Microbrewers have finally found a Lege ally in Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, who on Monday filed a bill that would allow small beermakers to sell their product on the premises of their breweries directly to consumers (as winemakers are already allowed to do). As the organization Friends of Texas Microbreweries had asked, House Bill 1926 defines eligible brewers as those whose annual production is less than 75,000 barrels, and on-site ale sales would be capped at 5,000 barrels per year. Possible roadblock: a powerful wholesalers lobby, who might look unkindly on any incursions into their business.
This article appears in February 23 • 2007.