Was LB867 bad for craft beer in Nebraska??

Well, this bill has been in effect for little over a year now, I believe, and what has happened since this little gem passed?

We have lost Avery Brewing Company and Left Hand Brewing Co. to name a quick two, might be smaller ones I am unaware of, and we nearly lost Great Divide.

Is LB867 the reason, take a look back at a post we had when the bill was up for debate from a concerned individual.

I find it quite the coincidence that this bill passed and this has happened.  Craft Beer is growing all over the country, our local craft beer makers seem to be doing well and growing and more are set to start up, but Nebraska is losing breweries that are literally a neighboring state away??

I think this was the push that some needed to get out unfortunately.  I do not think this is the sole reason that someone would leave because I would find it hard to believe that $800 would make the sole difference on whether you stay or go.

I think some serious questions need to be asked on why else breweries are leaving. 

Distributors
There are good distributors out there, but far more bad ones in my opinion.  When I say bad I mean distributors that are not pro-craft beer and so they don't work as hard to push it which could easily lead to poor storage and poor turnaround, as Left Hand indicated for their reasons for leaving.  I apologize to those distributors that work hard for craft beer, you are not the problem, you are the solution.  I also empathize for those employees of distributors that work hard pushing craft beer even though their corporation doesn't support them, you will always get our support.  There are a lot of good people working at these jobs and doing what they can and it is not their fault.  I just feel, and have got the impression when speaking to people in the industry, that more could be done, much more, to make craft beer even more successful in Nebraska.

Consumer
The blame game can go to us as well, we need to buy their beer and request their beer and do all we can to make craft beer successful in Nebraska.  If we hold up our part of the bargain none of this happens.  Always keep that in mind. 

Thanks for the soap box again, I do this about once a month and I am sure I am going to tick someone off.  It is never my intention to make someone mad, just to cast a light on a situation and hopefully help find a solution.  We all would agree that more craft beer in Nebraska is better then less, so let's work together to get that done. 

Have a Happy Fourth and drink your favorite craft beer all weekend!