Just in case you needed an excuse to visit a brewery this weekend, the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild created Georgia Beer Weekend — with breweries across the state holding special events, while raising awareness of their plight and money for a fight.
Earlier this year the Guild won a victory when a new law passed that allowed Georgia breweries to charge for tours, which could include up to 36 ounces of beer (up from 32 ounces) to consume during tastings and up to 72 ounces (equal to a six-pack) of free beer to take home as “souvenirs.”
But then, nearly three months after the new law went into effect, the Georgia Department of Revenue decided to change the rules , greatly restricting the way so-called souvenirs could be offered. And in response, many Georgia breweries made the the decision to suspend beer-to-go tours.
The Guild has vowed to fight for changes to the law during the next legislative session. And this weekend is all about that, with breweries celebrating the power of Georgia beer and the Guild's legislative agenda.
Georgia Craft Brewers Guild executive director, Nancy Palmer, will be at Sweetwater for the tour at 5:30 p.m. today, as she said, "drinking fantastic beer and talking politics." Join her there, where $3 from each tour goes to support legislative efforts. Or head out to one of Georgia's other breweries this weekend .
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