Government shutdown hits breweries
(16 Jan 2019) Nats "This is one of our merch coolers where we do sell our cans" NEW BREWS – THEY ARE CRAFT BREWERIES BREAD AND BUTTER IN A VERY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Jonathan Buford, co-founder, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. "We want to be next to the best brewers with the new cool beers." BUT THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN – THE LONGEST IN HISTORY -- IS ALSO SLOWING DOWN THE FLOW OF NEW BEERS. THAT'S BECAUSE THE FEDERAL AGENCY THAT REGULATES ALCOHOL PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION ISN'T OPEN TO APPROVE LABELS FOR THE BOTTLES AND CANS. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Jonathan Buford, co-founder, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. "We need that thing moving. And there's a lot of breweries like us. Right now, the customer is coming in and saying what else do you have? Can I try something new?" THE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVING NEW BREWERIES AND NEW INGREDIENTS FOR NEW BEERS. WHILE MOST STATES JUST REQUIRE THE FEDERAL LABEL APPROVAL TO SELL OUT OF STATE, ARIZONA REQUIRES IT EVEN TO SELL WITHIN THE STATE. ARIZONA WILDERNESS BREWING CURRENTLY HAS FOUR BEERS SITTING IN THE QUEUE AND IT WILL BE ANOTHER DOZEN OR MORE BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THEY'VE ALREADY PRODUCED SOME OF THE BEER AND IT MAY NEED TO BE DUMPED IF IT SITS TOO LONG. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Buford, co-founder, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. "I could be out 25 to 50 thousand dollars pretty quickly with beer just sitting around. And for us to not get label approval on time, it also means that we can't plan ahead and that's something that breweries have to do very well." PLUS THEY ARE OPENING A $3 MILLION NEW LOCATION IN PHOENIX NEXT MONTH, WITH NO NEW BEERS TO OFFER. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Buford, co-founder, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. "To go downtown and not be prepared for that and only have six beers that we have that have label approval it would kill the momentum we've built for the year building that place." IN MILWAUKEE -- LAKEFRONT BREWERY MAKES ABOUT SIX BEERS A YEAR THAT NEED THE FEDERAL LABEL APPROVAL. SOUNDBITE (English) Russ Klisch, president and founder of Lakefront Brewery. "They used to talk about old time recipes, this is an old time recipe." BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN THEIR LATEST "MY TURN-CHUCK" CAN'T BE SOLD OUT OF STATE. SOUNDBITE (English) Russ Klisch, president and founder of Lakefront Brewery, "I've been joking with people that if you're going to want a new beer coming out pretty soon you're going to have to drink your brother-in-law's home brew." IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT THE INDUSTRY IMPACT WILL BE -- BUT THE LONGER IT LASTS THE MORE BREWERIES THAT CAN'T OPEN AND MORE SEASONAL BEERS THAT WON'T BE AVAILABLE. AND THE LONGER THE BACKLOG AT THE FEDERAL AGENCY. SOUNDBITE (English) Russ Klisch, president and founder of Lakefront Brewery "I just feel that both sides need to come together. I think if they all got a beer together and drank one in a room they would figure it out." ONE VOTE FOR SOLVING THE SHUTDOWN WITH A LITTLE BEER DIPLOMACY. CARRIE ANTLFINGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
