March Madness.
Beer became a topic for debate during the just-completed 2019 Utah legislative session.
Specifically, should Utah increase alcohol limits on packaged beer sold in grocery and convenience stores, and on draft beer available in bars and restaurants?
Without going into too much detail (you can read more here and here), a bill is awaiting Gov. Gary Herbert's signature. It's a watered-down version of a measure submitted earlier in the session, and it would increase the limits to 4% alcohol by weight (5% alcohol by volume) from 3.2% ABW (4% ABV).
It's a landmark measure that, not surprisingly, proved to be divisive.
The Utah Brewers Guild, which represents the state's 30 or so craft brewers, opposed the original legislation (it remained neutral on the compromise). A handful of breweries, however, broke ranks and voiced support for the bump to 6% ABV as originally proposed by Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton.
Among craft beer drinkers, who are by and large a passionate and engaged bunch, it got heated at times on social media.
The arguments for and against the legislation are complex and multi-layered. As a journalistic observer who also happens to enjoy drinking craft beer and supporting local businesses, I'm torn.
Both sides, I believe, have merit. I wasn't all that surprised by the debate (though I didn't see the last-minute compromise coming). While not technically a done deal, the fact that Utah's 85-year-old 3.2% beer law is poised to get updated, is significant.
What shocked me, however, is how quickly members of the Utah craft beer community waged written warfare — primarily on social media — against individuals, breweries, and other organizations who didn't share their opinion.
Granted, I've only covered the Utah craft beer scene for a year. But I've been drinking beer in Utah for 20 years, and have lived in the state twice as long. I don't ever remember seeing such animosity toward other craft beer drinkers and local breweries.
I'm confident the written vitriol I saw (admittedly, a small sampling of overall comments) isn't representative of the community as a whole. It can't be.
Yet, it does make me wonder: Will this issue — and the factions it apparently formed — cause any longterm damage for Utah craft beer?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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Tim
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Here are a few beer-y stories I've come across in the last few weeks:
