New Bill Relaxes Rules for Microbreweries and Pubs in New Jersey

Opening your own micro brewery could soon become easier. 

A new bill, co-sponsored by Hoboken's assemblyman, Ruben Ramos Jr. to grant micro breweries and pubs more rights was approved by the Assembly on Thursday. The bill still needs to pass throught the senate. 

There are more than 16 microbreweries and brewpubs in New Jersey.

"Breweries have become a popular tourist attraction and there is no shortage of them in New Jersey,” Ramos said. "Updating these laws will help our breweries take advantage of the growing demand for regional craft beers, which not only benefits the breweries, but the communities where they are located and the state."

For example, pubs and microbreweries will be allowed to sell their products for consumption on as well as off the premise. This means that a brewery could have a sampling room with taps and bottles. There are some limits; sales for off-premise consumption are limited to 15.5 gallons or half a keg per customer.

Breweries will also be allowed to have customers sample their product on the premises. An liquor license will be required. 

The new bill also increases the maximum annual allowable production for brewpubs from 3,000 to 10,000 barrels. The fee for additional production of 1,000 barrels of beer will be reduced from $625 to $250.   

"By making these changes to our brewing laws, we can help better promote New Jersey’s existing breweries and attract new brewers looking to make their mark on the world of craft beer," said Middlesex County Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., who also sponsored the bill.