Shutdown means no new beer from craft brewers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Shutdown means no new beer from craft brewers

By CARRIE ANTLFINGER and TODD RICHMOND, Associated Press | October 9, 2013 | Updated: October 9, 2013 2:40am




MILWAUKEE (AP) — The federal government shutdown could leave America's craft brewers with a serious hangover.
Stores will still offer plenty of suds. But the shutdown has closed an obscure agency that quietly approves new breweries, recipes and labels, which could create huge delays throughout the rapidly growing craft industry, whose customers expect a constant supply of inventive and seasonal beers.

Mike Brenner is trying to open a craft brewery in Milwaukee by December. His application to include a tasting room is now on hold, as are his plans to file paperwork for four labels over the next few weeks. He expects to lose about $8,000 for every month his opening is delayed.

"My dream, this is six years in the making, is to open this brewery," Brenner said. "I've been working so hard, and I find all these great investors. And now I can't get started because people are fighting over this or that in Washington. ... This is something people don't mess around with. Even in a bad economy, people drink beer."

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, or TTB, is a little-known arm of the Treasury Department. The agency will continue to process taxes from existing permit holders, but applications for anything new are in limbo.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Shutdown-means-no-new-beer-from-craft-brewers-4880428.php

[Berlum]

1. "The dark-side, anti-American RepubliWankers will pay for this at the ballot box." - Homer S.

[PuffedMica]

2. Find a way to stop production of cigarettes and the Republicans would surrender immediately

Boehner would be begging the President to sign a clean CR so he could get his smokes.

[liberal N proud]

3. Exactly!

[christx30]

8. I would fully support

a government shutdown if it could stop cigarettes. The tobacco plant needs to go extinct.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. "the shutdown has closed an obscure agency

There are DOZENS of "obscure" agencies, let alone barely-mentioned Departments staffed with REAL PEOPLE who are sitting home watching the theatrics of the loons from the GOP as their paychecks disappear. While the M$M keeps staring at barriers in front of National Parks, hundreds of thousands of NON-Dept of Interior/Park Service folks seethe right along with the Park Service rangers and support staff.

[AllyCat]

5. Gee, Republicans are hurting business. Do they stand for ANYTHING anymore?

Just obstruction and doom I think.

[PatrynXX]

6. second time Republicans have tried to shut those down

Scott Walker already did that. where upon plenty of coors went down the sidewalk

[seveneyes]

7. The local heath department should handle these kinds of licenses

Sure, the shutdown sucks, but I see no need for federal control in this arena. My solution has always been to use malt, yeast, hops along with a carboy and buckets. The ATF should focus on real issues rather than make life difficult on craft brewers.

[melm00se]

9. having to submit a label for federal approval

seems, frankly, asinine.

One positive thing that might come of this whole debacle is that it might a easier to identify federal departments, agencies, roles and responsibilities that aren't really necessary.