While it may be getting a little more difficult to keep tabs on who’s doing what with the various Wine Trails, Craft Beer Associations, Spirits Councils and such, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder today signed into law measures that change the name of the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council to the more inclusive Michigan Craft Beverage Council, effectively bringing Michigan made wines, beers, hard ciders, and spirits into the same channel with the intent of having the tide raise all boats.
Today Snyder signed House Bill 4667 and Senate Bill 440 — sponsored by Rep. Brandt Iden and Sen. Goeff Hansen — which formally changes the name of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council to the Michigan Craft Beverage Council. The bills are now Public Acts 154 and 155 of 2018.
The Craft Beverage Council will accrue several key benefits including:
- The awarding of grants for research into winemaking, hops, barley, beer and spirits
- The conduct of market surveys and analysis
- The offer of other programs that encourage the agricultural elements related to Michigan’s craft beverage industries.
The Council’s activities are funded exclusively by non-retail, non-wholesale liquor license fees.
Gordon Wenk is the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. He says, “This is a really smart move for Michigan.” He argues that, “When the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council was established 30 years ago, Michigan had 14 wineries. We now have 145. And that industry alone contributes $5.4 billion in economic impact to our state, including $253 million in tourism spending. Now we’re watching Michigan become one of the nation’s most prolific and innovative producers of craft beers, hard ciders, and spirits. As a state, we must evolve with the industry — support them, promote them, and ensure they are represented in the decision-making process.”
The director of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will serve as chair of the 10-member council and is the only non-voting member. Other members to be appointed by Governor Rick Snyder include:
- Two winemakers
- A winemaker that primarily manufactures cider
- One restaurant and one retail representative
- A small distiller
- A distiller that manufactures more than 60,000 gallons of spirits per year
- A large brewer
- Either a micro-brewer or a brewpub license holder
The Michigan Craft Beverage Council will be housed in the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in a move that becomes effective October 1, 2018.
The Michigan Brewers Guild’s Executive Director Scott Graham says he has been working with Iden and Hansen and appreciates their dedication to the industry adding, “This is a logical and positive development that will prove to be good for Michigan hops, Michigan malted barley and Michigan beer.”
The Brewer’s Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. Their mission is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20-percent of the market by 2025.
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”
