Bottoms up! Brewpubs in Connecticut have reason to celebrate. Their handcrafted brews now can be sold beyond their pubs.
A new state law that took effect June 29 scraps a 77-year-old provision in state liquor regulations that has prevented Connecticut’s nine brewpubs from having their beers, ales and stouts bottled and distributed. The law now allows them to sell the brews to wholesalers for distribution.
For Steve Boucino and Scott Scanlon, owners of The Cambridge House in Granby, the new law is the key to their dreams. The two former “insurance guys” opened their Granby brewpub two years ago and have wanted to open more to showcase their award-winning Copper Hill Kolsch, Abijah Rowe India Pale Ale and other beers.
“Let’s be the next Sam Adams,” said Boucino, referring to the successful Boston beer company that was founded in 1984 by Jim Koch. “Let’s take our beer coast to coast.”
Part of their vision is to have a bottling and distribution brewery, producing their beer for retail establishments and restaurants, as well as the pubs.
There are about 1,400 craft brewers in the U.S., according to the Brewers Association, based in Boulder, Colo. Of those, 974 are brewpubs. The association defines a craft brewer as someone who produces 2 million barrels or less of beer a year, is independently owned and uses traditional ingredients. Typically, they produce malt-based beers.