Comments on: Georgia hates microbreweries http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/ Sat, 12 May 2012 15:46:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Monday Night Brewery : Atlanta, GA » Blog Archive » The south gets some mo’ Belgian beer http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2597 Monday Night Brewery : Atlanta, GA » Blog Archive » The south gets some mo’ Belgian beer Thu, 17 Jan 2008 03:05:46 +0000 http://mondaynightbrewery.com/?p=284#comment-2597 [...] â?? it seems that the South is starting to realize this. Yes, THE South. You know, the one that hates microbreweries. A new Belgian bar will be opening in Asheville, NC a mere week from today, according to the [...] [...] â?? it seems that the South is starting to realize this. Yes, THE South. You know, the one that hates microbreweries. A new Belgian bar will be opening in Asheville, NC a mere week from today, according to the [...]

]]> By: chris http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-401 chris Sat, 28 Jul 2007 03:59:35 +0000 http://mondaynightbrewery.com/?p=284#comment-401 Here is an interesting article explaining more about the three-tier distribution system in GA. <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3469/is_39_55/ai_n12934925" rel="nofollow">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3469/is_39_55/ai_n12934925</a> Basically the system works according to mob rule dynamics. You get a single distributor that markets your beer however they want and eventually the state gets a lions share of the profits from all three tiers. They tax the manufacturer by barrels of production (3x tax for beer consumed on site via tour/tastings), the distributor by the case/barrel, and the retailer by alcohol sales taxes. The myth of it all is that really the only person that gets screwed is the consumer. Why? Where did all three tiers ultimately end up getting their source of revenue? If it helps, imagine the process in reverse. This is how most of the money in the government's pocket ends up there. (the other two sources are lower wages and lower shareholder dividends, which technically end up coming from the pockets of individuals) Anyhow, this wasn't meant to be a lesson in economics. You can read more about that in one of my other rants <a href="http://illiteracyrules.blogspot.com/2007/04/liquor-in-front-poker-in-rear.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. In addition, the director of the Alcohol and Tobacco Division of the GA Dept. of Revenue tends to change policies on a whim, typically to the detriment of only the small brewers in the state. It's difficult to tell if he's a communist/tee-totaler (same thing in my mind) or if his momma just didn't hug him enough. Here is an interesting article explaining more about the three-tier distribution system in GA.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3469/is_39_55/ai_n12934925

Basically the system works according to mob rule dynamics. You get a single distributor that markets your beer however they want and eventually the state gets a lions share of the profits from all three tiers. They tax the manufacturer by barrels of production (3x tax for beer consumed on site via tour/tastings), the distributor by the case/barrel, and the retailer by alcohol sales taxes. The myth of it all is that really the only person that gets screwed is the consumer. Why? Where did all three tiers ultimately end up getting their source of revenue? If it helps, imagine the process in reverse. This is how most of the money in the government’s pocket ends up there. (the other two sources are lower wages and lower shareholder dividends, which technically end up coming from the pockets of individuals) Anyhow, this wasn’t meant to be a lesson in economics. You can read more about that in one of my other rants here.

In addition, the director of the Alcohol and Tobacco Division of the GA Dept. of Revenue tends to change policies on a whim, typically to the detriment of only the small brewers in the state. It’s difficult to tell if he’s a communist/tee-totaler (same thing in my mind) or if his momma just didn’t hug him enough.

]]> By: Brad Warbiany http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Brad Warbiany Sat, 28 Jul 2007 03:28:19 +0000 http://mondaynightbrewery.com/?p=284#comment-400 Jeff, I was asking some of the guys on beeradvocate.com about that today, and they seem much, much more lenient than GA. Jeff,

I was asking some of the guys on beeradvocate.com about that today, and they seem much, much more lenient than GA.

]]> By: Jeff http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-399 Jeff Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:26:25 +0000 http://mondaynightbrewery.com/?p=284#comment-399 Brad, you have to go through distribution. If you sell on premise, you are not allowed to sell through a distributor. So essentially, you have to decide whether you want to be a brewpub or a micro; you can't be both, no matter what size. Do you know what the CA laws are like? Brad, you have to go through distribution. If you sell on premise, you are not allowed to sell through a distributor. So essentially, you have to decide whether you want to be a brewpub or a micro; you can’t be both, no matter what size. Do you know what the CA laws are like?

]]> By: Brad Warbiany http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Brad Warbiany Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:59:33 +0000 http://mondaynightbrewery.com/?p=284#comment-398 There are all sorts of silly rules in all sorts of market, and alcohol is worse than most. Like Georgia, where you can't buy on Sunday, and grocery stores can't sell liquor, only beer. At least you guys finally popped the cap and don't sell all your liquor through ABC stores... There are a lot of things I don't like about the fact that I just moved from GA to CA... I miss my house... My brewery isn't in my garage anymore (because I don't have a garage), it's now at my brother-in-law's place. But one thing I enjoy about the change is that the beer world out here is far better than GA. Much better distribution, much simpler laws, and while just about everything in CA is more expensive than GA, alcohol is actually LESS expensive here. In GA, can you sell directly to an establishment if you're a small brewery, or are you required to go through distribution? There are all sorts of silly rules in all sorts of market, and alcohol is worse than most. Like Georgia, where you can’t buy on Sunday, and grocery stores can’t sell liquor, only beer. At least you guys finally popped the cap and don’t sell all your liquor through ABC stores…

There are a lot of things I don’t like about the fact that I just moved from GA to CA… I miss my house… My brewery isn’t in my garage anymore (because I don’t have a garage), it’s now at my brother-in-law’s place. But one thing I enjoy about the change is that the beer world out here is far better than GA. Much better distribution, much simpler laws, and while just about everything in CA is more expensive than GA, alcohol is actually LESS expensive here.

In GA, can you sell directly to an establishment if you’re a small brewery, or are you required to go through distribution?

]]> By: Travis http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Travis Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:07:07 +0000 http://mondaynightbrewery.com/?p=284#comment-397 I have seen the wrath of the "King of Beers". There is a brew fest around here, I think it's the one at the Zoo, the boys at AB came in as the key sponsor and one of the stipulations was that only AB distributed beers would be served...AT A BREW FEST!? That in Gods green earth makes them think that that is a good idea? I don't have a problem with companies being successful and making money, but come on, like AB is going to suffer if they let in Middle Ages Brewing company or Southern Tier? Like those guys will ever compete on that level. The thing is most micro-breweries don't want to, they don't want to sell to the hordes of swilling NASCAR and NFL fans, they want to be able to make a living making beer. Simple enough. Keep on keeping on fellas, don't let the man keep you down! I have seen the wrath of the “King of Beers”. There is a brew fest around here, I think it’s the one at the Zoo, the boys at AB came in as the key sponsor and one of the stipulations was that only AB distributed beers would be served…AT A BREW FEST!? That in Gods green earth makes them think that that is a good idea?

I don’t have a problem with companies being successful and making money, but come on, like AB is going to suffer if they let in Middle Ages Brewing company or Southern Tier? Like those guys will ever compete on that level.

The thing is most micro-breweries don’t want to, they don’t want to sell to the hordes of swilling NASCAR and NFL fans, they want to be able to make a living making beer. Simple enough.

Keep on keeping on fellas, don’t let the man keep you down!

]]> By: Andy http://mondaynightbrewing.com/2007/07/27/the-king-of-beers-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Andy Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:42:14 +0000 http://mondaynightbrewery.com/?p=284#comment-396 That really sucks. Distributors can really muck up a good thing. Very recently, I've noticed a couple smaller distributors popping up to fill in the niche left by the big guys. One of our local offerings, Point Blank Distributing, started out only doing small local craft brewers, but it appears that their mission is attractive, and the number of beers they offer is now growing. Hopefully there's someone foolish enough to take on the big guys in Georgia. That really sucks. Distributors can really muck up a good thing. Very recently, I’ve noticed a couple smaller distributors popping up to fill in the niche left by the big guys. One of our local offerings, Point Blank Distributing, started out only doing small local craft brewers, but it appears that their mission is attractive, and the number of beers they offer is now growing. Hopefully there’s someone foolish enough to take on the big guys in Georgia.

]]>