To dismay of craft brewers, Ga. sticking with ‘three-tier’ system | Local & State | Macon.com

Georgia craft brewers had hoped this would be their year.

They’ve been lobbying state legislators to loosen regulations that some say are stifling their industry, but for now it seems lawmakers aren’t interested in changing rules that have been around since the end of Prohibition.

Some Georgia microbrewers, such as the established SweetWater in Atlanta and Terrapin in Athens, are doing great. But for those still in the start-up phase, life isn’t easy.

Jeremy Knowles and Cory Smith are the co-founders and sole employees of the Macon Beer Co., which started brewing from a converted warehouse downtown over the summer.

At first blush, their legislative wish list seems modest.

“We’d like to be able to sell our beer to the public,” Smith said.

But Georgia, like most other states, has what’s called a “three-tier system” for alcohol. Making beer, distributing beer and retailing beer are three activities that must be done by three separate companies.

“People could come into our taproom and take a tour, sample the products. But when they want some to take home with them, they can’t get it from us,” Smith said.

Macon Beer Co. isn’t asking for the right to retail beer anywhere — just at the warehouse where they make it. That, Knowles said, would provide what start-ups need the most: cash flow.

“You don’t have to wait 30 days, you don’t have to wait 60 days to get your money. You get it right then, and you can spend it and keep your business going.”

via To dismay of craft brewers, Ga. sticking with ‘three-tier’ system | Local & State | Macon.com.