Senate panel advances bill allowing Georgia breweries two satellite taprooms

Senator Tim Bearden introduced a committee substitute to House Bill 718 to let Georgia breweries establish up to two satellite taprooms for marketing and downtown presence while preserving the three-tier distribution system.

David Branno of Creature Comforts Brewing Company testified the house version lacked a requirement to distribute through wholesalers and therefore did not receive a hearing in the House regulated-industries committee. "This is a much more pared down piece of legislation just to help some of our hometown breweries out there again, maintaining the integrity of the 3 tier system," Branno said.

Committee members clarified operational limits. Sponsors said breweries remain subject to the existing 6,000-barrel annual production cap and other state-law limitations; taprooms must sell only the brewery's product purchased from wholesalers. Senator Ginn asked whether a taproom differs from a bar; sponsors replied the bill is intended as a narrow marketing and promotional tool, including tours and tastings, and that retail limits (currently one case or 288 ounces per customer per day) remain in place under state law.

Senator Tim Bearden proposed an amendment to raise the per-customer off-premise limit from 288 ounces to 576 ounces (two cases) to allow more retail sales from breweries, arguing it would help economic development. Other members expressed concern the underlying house bill had not been vetted in the regulated-industries committee; to preserve support, Bearden withdrew the amendment.

Senator Sam Watson moved to pass the committee substitute (LC560665S) and the committee voted to advance the measure. The substitute requires taproom sales be purchased from wholesalers and limits sales to the brewery's product, keeping the three-tier system intact.

The committee's approval moves the substitute forward for further consideration.