Given Montana’s quota system for on-premise alcohol licenses, which we’ve talked a lot about recently, there are many restaurants which do not serve alcohol. Over the years, it became relatively common for many of these places to allow patrons to bring in their own alcohol such as a six pack of beer or a bottle…
The Montana Tavern Association’s recent attempts to stifle brewery tap rooms touched a serious nerve with craft beer fans. Comments on this blog and other social media sites ranged from a call-to-arms to the unprintable (which I delete). Yet, commenters raised one common question more than any other: Why would the MTA want to enact…
House Bill 204, to create a new license for beer and wine bottle shops, came before the House Business and Labor Committee this morning. But before anything could happen with the bill, the sponsor, Representative Christy Clark, asked the Committee to table it without a hearing. Given the huge workload during the session, they readily…
Here’s a brief update on beer related items at the Montana Legislature for Tuesday, January 22, 2013. HB 58, creating a brew-on-premise license, easily passed the House by a 70 to 29 vote and has been transmitted to the Senate for its consideration. Along the way, the bill was amended to clarify that a licensee…
Less than 24 hours after Growler Fills broke the news about the Montana Tavern Association’s proposed bill to enact disastrous limits on Montana’s breweries, the bill (LC 1322) has been put back on hold and, word has it, won’t be coming back.[Note: as of 1-17-13, the title of the bill request has changed] The bill…
Montana doesn’t have tap rooms, a point I’m reminded about by John Iverson, the new lobbyist for the Montana Tavern Association. They have sample rooms. That’s what the law calls them. From the MTA’s perspective, they’ve become far too successful. One industry representative who asked to remain anonymous describes it this way: They were supposed…
True beer and wine bottle shops will be allowed in Montana for the first time if House Bill 204 finds favor with the 63rd Montana Legislature. The bill, sponsored by Representative Christy Clark, would create a new license category for retail sales and also permit limited tasting events for such shops. Presently, only “bona fide”…
The 2013 Montana Legislature got underway on Monday, January 7, and wasted little time in taking up the first significant legislation pertaining to beer. House Bill 58 would create a new license for brew-on-premises operations. The bill received its first hearing before the House Business and Labor Committee early Friday morning. The bill is sponsored…
Look out. The 63rd Session of the Montana Legislature convenes Monday, January 7, 2013. What it holds for the future of Montana is anyone’s guess. The Montana Legislature meets every other year and only for 90 days. While the short, biennial sessions helps maintain a “citizen legislature,” it also guarantees a whirlwind of frenzied action…