Illinois craft brewers fight to stop damaging regulations

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission, or ILCC, has proposed new regulations to the craft brewing industry that would halt expansion plans for many craft breweries throughout the state. The proposed regulations would limit brewpubs’ ability to produce and sell more than 1,200 barrels of their beer for offsite consumption, even to licensed distributers. This is...

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission, or ILCC, has proposed new regulations to the craft brewing industry that would halt expansion plans for many craft breweries throughout the state.

The proposed regulations would limit brewpubs’ ability to produce and sell more than 1,200 barrels of their beer for offsite consumption, even to licensed distributers. This is an incredibly small amount of beer ,and would all but shut down all brewpub manufacturing intended for distribution. Revolution Brewing currently produces 20 times this amount.

Prominent members of Illinois’ craft brewing industry voiced their opposition to these new regulations earlier this week at the public forum on proposed liquor control rules.

Representing the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, Josh Deth, founder of Revolution Brewing in Chicago, sat on the panel of those testifying to the commission, while John Barely, founder of Solemn Oath Brewery in Naperville, joined him and other guild members.

Josh Deth – Owner of Revolution Brewing (Chicago)

Deth testified to the committee, expressing great concern about the effects these newly proposed rules would have on both Revolution Brewing and other growing breweries throughout the state.

He currently operates his two Revolution Brewing facilities under both a craft brewery license and a brewpub license. Revolution manufactures beer in both locations for distribution through licensed distributors.

Deth’s main manufacturing location – which operates under a craft brewery license – is restricted under current law to producing no more than 30,000 barrels annually.

No final decision on the proposed regulations has been reached. After being unable to reach a consensus at the public forum, the ILCC tabled the passage of the brewpub regulations until their next Chicago meeting on Aug. 20.

John Barley – Owner of Solemn Oath Brewery (Naperville)

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