Cigar City CEO: 3 lessons NC can teach Florida about craft beer

Culture

Tampa Bay’s craft beer scene has grown over time and will continue. The scene is part of a growing patron culture that wants to support locally made drink and food as well as meet the makers.

Florida brewers must seek more exposure and make their presence known in the community, Redner said. They should be a presence in the tasting rooms early-stage breweries use to get brew feedback and make revenue.

“That personal contact helps someone choose to support your product,” Redner said.

Laws

The most recent legislative win for Florida’s craft beer scene was getting rid of a ban on half-gallon growlers. Redner counts it as a victory, but one for beer consumers instead of beer producers.

Brewers in Florida face many more regulatory hurdles that stifle business, hurdles North Carolina has done away with.

North Carolina law allows many exceptions to sell alcohol in dry counties. It also allows smaller breweries to distribute their own beer and sell it at farmers markets.

Changes to Florida law could disrupt the traditional three-tiered system of alcohol separating brewers, distributors and retailers.

But giving early-stage, small-scale craft beer makers more outlets to raise revenue will hasten their brands’ marketability. Distributors win by then having more profitable brands to distribute, Redner said.