Hey it’s Wednesday and it’s Rumor Mill Time…..There’s big, big news coming out of the “City of Lakes” and we’re bringing you everything we know so far. Plus we’ve got some fast-breaking craft beer news coming in from Oklahoma and some huge news from our friends at Founders. We’ve also got another hot new spring release that you’ll want to chase down. So fasten your seatbelts everybody….THIS WEEK’S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

Surly Moving To The City (Minneapolis, MN) – We’ve been talking about this for awhile now, but things have finally gotten “real.” The StarTribune.com is reporting that Brooklyn Center-based Surly Brewing Company has finally purchased a site in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, where they will build their much-anticipated, $20 million “destination brewery.” The new brewery will be seen as an addition to their current location.

Washington State’s Proposed Beer Tax To Include Nanobreweries (Olympia, WA) – It’s enough to make you drink! There’s been a lot of talk about Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed beer tax, and Danny Westneat’s Seattle Times piece details yet another troubling aspect of this idea. Seems the Governor’s proposed excise tax travels all the way down the food chain from the state’s big brewers to even the smallest brewers, known to many as nanobreweries. According to Westneat, street-level brewers that brew as little as three barrels a week could see their per barrel taxes jacked up by 325% – more than quadrupling the current rate!

Founders Crosses The Pond (United Kingdom) – Founders Brewing Company has entered into a partnership with James Clay and are now distributing both year-round and seasonal beers in bottles in the UK, with draught expected to follow later in the year.John Green, president of Founders Brewing Co., says the partnership has been a long time coming. “We’ve been looking at export opportunities for awhile now, and we’re excited to partner with James Clay in making the United Kingdom one of our first international markets.”The full range of Founders beers will be available through James Clay by early May.

Oklahoma Legislators Threaten To Do The Right Thing! (Oklahoma City, OK) – In a shocking departure from form, the Oklahoma Senate is set to vote on a bill that might actually help the state’s craft brewers and make its citizens a lot happier as well. Our friends at CraftBeer.com are reporting that Oklahoma House Bill 1341 would allow licensed brewers to serve free samples (limited to 12oz per day) to brewery visitors. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill on Tuesday, April 16 or Wednesday, April 17, so if you’re a “Sooner,” it’s time to get on the phone and insist that your state senator does “the right thing!”