Oklahomans for Sales of Brewpub Strong Beer
- by: Desiree Knott and High Gravity Homebrew & Winemaking Supplies
- recipient: Oklahoma Legislature
A major cause of this are the antiquated beer laws that exist in the state. One of these laws refers to the sale of microbrewed beer that is sold on premises in Brewpubs. Currently in the state of Oklahoma, brewpubs cannot sell beer they brew that is stronger than 3.2, even though they are allowed to sell other strong beers that are purchased through a wholesale distributor. In order for a brewpub to sell stronger than 3.2 beer that they produce is to sell it to a wholesaler, in effect selling their product to a middleman and then buying it back. This make it economically unfeasible and puts the money in the pockets of wholesalers that don't even touch the product as it never leaves the brewpub premises.
It is an antiquated and unjust law. Currently visitors going to Oklahoma wineries are allowed to buy wine directly from the winery. Brewpubs should be allowed this same courtesy.
Brewpubs are growing across the country at a amazing rate. They generate a unique presence that draws customers interested in fine beers and food. Oklahoma is losing out on a great potential for tourism and revenue. Look at Colorado and Oregon. The brewing industry in those states are a testament to what could be done in Oklahoma, if only the laws were fair and allowed them to sell beer that meets the desires of beer connoisseurs.
The follwoing is a report from the Brewer's Association:
2006/2007 Craft Beer Industry Statistics
Last updated on 12/14/07
Press Release 4/10/2007
Craft Beer Segment - The One to Watch
Fastest Growing In the Alcohol Beverage Industry (PDF file, ~61 KB)
Download high resolution file of graph and list from the release (PDF file, ~1 MB)
The Facts
- Growth of the craft beer industry was 11% by volume for the first half of 2007.
- The craft beer industry eclipsed 6.7 million barrels of craft beer produced
in the U.S. in 2006. - The fastest growing craft beer sector
in 2006 was microbreweries
(up 16%), showing customer support for local breweries. - Craft beer is the fastest growing segment for supermarket scan data. 17.8% growth was stronger than all other alcohol beverage categories.
- Craft beer sales share in July 2007 was 3.60% by volume and 5.4% by dollars.
- Craft beer industry sales have grown 31.5% over the last 3 years.
- Total U.S. Craft Beer Industry Annual Dollar Volume: $5 billion.
Click here to view the preliminary press release on craft beer production numbers. View List (xls) of 2006 Craft Breweries.
Graph updated as of 4/13/07. Download a high resolution version (JPEG file, 65 KB) of this image.
Craft brewing industry definitions
An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional.
Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.
Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.
Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of it%u2019s volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
The craft beer industry is defined by four distinct markets: brewpubs, microbreweries, regional craft breweries, and contract brewing companies.
Microbrewery: A brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels (17,600 hectoliters) of beer per year with 75% or more of its beer off site. Microbreweries sell to the public by one or more of the following methods: the traditional three-tier system (brewer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer); the two-tier system (brewer acting as wholesaler to retailer to consumer); and, directly to the consumer through carryouts and/or on-site tap-room or restaurant sales.
Brewpub: A restaurant-brewery that sells 25% or more of its beer on site. The beer is brewed primarily for sale in the restaurant and bar. The beer is often dispensed directly from the brewery's storage tanks. Where allowed by law, brewpubs often sell beer "to go" and /or distribute to off site accounts. Note: BA re-categorizes a company as a microbrewery if its off-site (distributed) beer sales exceed 75 percent.
Contract Brewing Company: A business that hires another brewery to produce its beer. It can also be a brewery that hires another brewery to produce additional beer. The contract brewing company handles marketing, sales, and distribution of its beer, while generally leaving the brewing and packaging to its producer-brewery (which, confusingly, is also sometimes referred to as a contract brewery).
Regional Brewery: A brewery with an annual beer production of between 15,000 and 2,000,000 barrels.
Regional Craft Brewery: An independent regional brewery who has either an all malt flagship or has at least 50% of it's volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
A major cause of this are the antiquated beer laws that exist in the state. One of these laws refers to the sale of microbrewed beer that is sold on premises in Brewpubs. Currently in the state of Oklahoma, brewpubs cannot sell beer they brew that is stronger than 3.2, even though they are allowed to sell other strong beers that are purchased through a wholesale distributor. In order for a brewpub to sell stronger than 3.2 beer that they produce is to sell it to a wholesaler, in effect selling their product to a middleman and then buying it back. This make it economically unfeasible and puts the money in the pockets of wholesalers that don't even touch the product as it never leaves the brewpub premises.
It is an antiquated and unjust law. Currently visitors going to Oklahoma wineries are allowed to buy wine directly from the winery. Brewpubs should be allowed this same courtesy.
Brewpubs are growing across the country at a amazing rate. They generate a unique presence that draws customers interested in fine beers and food. Oklahoma is losing out on a great potential for tourism and revenue. Look at Colorado and Oregon. The brewing industry in those states are a testament to what could be done in Oklahoma, if only the laws were fair and allowed them to sell beer that meets the desires of beer connoisseurs.
The follwoing is a report from the Brewer's Association:
2006/2007 Craft Beer Industry Statistics
Last updated on 12/14/07
Press Release 4/10/2007
The Facts
- Growth of the craft beer industry was 11% by volume for the first half of 2007.
- The craft beer industry eclipsed 6.7 million barrels of craft beer produced
in the U.S. in 2006. - The fastest growing craft beer sector
in 2006 was microbreweries
(up 16%), showing customer support for local breweries. - Craft beer is the fastest growing segment for supermarket scan data. 17.8% growth was stronger than all other alcohol beverage categories.
- Craft beer sales share in July 2007 was 3.60% by volume and 5.4% by dollars.
- Craft beer industry sales have grown 31.5% over the last 3 years.
- Total U.S. Craft Beer Industry Annual Dollar Volume: $5 billion.
Graph updated as of 4/13/07.
Craft brewing industry definitions
An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional.
Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.
Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.
Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of it%u2019s volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
The craft beer industry is defined by four distinct markets: brewpubs, microbreweries, regional craft breweries, and contract brewing companies.
Microbrewery: A brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels (17,600 hectoliters) of beer per year with 75% or more of its beer off site. Microbreweries sell to the public by one or more of the following methods: the traditional three-tier system (brewer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer); the two-tier system (brewer acting as wholesaler to retailer to consumer); and, directly to the consumer through carryouts and/or on-site tap-room or restaurant sales.
Brewpub: A restaurant-brewery that sells 25% or more of its beer on site. The beer is brewed primarily for sale in the restaurant and bar. The beer is often dispensed directly from the brewery's storage tanks. Where allowed by law, brewpubs often sell beer "to go" and /or distribute to off site accounts. Note: BA re-categorizes a company as a microbrewery if its off-site (distributed) beer sales exceed 75 percent.
Contract Brewing Company: A business that hires another brewery to produce its beer. It can also be a brewery that hires another brewery to produce additional beer. The contract brewing company handles marketing, sales, and distribution of its beer, while generally leaving the brewing and packaging to its producer-brewery (which, confusingly, is also sometimes referred to as a contract brewery).
Regional Brewery: A brewery with an annual beer production of between 15,000 and 2,000,000 barrels.
Regional Craft Brewery: An independent regional brewery who has either an all malt flagship or has at least 50% of it's volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
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