(Courtesy Colorado Brewers Guild)

If you think that craft breweries are doing fine now, with the country reopening after more than a year of pandemic lockdown, you don’t know any professional brewers. The economic impact or this plague has been profound and things won’t turn around overnight.

Understanding the economic boost that the brewing industry has provided Colorado over the last decade, state legislators closed out a 116-day legislative session in June with the passage of a four bills targeted at supporting the brewing industry.

And in a press release the Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG) highlighted  the four bills that will help breweries recover this mess.

This from the not-for-profit trade association…

“Every year the CBG is actively engaged at the Capitol to support our member breweries. We are pleased that these bills were passed and will provide breweries with some relief after a very tough 16 months.”

SB21-082: Alcohol Beverage Festival For Tastings And Sales

This one’s important…

Previously, wineries were the only license type to be able to apply for a festival permit. This bill opens permits to include Colorado licensed breweries and brew pubs and will allow breweries to sell samples as well as beer to-go (if they choose) and invite other breweries, wineries, and distilleries to participate.

“We have been actively advocating for this change for three years and it’s great to see that it passed with little opposition,” says CBG Executive Director Shawnee Adelson. “Without a doubt, this bill will help breweries rebuild and recover more quickly from the pandemic.”

HB21-1263: Meeting And Events Incentive Program

This program was created to help rebuild Colorado’s once burgeoning event economy. It allows for rebates of up to 10% of the hard costs of an eligible event that brings in 25 paid overnight stays between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022.

The program may also offer rebates of up to 25% for COVID-19-related costs, which are hard costs that are directly related to complying with public health orders or other mandates issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve got to think that this bill will benefit the Brewers Association who are returning the Craft Brewers Conference to Denver, September 9 -12.

HB21-1265: Qualified Retailer Retain Sales Tax For Assistance

This bill was passed to help rebuild Colorado’s hospitality industry by allowing qualified retailers to retain sales tax collected as assistance for lost revenue as a result of the economic disruptions due to theCOVID-19. Brewery taprooms and brew pubs are qualified retailers and will be able to retain a portion of their sales tax collected in June, July, and August.

HB21-1027: Continued Alcohol Beverage Takeout and Delivery

This bill allows certain licensed establishments, including brew pubs, to continue to offer alcohol beverages for takeout and delivery for four more years.

“Every year the CBG is actively engaged at the Capitol to support our member breweries. We are pleased that these bills were passed and will provide breweries with some relief after a very tough 16 months.”

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(All image credits: Colorado Brewers Guild)