The Brewers Association (BA) is dedicated to making comprehensive change at the state level for small and independent craft brewers, with priority topics ranging from wider access to market through self-distribution and direct-to-consumer shipping, to creating a level playing field for producers through franchise law reforms.

These were the topics of focus at this year’s National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Summit, held in Louisville, Kentucky. The BA once again hosted a booth, this year with four hours of craft beer tastings each day of the exhibit hall, and a well-attended reception for lawmakers at Louisville’s Against the Grain Brewing (ATG).

On hand representing the BA were State Government Affairs Director Sam DeWitt and Federal Affairs Director Katie Marisic. Over the course of two days in the hall, Sam and Katie met with hundreds of state lawmakers and staff from all over the country, making contacts that will pay dividends as the BA and state guilds advocate on these issues in state houses across the country.

The post-conference reception was attended by lawmakers from Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont, all of whom enjoyed fresh craft beer and bites from ATG, as well as a brewery tour and collegial discussion of BA issues.

Next year’s NCSL Summit is scheduled for Boston, Massachusetts, and the BA is already readying materials and prepping to make it another successful legislative event.