AR SB348

Establishes a new hard cider manufacturing permit allowing producers to manufacture, import, transport, store, and sell hard cider to wholesalers, jobbers, distributors, and retailers with an annual permit fee of $300 per manufacturing plant.

Permits hard cider manufacturers to produce up to 45,000 barrels per year, with restrictions limiting distribution to 15,000 barrels per year for manufacturers selling directly to retailers, requiring a $250 annual wholesale permit fee.

Authorizes hard cider manufacturers to operate tap rooms, serve samples, sell hard cider for on-premises and off-premises consumption, and sell complementary beverages including beer, wine, and malt beverages in wet territories.

Amends existing alcoholic beverage permit categories (retail, wholesale, minimum wholesale, restaurant, and grocery store permits) to explicitly include hard cider as an authorized product for sale alongside wine and beer.

Updates beer festival permits and small brewery licenses to permit hard cider sales and consumption alongside beer and malt beverages, subject to the same territorial and local option election restrictions.