Support your local microbrewery!

Texas' five microbreweries (St. Arnolds Brewing Company of Houston, Real Ale Brewing Company of Blanco, Rahr & Sons of Fort Worth, and independence Brewing Company and Live Oak Brewing Company of Austin) recently traveled to Austin to get the same privilege lawmakers gave to Texas wineries in 2005: selling directly to consumers where the beverage is made.

Since Prohibition, Texas has use a three tier system: The brewery contracts with a middleman distributor, who then sells the beer to the retailer. Microbreweries are allowed to self-distribute while they are small. Following the wineries model would allow a microbrewery to be all three tiers, so to speak, but only on the brewery premesis. Texas wineries are currently allowed to ship product to consumers, but microbrewers would not ask for that right.

Distributors are expected to protest the decision because that will mean people will travel 8 hours from El Paso to Houston to get a six pack of St. Arnold's beer, cutting the distributor and retailer out of the profits.

This would allow the local microbrewery to put a few extra bucks in their pockets. A visitor might buy a six-pack in addition to a t-shirt and pint glass.

If you're a Texas resident, and a beer lover, drop a note to your legislator and ask them to give microbrewers the same rights as wineries.