The Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP), the state’s official beer guild, was pleased and honored to host Representative Dave Reed at the latest Brewer For A Day event held at Levity Brewing Company in Indiana, Pa. on July, 13. This was the BOP’s seventh successful Brewer For A Day event, an initiative designed to give state legislators a hands-on, insider’s perspective on the brewing process, as well as further educate Pennsylvania Senators and Representatives on the direct economic impact craft brewers have on communities throughout the state.
Also joining Rep. Reed were Rep. Adam Harris, House Liquor Control Committee Chairman; Chad Weaver, House Appropriations Committee Chief of Staff; and Byron Stauffer, Indiana County Office of Planning & Development Director.
The group received an up-close brewing experience where they toured the brewery, and received a crash course on how beer is made, including the proper use of grain, hops, and yeast. The group also learned that Levity created 13 quality jobs in the last year and a half.
“Dave Reed has been a huge encouragement to us in getting Levity off the ground,” said Erich Walls, an owner of Levity Brewing Company. “It was a treat for us to host this gathering, and to share our story with the group.”
Rep. Reed, Pa. District 62, serves Indiana County.
“Thank you to Levity for hosting the Brewer For A Day event,” said Rep. Reed. “It provided a firsthand opportunity to see how they transformed a vacant manufacturing facility into a vibrant business. It was a pleasure to see fellow colleagues experience the facility and hear Levity’s tremendous story.”
Rep. Reed took part in the seventh Brewer For A Day event. The BOP and its members will take advantage of the popularity of the Brewer For A Day program by hosting many more events throughout 2017. Sen. Rafferty, Pa. District 44, was the first legislator to take part in this fun and informative program. Senator Rafferty visited Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown on August 15. Rep. Kurt Masser, Pa. District 107, was the second legislator to serve as Brewer For A Day. Rep. Masser visited Old Forge Brewing Company in Danville on September 29. Sen. Sean Wiley, Pa. District 49, was the third legislator to participate. Sen. Wiley visited Lavery Brewing Company in Erie on October 5.
Rep. Harry Lewis Jr., Pa. District 74, was the BOP’s fourth Brewer For A Day. Rep. Lewis visited Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown on October 14. Rep. Adam Harris, Pa. District 82, and Rep. Paul Costa, Pa. 34 (Chairmen of the Pennsylvania House Liquor Control Committee) visited Victory Brewing Company in Parkesburg on November 17. Rep. Mike Carroll, Pa. District 118, Sen. John Yudichak, Pa. District 14, and Rep. Aaron Kaufer, Pa. District 120 visited Susquehanna Brewing Company in Pittston on May 2.
In July, 2016, Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, signed a $1.3 billion revenue package. Part of that package included a Malt Beverage Tax Credit not to exceed $5 million annually. The tax credit, matching equipment and facilities investments made by applicant breweries, has been one of the BOP’s top legislative goals since 2013. The BOP fully supports this tax credit measure, and considers it a major victory for all craft breweries in the Commonwealth, particularly smaller breweries as the benefits of the measure is capped at $200,000 per year, per brewery.
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