A bill being considered by the state legislature is causing concern among many in the state's craft brew industry.
The bill came about not long after London-based Diageo, the makers of Guinness beer, announced it was going to be opening a brew house and tap room in Baltimore County.
See also: Guinness Beer to be brewed in Baltimore County
They wanted to be able to sell more beer, on-site, each year.
At the Key Brewing Company in Dundalk, smiles and beer lead to good cheer, but it’s a bill being considered by the state general assembly that was causing some frowns.
"If Maryland’s open for business, this isn’t open for business. This is closed for business," said Joe House, who attended what was being called a rally with his wife, Lysette.
"It’s interfering in the industry for no real reason," Lysette House said.
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The bill expands the number of barrels brew houses can legally sell from their tap rooms. The problem with the bill, those in attendance said is that it restricts the hours beer can be sold. Under the bill, brew houses would only be allowed to sell until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
State Comptroller Peter Franchot and the state’s commerce secretary were among those in attendance calling for changes to the bill.
They said they wanted tap rooms to be able to sell as many as 20,000 barrels per year, up from the limit, now, of 500, and limitations on operating hours to be stricken from the bills language.
Franchot said the bill "kills the craft brew sector."
He said tap rooms would be able to sell as many as 20,000 barrels per year, up from the current limit of 500, and limitations on operating hours to be stricken from the bill's language.
For brew house owners, the bill comes down to jobs.
"This is a bill, that with amendments, can be beneficial for income into the state. It would allow us to hire more people," said Mike McDonald, co-owner of the Key Brewing Company.
The bill's sponsor, Del. Talmadge Branch of Baltimore, was unable to be reached for comment Tuesday evening.
The bill is scheduled for a Wednesday hearing before the senate committee on education, health and environment affairs.
