Free beer tastings may be on tap at California bars and restaurants thanks to a new law lifting a ban on suds samples. The law, one of several taking effect with the new year, was backed by St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, which argued that it was unfair that the wine and distilled spirits industries were allowed to give out free samples of their wares. The beer company says it will conduct only small educational tastings about new beers. “It’s an opportunity for us to get consumers to sample some of our new products,†said Andrew Baldonado, western region vice president of government affairs for Anheuser-Busch.
“The winter’s bourbon cask ale is a seasonal beer that we’re doing. The best way to introduce those new products to consumers is to be able to have them sample them.†Some brewers, especially small ones, already offer tastings at their own facilities, as does Anheuser-Busch at its Fairfield plant. But previously, companies couldn’t offer free samples outside their own tasting rooms. The new law allows beer tastings at bars and restaurants. It limits the amount to no more than 8 ounces per person a day and requires the beer to be served in a glass. Tastings cannot last more than an hour and there are also annual limits on the number of tastings a single manufacturer, importer or wholesaler can offer at a particular establishment. |