What states have legal brewery tap rooms?

[MikeRoy]

While reading another thread regarding small scale brewing it was mentioned that Colorado allows breweries to operate a tap room without food sales.

Does anyone know of any other states that allow a brewery to have a tap room on premise ( not just samples and packaged to go)?



Thanks

[beertje46]

Kentucky allows them. Requires a retail license.

[MikeRoy]

Thanks David.



Does this "retail" license require you to sell anything else?

[beertje46]

KY. only has one license to sell beer. A retail license covers by-the-pint, growlers, cases, kegs...

We don't sell any food in our taproom, just beer.

[HubCity]

Iowa allows this too

[GlacierBrewing]

Montana allows this. No food required and actually discouraged (at least it was in the recent past).

[nohandslance]

Nevada, with the option for 24 hour sales.

[MikeRoy]

Is it me or is anyone else seeing a pattern here?

[Steffan]

Washington Microbrewery license allows me to sell wholesale to other liquor license holders (bars, taverns, restaurants, c-stores, chain stores, etc) and retail sales for on-site and off-site consumption. So, they can take it home in bottles, growlers and kegs or drink it here draft. No further licensing required, no food required.

[MikeRoy]

Still seeing a pattern here...any states East of Kentucky?

[WitsEnd]

Not Minnesota. Growler sales or 750 ml bottles only for off-sale.

Minnesota microbreweries are allowed to self-distribute directly to retail.

[alchemy]

north carolina

[MikeRoy]

North Carolina, now we're getting somewhere.


Has this always been the case or did any of these states have to battle for these rights recently?

[gitchegumee]

Michigan allows a full tap room (beer bar), and with the retail license, also allows packaged product sales--growlers, cans & bottles, kegs. Georgia allows a tap room, although it's been many years since I've worked there and don't know if it's sold or given away, or about other sales. If there's a trend, I think it might be related to tightening the bible belt and old blue laws.

[barleyjac]

In Georgia, we are allowed to give away for free up to 32 oz per person per day, except on Sunday. No retail sales allowed. There are NO exceptions to the three tier system in GA other than samples at the production facility.

FYI - We are allowed to sell pint glasses at the brewery as long as we have a sign notifying people they are not required to buy the glass to sample beer.

John Cochran
Terrapin Beer
john@terrapinbeer.com