Brewer’s Blog

2016 Legislative Update as of 6/9/16

June 9th, 2016 • by Paul Leone

Our legislation to provide NYC Brewers tax relief through the additional city tax they have to pay has now been moved out of Committee and has passed the Assembly! We are now waiting for a Sentate vote for final passage…stay tuned. Our legislation to allow farm breweries to sell farm wine and spirits by the glass […]

Sewage, Brewage – Wastewater used in brewing beer

June 6th, 2016 • by Alison Torbitt

Wastewater reuse is becoming increasingly common for irrigation, dust suppression, industrial cooling, groundwater recharge… and now, for brewing. While there remains some significant regulatory hurdles (if not, state-wide prohibitions on selling), some innovative breweries are busy experimenting, using treated wastewater as a substitute for potable water. Water usage and wastewater disposal are both significant production […]

Washington DC Hill Climb and Lobby Day

• by Paul Leone

Last week the NYSBA lobbied in Washington DC and discussed the following topics: Federal Excise Tax Relief Full funding for the TTB ABInBev Merger NYS brewing industry The meetings went well for us in NYS and we continue to find terrific support form our Senate and House leaders on both sides of the aisle. I […]

Governor Cuomo’s Beverage Bill 2016

May 31st, 2016 • by Paul Leone

Here it is in its entirety. https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/GPB15ABCREORGANIZATIONBILL.pdf    

Governor Cuomo announces legislation to modernize alcohol laws

May 23rd, 2016 • by Isaac Figueras

On Wednesday, May 18, Governor Cuomo followed up on the recommendations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law Working Group by announcing new legislation to continue bolstering New York’s craft beverage industry by reworking parts of the Alcohol Beverage Control Law. The announcement was made from the Three Heads Brewery in Rochester, New York, a large-sized […]

New Federal Law Increases Protections for Brewery Trade Secrets

May 20th, 2016 • by Chip Grieco

Trade secrets have become the lifeblood of just about every industry in the United States – including every sector of the beer industry, both large and small. So what exactly is a trade secret? It is the confidential and commercially valuable information that provides your company with a competitive advantage. Familiar examples of trade secret […]

Governor Cuomo Announces New Legislation to Modernize New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law

May 18th, 2016 • by Paul Leone

For Immediate Release: 5/18/2016 GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO State of New York | Executive Chamber Andrew M. Cuomo | Governor New Legislation Would Overhaul State’s Blue Laws, Consolidate Licensing and Ease Regulatory Requirements for Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries and Cideries in NYS  Governor Cuomo Cuts Ribbon at Three Heads Brewing in Rochester, the Region’s Newest Craft Beer […]

Make your brewery’s brand identity design a top priority

May 16th, 2016 • by Dailey Crafton

If you are a brewery in planning, you are no doubt in the process of prioritizing tasks; what has to be done now, what must be done in the near future and what can be done down the road a bit. Things like finding a space, obtaining all of the proper licensing/insurance and securing brewing […]

The laws—they are (possibly) a-changin’

May 10th, 2016 • by Jackie Sudano

On April 13, Governor Cuomo announced the findings of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (ABCL) Working Group, which had been assembled in November 2015 to take a hard look at the current ABC laws here in New York State and figure out how to make them work in our modern world. The laws date back […]

Rain Water, Conservation and Beer!

April 29th, 2016 • by Rick Marx and Elaine Enfonde

Craft brewers are becoming known as leaders in sustainability. Many of the ingredients used to create craft beer are based on local materials, especially the primary ingredient—water. New York State has an abundance of clean and affordable fresh water. Today, although it may seem that New York State has a copious amount of fresh water, […]