Shutting Off the Tap

Bills in the state House and Senate would ban tap rooms from selling beer at breweries that sell more than 225,000 barrels each year. Craft brewers are split on the possible effects of such a move.

Brock Wagner is founder of the oldest Texas craft brewer, Saint Arnold.

"I think the additional regulation here is unnecessary and going to hurt the consumer in the end."

Wagner says, technically, the bills would benefit him because it would shut down a competitor's tap room.

"Frankly, I would personally benefit if Karbach's tap room was forced to shut but to me it's not the right thing to do."

Wagner says the bills may also violate the Texas Constitution.

"As far as I can tell it's unconstitutional according to the Texas Constitution because you're taking away value from Anheuser-BuschInbev by forcing them to close Karbach's tap room."

But some craft brewers like the idea because they say the big brewers, like Anheuser-Busch, were never meant to compete with tap rooms.


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