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Home Brewers Could Take Part In Beer Festivals Under Bill Passed By Mo. Senate

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,
Marshall Griffin
Published March 8, 2013 at 4:24 PM CST
Veronique LaCapra/St. Louis Public Radio

Legislation that would allow home brewers to bring home-made beer to festivals has passed the Missouri Senate.

Under Senate Bill 114, home-brewers could give away free samples to guests at beer festivals and tastings, but would not be allowed to sell them.  The sponsor, State Senator Eric Schmitt (R, Glendale), says an emergency clause was added so that home brewers can take part in this year’s Brewer’s Heritage Festival in St. Louis.

“They had been admitted in the past, but because they’re not specifically allowed under the law, (they) were denied last year," Schmitt said.  "That festival is in June, so if we didn’t have an emergency clause they would be barred from participating again.”

The bill also contains language that would allow trains to serve alcoholic beverages while stopped, allow smaller excursion vessels on Table Rock Lake to serve liquor, and expand the hours that alcohol can be served at bowling alleys.  State Senator Ed Emery (R, Lamar) took exception to those additional provisions.

"I’ve experienced in the time that I have been in the legislature what I call ‘alcohol creep’…no matter what step we give, there’s always another step," Emery said.  "I understand kind of the separate issue of home brewing, but I believe that we are seeing that same kind of creep in this bill.”

Emery cast the lone “no” vote.  The bill now goes to the Missouri House.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

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Marshall Griffin
Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
See stories by Marshall Griffin
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.