craft brewer license and an exemption to self-distribute 7,500 bbls if they manufactured no more than 15,000 bbls. SB 754 also allowed a brew pub to simultaneously own a craft brewer’s license with the intent of transitioning the brew pub to a craft brewer. Due to the popularity of craft beers over the past two years, craft brewers will now be allowed to manufacturer no more than 30,000 bbls and continue to self-distribute 7,500 bbls.

Through a three-tier regulatory system (independent manufacturers, distributors and retailers), the General Assembly’s policy ‘to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State through the sound and careful control and regulation of the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic liquor’ is maintained.