Strangely, I can find very little info on this yet.  I guess all the wordsmiths are spending all their energy writing missives about LaVista Hills and Tucker?

Luckily that never stopped skilled aggregators such as myself.

There is this post on the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild Facebook page…

SB 63 has passed with 40 minutes left in the session. This bill is far from ideal but it is a small step towards helping Georgia breweries and we look forward to Governor Deal signing it into law.

The most detail I can find is in this Atlanta Reddit thread.  Here are some of the details according to that post…

There have been a lot of changes through the process on this bill however we did finally get a version passed that will allow taking beer home from breweries.

It’s kind of convoluted, as the lawmakers were careful not to word it where breweries can have “sales”. Instead they will be able to offer variable pricing on tour packages that can include “free souvenirs” of beer in “a container or containers” up to 72 oz.

The bill also allows brewpubs to can/bottle their beer, under current law they can only offer draft beer outside of the brewpub. There was a section to allow brewpubs to have growlers to go but it was removed in the process. You still will not be able to buy beer to go at a brewpub.

It’s a small step for GA beer but HUGE in the political sense. With the three-tier system and power players like Bud, Miller, and Coors opposed to this legislation – it’s amazing this was passed.

The public was very active on this bill with tons of phone calls and emails to lawmakers. One lobbyist said he’s never seen public support for a bill as strong as he has for this one. Way to go, Georgians!

Three cheers for Georgia beers!

In a follow up, one of the commenters on Reddit said that if Gov. Deal signs the bill in law, the change could take effect as early as July.

Photo courtesy of Three Taverns 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