CT HB05580

Establishes a new farm brewery manufacturer permit for breweries located on farms that produce beer, with an annual permit fee of three hundred dollars.

Farm brewery permit holders must grow at least 25 percent of hops and barley used in beer production on-site or under their control in the first year, increasing to 50 percent in subsequent years.

Authorizes farm breweries to sell beer in bulk, at retail on-premises, directly to consumers (limited to five gallons per two-month period), at farmers' markets, and to ship beer out of state, with direct-to-consumer sales subject to age verification and tax reporting requirements.

Towns may prohibit farm brewery retail operations or tastings within their jurisdiction through ordinance or zoning regulation.

Permits farm brewery operators to sell at farmers' markets upon obtaining a farmers' market beer sales permit (two hundred fifty dollars annual fee plus one hundred dollar filing fee) if invited by the farmers' market.