Another bill is pitting small craft breweries against the big distributors once again.
- Tampa brewery in fear of set back under new bill
- Bill to allow distributors to give free glasses to bars, restaurants
- Coppertail Brewery owner says bill gives big companies unfair advantage
If the bill is approved, it would allow breweries and distributors to give bars their glassware for free, and smaller craft breweries says it gives big beer an unfair advantage.
Coppertail Brewery started in 2014. Back then, owner Kent Bailey only sold locally. He said with smart advertising, like an eye catching logo, his operation expanded.
“For us, I think that’s a really great way to market the beer. Have a bunch of friends standing around holding their beers, showing off the beer logos,” Bailey said.
Bailey said he makes sure to sell an assortment of his specialty glasses to his distributors, who in turn, sells them to restaurant and bars where Coppertail is on tap. The business sold 500 glasses last year.
However, the extra business could soon be gone under a new bill that allows breweries and distributors to give glassware away for free.
Although the amendment to the bill caps the number of free glasses at 72 per bar, Bailey argues that is still gives an unfair advantage to big companies like Anheuser-Busch.
Big companies can foot the bill, but Bailey said it would cost tens of thousands of dollars each year for small craft breweries like Coppertail to keep up with the freebies.
“For us, that’s the difference between hiring another brewer or not hiring another brewer, or hiring a new salesperson or not,” he said.
It’s either staff needed to continue growing his business or glassware needed to get the word out.
Bailey said giving it away for free is not an option.
Anheuser-Busch commented on the new bill saying it was an innovative proposal.