Another banner week for Craft Beer! Today we look at several headlines for industry legislation and growth, but first, a very interesting article concerning changes to EPA regulations for clean water.
Craft Beer Top Headlines
New Belgium Supports EPA’s New Clean Water Rule
Craft Beer Company To Congress: We Need The EPA’s Clean Water Rule, by Natasha Geiling – Climate Progress
This past Tuesday, New Belgium Brewing’s Andrew Lemley (Government Affairs Representative), spoke before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee concerning the necessity of clean water for craft beer breweries.
Our brewery and our communities depend on clean water. Beer is, after all, over 90 percent water and if something happens to our source water the negative affect on our business is almost unthinkable. – Andrew Lemley
The EPA rule currently being proposed clarifies the streams, tributaries and wetlands that are protected under the Clean Water Act. New Belgium is not the only craft brewery supporting this new regulation. Allagash Brewing, Brooklyn Brewery, Goose Island Beer Company and Sierra Nevada have joined over 40 breweries in support of the “Brewers For Clean Water Campaign”.
Craft Beer Legislation
Florida: Growler Law Finally Gets Gov. Scott’s Signature!
Florida craft beer fans toast signing of growler law, by Jim Turner, Miami Herald
The Beer Growler Bill (SB 186) has been a three-year battle for craft beer lovers in the state of Florida. Governor Rick Scott’s signature means that starting July 1, 2015, a 64 oz growler’s are legal in the state of Florida, giving brewers another income source for growth in their communities.
Craft Beer Growth
Nebraska Business Expands With Craft Beer Boom
Craft beer boom means expansion for Nebraska business, by Matt Olberding – Lincoln Journal Star
Norland International started out in the bottled water business, but two years ago decided to venture into the beer-making equipment market. That decision was the right move for sure!
Today, Norland is planning a $2 Million expansion, adding over 27,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity to meet the 60% increase in business. According to Norland’s president Mike McFarland, the majority of that growth is directly from its American Beer Equipment division.
But Northland is not only growing here in the U.S., they currently are establishing deals with breweries in Bolivia, Panama and New Zealand.
Norland Internatinal Tech’s assemble a canning line for Blue Blood Brewing Co. / Kristin Streff, Lincoln Journal Star
California Craft Beer Growing Pains
California craft beer: Three signs of growing pains, by Peter Rowe – U-T San Diego
The California Craft Brewers Association’s conference was this week and spirits were high with the record setting growth of craft beer in 2014.
However, there were looming questions to the future of craft beer for California. Would it continue to climb? Will the current water shortage cause prices to rise? Will smaller California breweries be able to compete with the larger craft beer staples?
A lot of people in this room think things only go up. Those of us who lived through the 1990s know that things can go down and breweries can go out of business. – Chris Cramer, Co-founder of Karl Strauss
Currently there are three issues or growing pains to be worked out for the craft beer market in California:
- Water Shortage – “it’s just a matter of time.”
- Social Media – “Social media is advertising in the eyes of the ABC. You have to be very careful.”
- Niches & Partnerships – “Strategic alliances” are the way of the future
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