Breweries find beer law tasty

Local beer connoisseurs will have more options to stimulate their palates, thanks to a new state law.

Gov. Mike Easley signed House Bill 392 into law Aug. 13, in effect increasing the allowable alcohol percentage in malt beverages sold and produced in North Carolina.

It’s a move that has area breweries eager to experiment.

“I very much support the law,” said Robert Poitras, owner of Carolina Brewery, 460 W. Franklin St. “We helped lobby to get it passed.”

The old law mandated that malt beverages sold and produced in the state could have a maximum of 6 percent alcohol content.

The new law sets the maximum at 15 percent and establishes that beers with more than 6 percent alcohol content must carry a label clearly indicating the higher percentage.

“I don’t expect the higher percentage beers to be the best sellers,” said Poitras, who’s brewing an imperial stout with 8 percent alcohol that will be ready in one month.

“I expect they will be more expensive, because they are more expensive to make, and will be served in smaller quantities.”

Guy Murphy, manager of Top of the Hill, at 100 E. Franklin St., said the new law will broaden consumers’ views of the beverage industry.

“Marketability-wise, it’ll be neat,” he said.

Top of the Hill is currently brewing a barley wine that is expected to be finished in two weeks.

Because it takes twice the amount of grain to brew, Murphy said the new drink will be sold by the 10-ounce half pint for $4. The restaurant’s conventional beers are also sold for $4, but are 20 ounces.

The barley wine’s alcohol percentage will be about 10 or 12 percent.

Poitras said the law will give consumers a better education about beer styles and will increase interest.

“Before the law was passed, 35 percent of world beers couldn’t be produced or sold here,” he said.

“We will experiment with different styles and expect to always have one higher-percentage beer.”

N.C. Rep. Stephen A. LaRoque, R-Lenoir, was one of the primary sponsors of the bill and said it’s all about consumer choice.

“Forty-four other states allow it, so why can’t it work for North Carolina?” LaRoque said.

He added that he hasn’t heard any concerns from law enforcement.

Jane Cousins, Chapel Hill Police Department spokeswoman, said she also has not heard any concerns about the new law.

“I don’t think there will be an increase in underage drinking or drunk driving,” LaRoque said. “These beverages are not what people will buy to get drunk.”

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.