UPDATE: Here’s Creative Loafing’s rundown of the passing of the “decimated” bill.

Been waiting for an update on whether Senate Bill 63 (aka “Beer Jobs Bill) was passed by the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee?  Can’t find anything?  Well thank goodness for Wild Heaven Brewery’s Facebook page, which posted the following a couple of hours ago…

Amended ‪#‎SB63‬ passes Senate Regulated Industries Committee unanimously.

Now its off to the Rules Committee who will decide whether it will reach the floor of the Senate for a vote.  Then it needs to head over to the House and run itself through the whole process again.

More info on the amended bill as we have it.

Photo courtesy of Wild Heaven’s Facebook page

Senate Bill 63, deemed the “Beer Jobs Bill” goes up for a vote before the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee today.

The AJC and Creative Loafing have detailed reports going into the day.

In its current state, the bill would allow consumers to purchase up to 72 ounces of beer to drink at a brewery and take up to 144 ounces home. However, the AJC reports that changes to the bill are “expected to include an even stricter limit on just how much beer someone could buy at a brewery.”

If it passes can you head on down to your local brewery tomorrow and fill up your growler tomorrow?  Hahaha.  Certainly not.   Here’s the thrilling process of what happens if the bill gets passed thru committee today according to CL…

If the committee responds favorably, it’s off to the Rules Committee, who will decide if it gets a full Senate vote. If it passes that vote, it’s off to the House to do the whole process over again there.

Woohoo. Stay tuned!

Photo of Creature Comforts,Southbound Brewing Company, 5 Seasons Brewing &Three Taverns Craft Brewery reps at the Capitol Tuesday courtesy Wild Heaven’s Facebook page

Last week it was reported that Lt. Governor Casey Cagle was holding up the “Beer Jobs Bill” (Senate Bill 63) that would loosen restrictions on breweries in the state and allow them to sell directly to consumers.

Which makes it all the more interesting that breweries started posting kudos to Cagle on Facebook and Twitter within the past few hours.

Terrapin Beer Co. posted on Facebook a couple of hours ago…

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle is taking the lead in bringing the parties together in compromise on SB 63, aka the Beer Jobs Bill. We appreciate that he’s taken an interest in our issue and are thankful for his guidance in getting everyone on board to move our bill forward. We look forward to working with him to advance ‪#‎GABeer‬ in the future.

Wild Heaven wrote this on Facebook…

Today we want to say that we are thankful for the leadership shown by leader of the Georgia State Senate Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle for listening and taking an interest in ‪#‎SB63‬ and bringing all sides together for mutually agreed compromise.

And here’s Monday Night Brewing on Facebook…

Thanks Casey Cagle for showing great leadership in Georgia to bring all parties together for mutually agreed upon compromise on SB63. More to come soon!

Also, as Geoff just noted in FFAF, there’s a Reddit thread that’s following the issue as well.

The Regulated Industries Committee meets this Wednesday. The bill needs to make it out of committee by Crossover Day Fri., Mar. 13.  Otherwise it’s dead until next year’s session.

Photo courtesy of Wild Heaven

Creative Loafing reports this morning that the Brick Store Pub, along with the Porter Beer Bar, are making sizable contributions this year to help the Georgia Craft Brewer’s Guild get the “Beer Jobs Bill” passed during the January Legislative session.  Here’s a snippet…

Decatur’s Brick Store Pub feels the same way. In fact, Brick Store co-founder Dave Blanchard tells Creative Loafing that BSP is going to donate $3,000 to the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild. The funds come from a handful of private fundraising events held at BSP in recent years.

“We feel a responsibility to continue to push and be industry leaders in all bettering of beer,” Blanchard says. “Whether it’s trying to promote an obscure brand we are excited about or pushing for better beer laws.”

…Blanchard says the Beer Jobs Bill is the most important piece of beer legislation since that landmark ABV bill in 2004. Aside from increasing revenue for Georgia businesses, he says it will attract breweries from other states, and above all, elevate Georgia’s beer culture.

What’s the goal of the so-called “Beer Jobs Bill”?  The GA Beer Jobs website explains…

The Beer Jobs Bill will allow consumers to purchase a pint at a brewery and take beer home from breweries and brewpubs – these changes will help drive jobs, tourism, and economic growth that will allow our state to be more competitive in the national craft beer marketplace. And it will do this in a way that allows our breweries, distributors, and retailers to all benefit from the economic growth it will unleash.

As the map to the right – from the beer jobs website – shows, Georgia is one of only 4 states where breweries can’t sell beer on the premises.  Other states where direct brew sales are illegal?  North Dakota, Mississippi and West Virginia.

Photo courtesy of the Brick Store Pub website