Bill for stronger specialty beers wins Senate's OK

HELENA – The state Senate gave initial approval to a bill that would allow higher alcohol content in certain beers brewed and sold in Montana, passing the measure 39-11.

House Bill 400, carried in the Senate by Sen. John Brueggeman, R-Polson, was approved by the full House in February. The bill would allow brewers in Montana to increase the alcohol content in beers to 14 percent from the current limits of 8.75 percent alcohol by volume.

Brueggeman said the increase would only apply to specialty beers, not the “garbage” beers one could find at a gas station.

“The bill specifically limits it to those beers that are produced with 75 percent malted cereal grain,” Brueggeman said, describing the product as “fine craft beers produced by local breweries.”

Senate supporters said the change in law would help Montana breweries compete in the national and international beer markets.

“Why is the German beer better than ours?” asked Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish. “It’s not a question about getting a buzz; it has to do with quality.”

Zinke said America has some of the best agricultural products and brewers, so it should be in the top tier of the beer business.

“Why isn’t the U.S., the greatest nation in the world, producing the best beer?” Zinke said.

Sen. Cliff Larsen, D-Missoula, said the beer in question would be equivalent to a fine wine in which the alcohol was allowed to mature.

“Craft beers are unique, they are special,” Larsen said. “It’s not like you’re running out to get a bottle of Malt 80.”

But opponents to the bill said it would exacerbate the underage drinking problem in Montana.

“I don’t think it’s good policy for us to allow that high of percentage of alcohol content of any beer in Montana,” said Sen. Carol Juneau, D-Browning. “(Underage drinkers) are going to send in the runners to get this beer and they’re going to get drunker faster.”

HB 400 needs final Senate approval and a signature from the governor before it can become law.

- Story by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy. Photo by Alison Smith