Brewers and beer lovers are celebrating a successful vote on legislation that some say could be a long-awaited step forward for Oklahoma's craft beer industry.
The third time may be the charm for the sampling bill that now awaits Gov. Mary Fallin's signature and will allow breweries to offer samples of their beer on site.
News that the sampling bill passed the Senate spread quickly as Tulsa celebrated its first Craft Beer Week, which organizers described as a great success.
Some view this as momentum for the craft beer movement and introducing further changes to the state's liquor laws.
"This is our third attempt at introducing a sampling bill on behalf of Oklahoma breweries to address what we feel was an inequity in law which permitted wineries and not breweries to sample," said Wes Alexander, director of sales and marketing for Tulsa's Marshall Brewing Co.
"As small businesses, the model that makes these breweries most effective is offering samples and tours to educate guests and promote craft beer."
The heart of sampling is the interaction with the guest, allowing time for brewers to tell their unique stories, Alexander said.
"With Eric Marshall, we have a unique story of a young man with ambition and a plan that leads him to Germany to receive a diploma in International Brewing from the prestigious World Brewing Academy in Munich," he said.
"Visitors can hear from Eric firsthand how he crafts our beer and see him in action. Craft beer consumers are usually an inquisitive bunch and being able to answer their questions directly helps to build brand loyalty and enable them to be better craft beer ambassadors."
Passage of the bill is the "first step to continue to grow the craft brewing industry," said Mason Beecroft, brewmaster of Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing. "It gives people access to see the brewing process, see the facility and taste the beers.
"We are still in the process of getting our own building and equipment for our brewery in Tulsa. It's an arduous task, to say the least. It could take six months; it could take a year. In the meantime, we are having our beer brewed at RoughTail Brewing Co. in Oklahoma City."
Dead Armadillo Amber should be in the market and in local liquor stores on June 1, Beecroft said.
Passage of the law would be a small step forward, but customers will still not be able to buy the beer from the breweries if they enjoy what they taste, noted Clint Engles, brewmaster at Pi Pizzeria & Craft Beer House.
Engles has a brewpub-style operation in which he brews low-point beers that are available only on tap and must be consumed at Pi Pizzeria & Craft Beer House.
"The bill on free samples has absolutely no effect on me, and I don't see how it is going to change much of anything for the breweries. People can come into the space, see the factory and taste the product, but they still can't purchase anything there. They won't be able to take a growler or six-pack out of there. There are no direct sales," Engles said.
"The breweries have to hope that giving away samples will create more business down the road, and that's about it. It is a step in the right direction, but it is a baby step, definitely no leap."
Marshall Brewing turns away out-of-state visitors almost weekly who assume that sampling and tours are available, Alexander said.
"Currently, 48 of 50 states permit brewery sampling. In Colorado, where a culture surrounding craft beer has grown quite strong, tourism brought to the state through brewery visitors adds millions of dollars to the local economy," Alexander said.
Beer industry insiders have joined forces in a guild and they are talking about future legislation to pursue.
The Oklahoma Craft Brewers Guild is filing for tax- exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, Alexander said. Once received, the organization will be operational and open to all licensed Oklahoma breweries, trade members and craft beer fans.
"The mission of the organization will be to offer one voice to educate, promote, and advocate for craft beer culture in Oklahoma," said Alexander, who is also the group's vice president.
Elected president of the guild is J.D. Merryweather of COOP Ale Works, Zach Prichard of Choc Beer is the secretary and Greg Powell of TapWerks in Oklahoma City is the treasurer.
Future legislative goals that have been bandied about include the refrigeration of strong beer in liquor stores, sales of non-liquor products such as glassware and bottle openers at liquors stores and the creation of tap rooms at breweries.
While not all in the beer industry agree on such proposals, most at least have some suggestions for change.
"In the future, hopefully the laws will change so we can have tap rooms at the breweries like a lot of other states," Beecroft said. "In Oregon, they can have tap rooms with food and beer with a family atmosphere. It's a huge industry we could tap into. It would bring income into the state and create jobs."
Sales of products such as corkscrews and mixers at liquor stores would be a way for the stores to profit, as well as the state, said Freddy Lamport of BierGarten Wine & Spirits in Jenks.
While contacting legislators in support of the sampling bill, Lamport said he encouraged them to consider a change in law to allow such product sales.
"It is a captive market. They are already in the store looking for something," Lamport said. "It is a way to make more money for us and a way to make more tax revenue for the state."
Those who missed Tulsa's first Craft Beer Week can look forward to the event next year, Lamport noted.
"It was crazy. People loved it," Lamport said, adding that some of the venues had crowds during the week as large as they do during weekend rush hours.
"Next year is going to be even bigger with more people involved and more venues and more retailers. It says, 'Hey, you can think what you want about Oklahoma, but we have people who really love craft beer here.' "
Craft beer events
American Craft Beer Week will coincide with the events scheduled for
Marshall Brewing Co.'s fifth anniversary.
Marshall has brewed 5 - a barrel-aged imperial red ale - that will be available soon in 22-ounce bottles to commemorate the anniversary.
May 13:
McNellie's, 409 E. First St., hosts Marshall Pint Night & Firkin at 5 p.m. Find cask-conditioned ale in traditional English serving vessels. Eric Marshall will answer questions.
May 14: Beer dinner hosted by the
Dilly Deli, 402 E. Second St.
May 18:
McNellie's hosts an outdoor beer festival featuring Marshall Brewing Co. beers, special releases of single hopped pale ales and a number of one-off beers.
May 18: If you happen to be in Oklahoma City,
TapWerks in Oklahoma City is hosting its third-annual Oklahoma Craft Beer Festival.
Nicole Marshall Middleton 918-581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Sampling bill awaits signature
