HB406 Summary

• Renames the "Alabama Brewpub Act" to the "Alabama Brewery Modernization Act" and eliminates the distinction between brewpubs and beer manufacturers, allowing all Alabama beer manufacturers to sell beer on-premises for on-premises consumption.

• Removes the requirement that breweries be located in historic buildings, permitting any qualified beer manufacturer in a wet county or municipality where beer was historically brewed to obtain a license.

• Maintains the 10,000 barrel annual production limit and $1,000 annual license fee, while allowing breweries to offer facility tours and free samples to promote their products.

• Allows breweries selling only on-premises to appoint a licensed wholesaler designee and be exempt from certain wholesale regulations, or to sell through wholesalers if choosing to distribute off-premises.

• Becomes effective immediately upon passage and gubernatorial approval, citing the need to support Alabama's brewing industry which has only two operational brewpubs and two breweries distributing through wholesalers.