The local beer you drink may not be so hoppy because of the government shutdown. Right now breweries can't make new beers recipes because they can't get them approved.
“If that is not approved, we aren’t going to be able to release a new beer for St. Patrick’s Day, which is one of our biggest days of the year,” Director of Sales and Operations at Apocalypse Ale Works, Austin John said.
That’s why Austin John and many other local breweries or wineries are upset.
“This can seriously affect a lot of breweries,” John said.
“That four week timeline could become 8 weeks, which could really affect a lot of breweries bottom line,” John said.
Each time they make a new beer or wine it must be approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, also known as TTB. John said the process usually takes four weeks and then they still have to brew their beer, but because of the shutdown TTB has stopped nearly all their operations.
“That four week timeline could become eight weeks, which could really affect a lot of breweries bottom line,” John said.
At the peaks of Ottery winery, co-owner Danny Johnson, says this is hitting them in the gut three ways.
“We are trying to get our brewer’s license because we want to make beer this year and that has put a stop on that right now,” Johnson said. “We also are coming out with new wines, one is a sparkling wine, which we need a label approved for.”
Click HERE for the full story from ABC-13 WSET.
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