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New Holland Brewing Co. president Brett VanderKamp with a Prohibition-era still at the production facility in Holland Township.

(MLive File Photo)

LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed a package of bills that could help expand Michigan's craft beer industry.

“Michigan-made beer is award winning and world renowned,” Snyder said in a statement. “We have the fifth-largest number of microbreweries and brewpubs in the nation, and this legislation will empower our great craft beer industry to keep growing.”

The bipartisan legislation allows microbrewers to produce more beer, increases the number of brewpubs and tasting rooms that companies can open, and allow certain startup microbrewers to self-distribute their beer.

"It's going to be great for Michigan as a leader in the craft beer scene," said Brett VanderKamp, president of New Holland Brewing Co.

Related: Short's, Bell's breweries react to Michigan beer regulation changes passing Legislature

VanderKamp and other stakeholders were on hand while Snyder signed nine bills focused largely on beer along with other liquor law changes, including a compromise that allows alcohol-branded barware at bars and restaurants.

He said his Holland-based brewery expects to go beyond the current limit of 30,000 barrels per year for microbrewers this year.

The law change allows microbrewers to produce up to 60,000 barrels per year. Larger operations must be licensed as brewers, a designation that comes with different restrictions. There are only two brewers in Michigan – Bell's Brewery and Founders Brewing Co.

VanderKamp said uncertainty over that issue impeded his ability to secure financing for a new tasting room he wants to open in the Grand Rapids market. Those plans already were delayed last year for other reasons, but he said he's continuing to explore options for the expansion.

The legislation allows brewpubs to have an interest in five other brewpubs instead of two if the combined production doesn't exceed 18,000 barrels of beer per year. Brewpubs can manufacture up to 5,000 barrels of beer each year and must also operate a full-service restaurant.

It also lets brewers and microbrewers sell their beer for on-premise consumption at multiple brewery locations, depending on their size.

Small, startup microbrewers could self-distribute their beer under certain circumstances under another bill.

The changes are a result of more than two years of discussions and debate over Michigan's liquor laws. Several other measures have already been signed into law, including wine tastings at farmers markets, growler sales at bars, BYOB wine regulations and conditional liquor licenses.

Other proposals in the works would allow beer samplings at farmers markets and create a "farm to glass" tax credit for beer and wine makers that use Michigan-grown and produced ingredients.

Email Melissa Anders at manders@mlive.com. Follow her on Google+ and Twitter: @MelissaDAnders. Download the MLive app for iPhone and Android.