HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - A change in state law could open the tap for more brewpubs in Huntsville.

At a meeting Wednesday morning, members of the city's zoning subcommittee raised no objections to tweaking zoning rules to allow brewpubs in some areas where bars are already permitted. That includes downtown, both sides of the Parkway from Mastin Lake Road south to Airport Road, and parts of University Drive, Jordan Lane and Clinton Avenue.

The Huntsville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed brewpub changes at its March 26 meeting.

Lisa Leddo, an urban planner with the city, told committee members a law passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2012 eliminated many of the barriers to opening a brewpub. In the past, they were limited to historic buildings and had to have an attached restaurant. Also, any beer brewed on the premises had to be consumed there.

The updated law removed the restaurant requirement and gives brewpubs the ability to sell their beer to other retailers and wholesalers, said Leddo. And instead of having to stick to historic areas, brewpubs can now set up in "economically distressed" areas defined by individual cities.

Leddo said the planning department studied household income levels, retail vacancy rates and other factors before mapping out a territory for brewpubs that follows commercial and industrial zones where bars are already permitted.

Brewpubs "shouldn't have any more impact than a bar would," she said.

Huntsville currently has two breweries - Straight to Ale on Leeman Ferry Road and Yellowhammer on Clinton Avenue - but no brewpubs. Below the Radar Brewhouse downtown sells locally-made craft beers but does not produce its own beers.

Straight to Ale owner Dan Perry said he thinks the Rocket City could support "several" brewpubs.

"If you make good beer and good food and your price is right," Perry said Wednesday, "you're going to do well. Anything that brings more business to the area and helps grow the beer culture would be good for all of us" craft-beer makers.

In addition to Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer, Blue Pants Brewery makes beer at a facility on Lanier Road in Madison. Huntsville-based Old Black Bear Brewing Co. is produced in Gadsden. Perry said at least two other microbreweries are scouting for locations in the Huntsville area.

Follow me on Twitter: @swdoyle