Brewery In Lakewood, New Jersey Takes On Governor Murphy
Lakewood based Icarus Brewing and the Brewers Guild of New Jersey have teamed up on a special edition beer.
Sign The Bill Phil, has been brewed in honor of legislation that would overturn some of the state’s restrictions for breweries, cideries, and distilleries. Meanwhile, the legislation awaits the signature of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Icarus and the Brewers Guild have teamed up to create Sign The Bill Phil. It’s an IPA, and the can is branded with the likeness of “Bill”, from the classic “I’m Just A Bill” Schoolhouse Rock video.
CA.House.Bill1.KH.1/28/97.Painted production cell of “I’m just a Bill” from the America Rock series will be on exhibit in “Everybody’s Rockin’. It’s School House Rock” at Cal State Fullerton. (1of4) (Photo by Kari Rene Hall/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The beer is the latest to launch under the Brew Jersey initiative, a nationwide, open-ended collaborative beer project. It was founded last year to support local brewery owners. Brewery owners have for years been rallying against the state regulations imposed on their industry.
In 2019, the NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (The ABC) handed down a ruling. New Jersey’s fast-growing craft brewing industry must comply with a series of regulations, including limits on the number of on-site events that can be held. As well as a ban on offering food, serving coffee, and coordinating with food vendors. Moreover, the rules, which went into effect July 1, 2022, also require breweries to give patrons tours of their facilities before they can consume alcohol.
Following initial concerns from the industry, state lawmakers began looking to roll back those measures. Basically, to help NJ Breweries stay on their feet, and compete against out-of-state brewers in New York and Pennsylvania. In June the state Senate unanimously approved the legislation, then the state Assembly did the same on June 30th.
The legislation would repeal limitations on how many special events a brewery can host. Plus allow them to work with food vendors and provide packaged snacks. Furthermore, it would allow New Jersey Breweries to have the option to hold an unlimited number of private parties on premises each year. As well as up to 25 off-premises events and social affairs per year.
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Despite this action, Murphy has so far declined to sign the bill into law, prompting Brew Jersey to band together in support of change.
Find out more about Icarus Brewing at https://icarusbrewing.com/
