HI HB718

Defines "barrel beer" as beer in individual containers of not less than 30.5 gallons and not more than 31.5 gallons.

Restructures the definition of "draft beer" to exclude barrel beer, now covering containers of 7 to 30.5 gallons or more than 31.5 gallons.

Establishes a reduced tax rate of $0.27 per wine gallon on barrel beer for the first 1,860,000 gallons sold annually (approximately 60,000 barrels), then $0.54 per wine gallon thereafter.

Maintains existing tax rates for other beer categories: $0.93 per wine gallon on beer other than draft beer and $0.54 per wine gallon on draft beer.

Takes effect January 1, 2016, and applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.