Senate Bill 138 will liberate craft breweries from a law that was conceived long before we existed and was never intended for us. This week the Ohio Craft Brewer Freedom Act is receiving its first hearing, but let’s not stop there.
Now is the perfect moment for action. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Our elected leaders should be actively promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and the sustainable expansion of Ohio’s brewing industry. I strongly urge our state legislators to prioritize common-sense, reasonable reforms to Ohio’s franchise law and to promptly move Ohio Craft Brewer Freedom Act this fall.
Sincerely on behalf of,
Crooked Handle Brewing Co. - Springboro & Piqua, Ohio
Hairless Hare Brewery - Vandalia, Ohio
Warped Wing Brewery - Dayton, Springboro, Mason & Huber Heights, Ohio
Southern Ohio Brewing - Beavercreek, Ohio
Fifth Street Brewpub - Dayton, Ohio
Toxic Brew Co. - Dayton, Ohio
Full Circle Brewgarden - Englewood, Ohio
Lock 27 Brewing - Centerville & Dayton, Ohio
Yellow Springs Brewery - Yellow Springs, Ohio
Loose Ends Brewing - Centerville, Ohio
Heavier Than Air Brewing Co. - Centerville. Ohio
Gravel Road Brewing Co. - Middletown, Ohio
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New Ales Brewing - Middletown, Ohio
Carillon Brewing Co. - Dayton, Ohio
Devil Wind Brewing - Xenia, Ohio
Branch & Bone Artisan Ales - Dayton, Ohio
Bushrod Brew Works - Eaton, Ohio
Bock Family Brewing - Centerville, Ohio
Moeller Brew Barn - Maria Stein, Troy & Dayton, Ohio
Mother Stewart’s Brewing - Springfield, Ohio
Little Fish Brewing Brewing Co. - Athens & Dayton, Ohio
- Jason Moore, owner of Crooked Handle Brewing Co.
I read this story with interest: “Mayor concerned about pack of ATV, dirt bike, motorcycles drivers taking over Dayton streets, local roads.” Clearly the mayor is in his rights to want to maintain safe conditions on the roads. But there also appears to be a strong interest among quite a few people in this town in having a place where ATV owners, dirt bikes, and motorcycles can enjoy a fun day of riding. Why couldn’t we do both? Enforce the traffic laws on our streets, but also close down a few roadways on Sunday afternoons to auto traffic during defined days and times to allow the ATV owners, dirt bike riders, and motorcycles to have fun for the afternoon. Require waivers from all participants, and parental permission for minors, as well as full protective gear: helmets, gloves, jackets and boots. And couldn’t Dayton open a dirt bike/ATV track at one of Dayton’s many vacant industrial or commercial unused fields and lots? One reason people are riding illegally is because there are so few legal places to ride. When I was a kid, there were dozens of places where we were allowed to ride, but all of them are closed now - the closest state-run dirt bike and RV trails are hours away. There are a couple of small, privately-owned riding spots, but the number of people they can accommodate is limited. ATV and dirt bike riding is fun. Kids who are learning to ride and maintain their own dirt bike are not getting into other kinds of trouble. The city should encourage them to do so legally, by creating the space.
- Jeri Simmons, Dayton