Associated Press Published

W.Va. Governor Bill Would Allow Craft Beer Samples, Growlers

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Craft beer lovers could score samples on brewery tours or fill growlers to take home for later under a push by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

On Wednesday, lawmakers filed the craft beer bill Tomblin touted in his State of the State address last week.

The proposal would let craft breweries give free samples during tours. Breweries could sell up to four growlers per day, per customer.

Currently, only licensed brewpubs can sell growlers.

The bill would provide some relief from fees for the craft beer industry. Licensing fees would be determined on a sliding scale, based on the brewery’s production volume.

Brewpubs also would no longer need to provide a bond for their licenses.

The bill is under consideration during the 60-day legislative session that started last week.