States Increasing Production Caps for Microbreweries

PHOENIX (AP) — Legislatures around the country are passing laws to allow microbreweries with restaurants to increase production of craft beer.

Several states including Arizona, North Dakota and Wyoming have passed legislation allowing craft breweries to brew more beer, while Montana lawmakers defeated a similar measure.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Tuesday that strikes a compromise between producers and distributors allowing microbreweries to keep up to seven retail locations and brew up to 6.2 million gallons of beer per year. Ducey went to a bar owned by one of the breweries to sign the legislation.

He called the bill a common-sense reform to an outdated law.

(Story by: Ryan Van Velzer, The Associated Press)