Wisconsin's craft brewers at risk?
Alyssa Schulte, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
If you support local beer and breweries, hold on to your hats: I’m about to potentially ruin your day. (Sorry.) A new add-on to our state budget, backed by MillerCoors, has become a major source of worry and scrutiny for small breweries in Wisconsin.
This new legislation, aimed at banning larger breweries from creating brewery distribution centers in our lovely state, has thus far only succeeded in making the brew-masters of small breweries shake their heads in disgust. For those of you unfamiliar or unaware of this (yet another) budget issue, I’ll break it down for you.
In two words, what this means for those who love locally-brewed, support-the-little-guy, best-beer-I’ve-ever-tasted beverages is basically this: not good.
Looking at this issue from the perspective of a craft brewer, it would appear that their ability to self-distribute would be almost non-existent. A heavy blow, to be sure.
This legislation would essentially prohibit wholesale distributors from investing in small breweries, which, in turn, could also make these small operations harder to sell. Many people, including Brian Schimming, a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Brewers Guild, believe this “runs counter to the small brewery culture” and feel that legislators are “chang[ing] the rules around in the middle of the game.” Others believe this issue stems around a battle between MillerCoors (who, as you remember, adamantly supports this bill) and Anheuser-Busch, who would be prevented from buying wholesale distributors if this bill is passed.
Looking at this issue from the perspective of a craft brewer, it would appear that their ability to self-distribute would be almost non-existent. A heavy blow, to be sure. Local breweries, including the Lucette Brewing Company (based out of Menonomie) and Lazy Monk Brewing (operating right here in Eau Claire), could be at risk.
Leos Frank, the owner, as well as the passion behind the awesomeness that is Lazy Monk Brewing, is adamantly against this legislation. “If this issue would be passed,” Frank stated, “we would not be able to start our brewery in the first place. It would force us to find a distributor or run out of business.” The stakes are high for Frank and his family. And he is just one out of many who would be affected.
Yet another case is the Lucette Brewing Company, a unique and tasty option for beer in Menomonie, who could also be affected. Mike Wilson, the owner of the brewery, believes that “losing the ability to self-distribute will ultimately add another barrier to [enter into] an industry that is already challenging to succeed in.”
According to Beverage World, this issue will come before the state’s Joint Finance Committee extremely soon. Fingers crossed, everyone.
So, as usual, the big guys are at war, but the little guys are suffering. Disheartening news, to be sure. As a strong supporter of the underdog in every book, movie, and real-life situation that’s ever existed (as well as a lover of great-tasting local brews) this bill is distressing.
But, as we all know, David always beats Goliath. In theory, anyway.
