tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32412760.post3847456622603941587..comments2023-06-16T11:59:53.479-04:00Comments on Hoosier Beer Geek: A Beer Blog for Indiana, from Indianapolis: Commentary/Conversation | Revisiting Indiana's Barrel Limit LawJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17412784462353586629noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32412760.post-24801610584666675622012-12-22T11:44:23.693-05:002012-12-22T11:44:23.693-05:00Thanks for the comment, Bob. That's valuable i...Thanks for the comment, Bob. That's valuable information.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17412784462353586629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32412760.post-46049370085482962532012-12-21T16:03:50.948-05:002012-12-21T16:03:50.948-05:00Just a thought or two from the distributor perspec...Just a thought or two from the distributor perspective - <br /><br />First, I'd just like to clarify that there is no "production limit" in Indiana for breweries. There is a 30,000 limit for brewers to self distribute or run a restaurant in Indiana and my company has been supportive of raising that limit. We have actively lobbied for an increase. As a distributor, we don't see the limit as being a negative or a positive for us. We feel that the sheer economics of trying to run 2 different types of businesses (brewer and distributor) is more important than an arbitrary limit so we feel free to encourage brewers to self distribute because we think the overall beer culture can benefit from it.<br /><br />I think you all get that idea but I felt compelled to state it because the concept can be easily miss-interpreted. <br /><br />Bear in mind that today, in 2012 (soon to be 2013), that no brewer in the state is all that close to being at or above the 30,000 barrel limit for in-state distribution. Despite that, almost every brewer in the state has chosen to ship their beers via a distributor, even though self distribution is entirely legal in Indiana below the 30,000 barrel limit. <br /><br />It IS completely legal for Indiana brewers to self distribute within state lines right now and as a distributor (that has NO sister companies in other states!) we are supportive of that situation. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32412760.post-56439132552776234382012-12-21T00:37:30.365-05:002012-12-21T00:37:30.365-05:00If I recall during a recent visit to World Class, ...If I recall during a recent visit to World Class, I saw Fountain Square kegs there. So being small (relatively speaking, kind of like when politicians say "small busines" but mean businesses which are less than 100 people -- that's NOT small!)...so being small doesn't mean you desire to self distribute. Clearly distribution has is advantages and disadvantages. I would think for a business that wants to self-distribute, they should be able to do so at whatever limit they choose. It's not as if they're getting something for nothing -- there is a $hitload of work that goes into distributing beer. It's not easy. But if someone has the gumption, they should be able to.<br /><br />I remember Bob Mack explaining something about where 3-tier distribution came from, and it wasn't entirely because of $$. But these days, clearly they are tied to a revenue stream which they would rather not see die. Kind of like the reason why we still don't have Sunday sales. It hurts businesses that have operated on the lawful basis for years and years. I'm not particularly sympathetic to businesses that don't change their mission or tune with the times, but I can also see why they might be opposed to such legislation. But like pot, all this $hit is going to be legal soon, because there aren't too many other ways to pay for all the stuff people want, but don't want extra taxes to boot!j . j .https://www.blogger.com/profile/09001986729410659816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32412760.post-7006258664891219222012-12-20T16:54:35.583-05:002012-12-20T16:54:35.583-05:00Ding ding ding. The distributors want a cut of tha...Ding ding ding. The distributors want a cut of that sweet sweet Indiana craft brew pie. I think the legislature should lift the cap completely and couple that with putting into law that breweries may self-distribute within state lines. This keeps costs low for both brewery and consumer, it's win-win. <br /><br />Does it "hurt" distributors? Maybe, but why should I have to pay more just because there's a middle man who has the money to lobby better than I?Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349971038827159948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32412760.post-65490475802196301822012-12-20T10:59:38.241-05:002012-12-20T10:59:38.241-05:00This is exactly the issue. The single biggest part...This is exactly the issue. The single biggest party is the distributors. They want all growing breweries to have to go through them. There's no legitimate reason to force a brewery to use a distributor. All it's going to do is force breweries like Sun King to either cap their growth or move out of state.PaulRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00879192187796692313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32412760.post-57363648624629042992012-12-20T09:09:41.054-05:002012-12-20T09:09:41.054-05:00I think the only people who have anything to lose ...I think the only people who have anything to lose if you raise/remove the limit are the distributors. I doubt they want Three Floyds to have to shut down their brewpub, but I'm fairly certain they wouldn't mind getting a slice of the Sun King pie if they were no longer allowed to self-distribute.howardfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525347214948042914noreply@blogger.com