Beer battle between distributors and craft breweries

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- There’s been an ongoing beer battle in the Florida Legislature over how craft breweries sell their beer but just as some thought things were calming down, craft breweries say they’ve been hit with the worst news yet.

“This is scary. Big beer distributors don’t want us in business. They don’t want us to have tasting rooms they’re going to continue to push for legislation to eliminate competition,” said Jennifer Gratz, co-owner of Fort Myers Brewing Co.

The Florida Retail Federation and Florida Independent Spirits Association which represent ABC Liquor and big companies like Anheuser Busch have filed a suit that could put tasting rooms in jeopardy. The suit alleges the state is incorrectly applying the tourist exception to grant a license. That license allows customers to taste products at the brewery and take them home.

“If this lawsuit is successful we will shut our tasting room doors and there’s a chance our business would go out of business,” said Gratz.

The tasting rooms have paved the way for the craft brewing industry to grow. Gratz said 80 percent of their business comes from the tasting room.

“It’s unfortunate that the retailers and the beer distributors that they see us as a threat and that they want to put us out of business because we’re all friendly people,” said Gratz.