Thanks for the info and stats. And thanks for popping the cap in North Carolina! Last August, when the family vacationed in your fine state, I was happy to enjoy the fruits of your labor when I found a great little beer shop in Emerald Isle that had an impressive array of brews, including a number of them that would have previously been illegal in NC.

Yesterday, at a Real Ale festival here in my neck of the woods in Montgomery County, Maryland, we were discussing the woes of a county controlled alcohol distribution system. Its something that desperately needs to change but nobody feels there is any hope because apparently it is worth about $200 million to the county.

Any advice for starting a campaign here to take beer distribution out of the hands of the county would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Chris

Every state that lifted a beer cap within the past decade has had to negotiate and agree to a higher limit (versus no cap at all). This includes Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It’s just the way it is — some legislators honestly believe that brewers will make a a 50% superbeer.

Interestingly, Vermont still has an 8% cap.