ATLANTA – Amateur brew masters no longer have to break the law to compete with the signing Monday of legislation that doubles their limit and allows them to transport their beer for the first time.
Gov. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 99 by Rep. Jason Spencer, R-Woodbine. Neither man is among the growing legends of craft beer aficionados.
But Spencer was responding to constituent requests in his first bill to become law. He said homebrew competitions are becoming popular across the state as a way to boost tourism spending, making them an economic-development tool.
Until now, the beer could only be consumed in the residence where it was brewed. That made it impossible to legitimately take it to contests, and brewing on the site of the events isn’t practical since it takes at least a month of fermentation and processing.
The new law allows 25 gallons to be transported for special events as long as they are sealed and labeled with the permit number issued to the event by the local government. But only the judges and participants can drink it.
The law took effect immediately.