Want to have lots of beer-related fun? Want to see how your homebrews measure up with other homebrewers? Then Ohio Brew Week Homebrew competition and week-long events is the perfect place for you.
Now in its 4th year, Ohio Brew Week, July 12-18, 2009, features opportunities to sample more than 116 craft brews from 21 breweries in 23 venues. The Homebrew Competition, held Saturday, July 11, is BJCP sanctioned, and features certified judges, stewards and craft brew lovers. Enter your homebrews for recognition and prizes. Entering is easy and affordable, visit, http://www.ohiobrewweek.com/homebrew.
Special Events are planned to celebrate homebrewers: Sunday, July 12, starting at 1 p.m. at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center, a VIP reception with sponsors, volunteers and homebrewers. Come enjoy live music, sample craft brews, Bob Evans beer brats and more, and meet Steve Hindy, President of The Brooklyn Brewery. You'll find great treasures at the beer memorabilia silent auction that benefits the Dairy Barn. At 5 p.m., the party migrates a few blocks to the Copperheads woodbat baseball game.
On Friday, July 17, the Brew Choo Choo is dedicated to homebrewers. Bring some of your best to share, and ride for half-price. Train departs from Nelsonville at 6 p.m. Sample Great Lakes Brewing Co., Thirsty Dog Brewing Co., Samuel Adams, Black Box Brewing Co. and Hoppin' Frog craft brews as you enjoy a box lunch of foods that complement these beers. Live musicians and beautiful countryside. The Brew Bus will take you back to Athens and the Brew BQ Cook-off at the Athens Train Station area. Enjoy scrumptious bbq sauces made with craft brews and enjoy other BBQ vendors fine offerings.
President’s Budget Threatens to Devastate Wineries
Posted on May 10, 2009
WineAmerica News Brief
"News when it happens"
President’s Budget Threatens to Devastate Wineries
The President’s budget numbers for the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) were released today, and they are menacing. The budget proposes to have TTB raise up to three-quarters of its budget ($84 million) from “annual fees” assessed on companies regulated by the agency (beverage alcohol producers, distributors and importers, and tobacco companies).
The proposed fees include $40 million from programs to “protect the public,” and $40 million from programs to “collect revenue.” While the budget gives these user fees the unthreatening name of “reimbursements,” they are, in reality, charges for services that are already mandated by federal law.
Gauging the Numbers. The budget does not explain how these user-fees will be distributed. Taking the numbers at face value, the $40 million from programs to “protect the public” could include fees on COLA and formula applications. This could mean charges of as much as $40 or $50 per application. This would disproportionately harm the nearly 6,000 American wineries who account for roughly 80 percent of COLA applications.
The $40 million from programs to “collect the revenue” could include (1) operations fees, or fees on (2) reporting, (3) basic permits, (4) bond processing and (5) other programs handled by the National Revenue Center. This could mean an average of $1,000 per TTB permit (if TTB charges every permittee it regulates) and perhaps as much as $4,000 per permit (if TTB only charges user fees from producers as it has threatened in the past). In essence, it is a return of the special occupational tax (SOT) which Congress only three years ago recognized to be unnecessary and harmful.
More Than Our Fair Share. Unlike other businesses, licensed beverage producers and importers pay upwards of $10 billion per year in federal excise taxes, far in excess of TTB’s proposed FY 2010 budget of $109 million. In 2008, domestic wineries alone paid some $900 million in federal excise taxes.
Status. In order for the President’s plan to be implemented, Congress must first enact legislation authorizing the new fees. While the details are still unclear, WineAmerica is strongly opposed to user fees, and will lobby for their defeat in Congress. Our organization’s grassroots strength uniquely positions us to combat this ill advised proposal that will undermine the economic viability of small American wineries.
This proposal was published today and the details are still uncertain. We will be calling on all WineAmerica members to help develop a forceful response.
Bill Nelson
President
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June is Ohio Wine Month and prime time for consumers to tour Ohio’s wine country and experience first-hand the state’s brilliant winemakers, picturesque wine country, and cool growing climate which produce some of the best wines in the country and world. The Ohio Grape Industries Committee is launching an Ohio Wine Month campaign, “Buy Ohio Wines . . . tasted one lately?” We invite all of you to join in the celebration and make Ohio Wine Month 2009 one of the best ever. In the next two weeks you will receive samples of various wine month materials, such as posters, which you can customize and download FREE from www.tasteohiowines.com by clicking on Ohio Wine Month. You may also choose to order additional materials, such as the acrylic stands, banners, and wine wheels at reduced prices, using the materials order form located on the web site.
Not surprising to you, Ohio’s wine industry is a key component of the state’s agricultural success, holding top honors for taste and quality. Within the last 10 years, Ohio’s wine industry has grown significantly with more than 120 wineries, 1,500 acres of grapes, and 750,000 gallons of wine produced annually. All of which provide quality jobs and supporting local communities while producing a superior agricultural product.
The State of Ohio and Governor Strickland will proudly recognize the importance of Ohio’s grape and wine industry to the state, and availability of quality products to all consumers during this year’s wine month.
If you have any questions about Ohio Wine Month, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (614) 728-6438 or ceckstein@agri.ohio.gov. We need all of you to make this year’s wine month a huge success.
