Brew Law 101: A Legal Guide to Opening a Brewery

Leading attorneys in the U.S. craft brewing industry are teaming up to co-author the definitive legal guide to starting a craft brewery in the State of Minnesota.

Jeffrey C. O’Brien of Lommen Abdo, P.A., alongside Candace L. Moon and Stacy Allura Hostetter of The Craft Beer Attorney, have reached an agreement to co-author “Brew Law 101: A Legal Guide to Opening a Brewery – Minnesota Edition,” with publication expected sometime in 2017.

As a continuation to the original Brew Law 101: A Legal Guide to Opening a Brewery – California Edition published in 2015, the book will be designed as a comprehensive guide to the myriad legal issues – both federal and state – that prospective brewery owners face as they start their business in Minnesota.

Both firms belong to the Craft Beer Attorney Coalition, a non-profit for craft beer attorneys which Ms. Moon and Taylor Harper of Taylor, Feil, Harper, Lumsden & Hess, P.C founded at the end of 2015.

Brew Law 101: A Legal Guide to Opening a Brewery – Minnesota Edition will be a collaborative work following in the spirit of the craft beer industry, and will draw upon the experiences of each attorney to create a practical and indispensable guide for new and existing breweries alike. The book will also feature the stories of several of Minnesota’s best craft breweries.

Candace L. Moon is an attorney and founder of The Craft Beer Attorney (“CBA”), a California-based firm that has spent the last eight years dedicated to advising the craft beer industry. CBA actively serves over 250 craft beer breweries, including breweries in planning nationwide. Ms. Moon is a frequent lecturer for both state and national craft beer conferences as well as an instructor for craft beer certificates at San Diego State University and University of California – San Diego. She has also spoken and taught CLEs for various legal associations.

Finally, Ms. Moon has written numerous articles and appeared on a variety of nationally televised broadcasts including CBS This Morning, MSNBC and Fox Business.

Stacy Allura Hostetter is an attorney at The Craft Beer Attorney and has been with the firm since 2014. Ms. Hostetter has dedicated herself to the craft beer industry by focusing on trademarks and copyrights, contracts and lease reviews, as well as state and federal alcohol compliance. Ms. Hostetter has spoken at both craft beer specific and craft alcohol industry conferences on issues pertaining to craft breweries, in addition to authoring several articles on the same topic.

Jeffrey C. O’Brien is an attorney and shareholder with the Minneapolis based law firm of Lommen Abdo, P.A., practicing in the areas of business and real estate law. Mr. O’Brien is Chair of Lommen Abdo’s Food, Beverage and Leisure Practice Group and has been working with craft breweries in Minnesota and beyond since 2009. Presently he represents over 50 craft breweries, distilleries, and cideries. He is also a frequent author, commentator, and speaker on issues pertaining to craft beverages and liquor laws in general.