After passing both chambers of the legislature, Assembly Bill 1277/ Senate Bill 641 moved to Governor Chris Christie, who signed it into law on Friday, September 21.

This bill permits craft brewers to sell their beer directly to consumers on the premises of their brewery as part of a brewery tour, for on-site sampling, and for limited take-away.  Mister NJ Beer Lover, meet Madame Growler Hour!  

There’s more: this law increases the amount of beer that a brewpub can annually produce from 3,000 to 10,000 barrels, which will allow brewing to be a growth industry in NJ.   If you live in NJ and don’t know: a brewpub is a place that makes beer and sells it at a bar under the same roof.  PA and NY have quite a few of these.  They’re pretty neat.

Finally, the bill allows a brewpub to sell its beer to wholesalers (until now, they could only sell at their own bar), and to have up to 10 brewpub locations (currently capped at 2), which will again encourage investment and growth.

The craft beer industry is huge and growing, and now NJ small brewers can be a bigger part of it.   Many thanks to the community of engaged NJ beer lovers, and especially the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, for making NJ a better place for beer.