Ohio Governor John Kasich Approves Higher Alcohol Beer

Ohio Governor John Kasich has signed a bill into law that will eliminate the cap on alcohol content or alcohol by volume (ABV), for craft beer.

Not only is this good news for beer drinkers, it is also good news for Ohio businesses according to wearebrewstuds.com.

"An ABV limit in Ohio causes beer fans seeking something stronger to cross state lines to make their purchases, robbing Ohio of tax revenue. It also negatively affects those small businesses in its ability to stay afloat, by hindering creativity and demand. Distribution will flourish after the ban is removed for smaller and larger breweries alike, and the Ohio beer world will reach new heights, though it may be hard to quantify since production in the state will continue to rise in double-digits."

The new law also opens the the door to additional businesses in Ohio. Brewdog, a respected brewery from Scotland, is planning to open a production facility in suburban Columbus this summer. An ABV cap would have hamstrung a brewery such as Brewdog which is well-known for pushing the ABV envelope up to, and sometimes, beyond tolerable limits. Ohio craft beer enthusiasts can count on other Ohio brewers trotting out 12%+ ABV craft beers soon.

Arguments against higher ABV beers such as alcohol abuse still exist, but as wearebeerstuds.com points out, higher ABV craft beers have a higher price point and help to keep binge drinking and beer bong activity in check. "It’s about enjoying the experience responsibly."

Additionally, the new law allows brewers more creative freedom, Ohio generates more tax revenue and beer fans get to enjoy new beers. Sounds like a win-win for everyone.