Creature Comforts Brewery finds out this week if Athens officials will bring a case against it, which could mean a fine or a suspension of the license for the downtown Athens establishment.

The case stems from a police report filed last month after Athens-Clarke County police received an anonymous tip that the brewery, was "not giving tours and giving away free alcohol," according to the report. Sgt. Laura Lusk, who handles alcohol law enforcement for the ACC police, received a picture of a flyer that read "Industry night, free glasses and beer for all industry workers."

Lusk went to the industry night and was given a bracelet with six pull-off tabs and a glass but was not given "any instruction on a tour or when a tour will begin." Lusk went to one bar and got a 6-ounce glass of beer and went to another and received the same. She walked around to see if there was a tour going on and "there was no indication or signs of any tours going on during my time in the establishment," she wrote in the report.

Lusk called another officer and asked the Creature Comforts doorman if they could speak with the owner or manager. They first spoke with Graham Montgomery, the manager, who referred them to co-owner Chris Herron. "I explained to Mr. Herron that I will be writing an information report and asking the county attorneys office to review the case for a possible administrative hearing on charges against the license," Lusk wrote in the report.

Athens-Clarke County Attorney Bill Berryman told Atlanta TV station 11 Alive that he will make a decision on what to do this week.

Under Georgia Senate Bill 63, which went into effect on July 1, breweries are allowed to sell guided distillery tours of their manufacturing area, which allows the consumer free tastings of up to 36 ounces for consumption on the premises and the ability to leave with a free, sealed souvenir of "malt beverages with a total liquid capacity that does not exceed 72 ounces." Everyone must go on the tour to get a tasting and the complimentary six-pack. The Georgia Craft Brewers Guild had sought a bill, as it was originally written, that would allow 72 ounces on site and 144 ounces out the door. It would also allow brewers to sell directly to customers.

While section 8 of the bill states breweries can have promotional and educational tours "free of charge or for a fee" which can include free tastings "of malt beverages manufactured by such brewer," it also states "free souvenirs shall only be provided after the brewery tour and only to individuals who have attended a brewery tour on the same calendar day." It then adds "free tastings and free food may be provided before, during, and after a brewery tour."

The latest news against Creature Comforts comes on the heels of the brewery being named one of Georgia's Small Business Rock Stars. It was among five companies singled out from 69 applicants across Georgia nominated by state and local business-assistance agencies seeking to highlight firms that benefited from government loans, advice and grants. Just this past weekend, the brewery held an event where it released its first 750-mL bottle of the year, a limited release beer named Emergence, a tart blonde ale fermented in wine barrels for a full year.