Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

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Let freedom pour: Bills aimed at changing beer and booze regulations in Florida have cleared their latest review panel. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee OK’d measures that would allow beer distributors to give free branded beer glasses to bars and restaurants, authorize beer companies to advertise in theme parks and let craft distillers sell more […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2017

Free stuff is good, right? Surprisingly, not everyone agrees when it comes to beer glasses. Bills are moving in the Legislature to allow beer distributors to give away glasses from brewers imprinted with product names and logos to bars and restaurants. Now, they have to be sold. The House bill (HB 853) was first OK’d […]

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

This is the first legislative session that South Florida’s Oscar Braynon II will be the Senate’s Democratic Leader. The 40-year-old, who succeeded term-limited former Leader Arthenia Joyner, was first elected in 2011 after serving in the House and on the Miami Gardens City Council before that. Though he’s in the minority, Braynon has high hopes […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2017

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Craft brewers can thank Chance the Rapper for getting this year’s beer bill over its first legislative hurdle. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Wednesday cleared the measure (SB 554) on a 6-3 vote. Democrats Perry Thurston and Randolph Bracy joined Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto in opposing the bill. But Oscar Braynon, the chamber’s Democratic […]

Peter SchorschMarch 17, 2016

Now that the 2016 Legislative Session has concluded, state Sen. Jeff Brandes is once again hosting his popular craft beer event in St. Petersburg’s up-and-coming Edge District. The St. Petersburg Republican invites friends and supporters to enjoy his latest “Brews with Brandes” on Wednesday, March 30, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Green Bench Brewing […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 14, 2015

The Florida Senate has sent a growler bill to the House for consideration. The Senate approved 38-0 a revised growler bill that would allow Florida craft breweries to sell 64-ounce growlers. Current law allows the larger 1-gallon size and the smaller quart size, but not the most popular half-gallon containers. The version of the bill […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 1, 2015

The group Environment Florida has put a new face on the fight for clean water: beer. In order to draw increased attention to water-quality issues facing Floridians, the group held a clean water forum at 3 Daughters brewery in St. Peteresburg on Tuesday night. The evening’s keynote speaker was Jim Leonard, chemist and lab director […]

Peter SchorschMarch 4, 2015

On Sunday night, I posted a brief post speculating about the future of craft beer in Florida. The post surmised what might happen if the craft industry got everything some in the industry say they want. I put forth a scenario in which sweeping changes to the law would inspire the mega brewers to buy up smaller ones and open up […]

Peter SchorschMarch 2, 2015

Let me start by saying I am a huge craft beer fan. I love craft beer. I love the very idea of craft beer. I love the taste, the smell and, heck, I even love the interesting artwork on the bottles. I especially love the pick-yourself-up-by-the bootstraps grit of the craft beer business folks. But […]

Peter SchorschMarch 1, 2015

Let me start by saying I am a huge craft beer fan. I love craft beer. I love the very idea of craft beer. I love the taste, the smell and heck I even love the interesting artwork on the bottles. I especially love the pick-yourself-up-by-the bootstraps grit of the craft beer business folks. But […]

Tag: craft beer
Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

Bottoms up: Beer, booze bills clear Senate committee

Beer glass bills coming to a head

2017 Legislative Session preview: Oscar Braynon on juvenile justice, incentives and Chance the Rapper

Craft beer debate includes … Chance the Rapper?

With session over, Jeff Brandes plans ‘Brews with Brandes’ event

Growler bill sent to the House with add-ons

Environmentalists turn to craft beer to make clean water pitch

Again, craft beer aficionados, be careful what you ask for…

Peter Schorsch: Craft beer folks might invite competition from big boys

Craft brewers may need to be careful what they ask for