Letter to Editor
By Luke Bellsnyder
May 18, 2011

Regarding "Brewery legislation runs into possible bottleneck" (Page D1, May 11), manufacturers get to preview their wares and consumers can make informed decisions when people have an opportunity to sample the goods. That's why a proposal that would allow visitors to obtain small amounts of beer in sealed containers after touring Texas breweries is a good idea.

The original bill, which didn't limit which breweries could offer tours, is a win for everyone. Consumers would get to take home a memento from their day at the brewery. Brewers could showcase their craft. And the amount available after the tour would be so small, it wouldn't interfere with regular sale and distribution of beer. Unfortunately, some saw the bill as opportunity to play favorites in an industry and placed a cap on the size of breweries allowed to participate.

Brewery tours and beer samples should be an option at all Texas breweries. Allowing small, mid-sized and large brewers to sell samples after tours will in no way affect beer distributors' monopolies. Lawmakers should remove the cap and send the proper message: Texas is open for business, of all sizes.

— Luke Bellsnyder, Texas Association of Manufacturers, Austin