2020 New York Laws
ABC - Alcoholic Beverage Control
Article 4 - Special Provisions Relating to Beer
51 - Brewer's License.
§ 51. Brewer's license. 1. Any person may apply to the liquor authority for a license to brew beer within this state for sale. Such application shall be in writing and verified and shall contain such information as the liquor authority shall require. Such application shall be accompanied by a check or draft for the amount required by this article for such license. If the liquor authority shall grant the application, it shall issue a license in such form as shall be determined by its rules. Such license shall contain a description of the licensed premises and in form and in substance shall be a license to the person therein specifically designated to brew beer in the premises therein specifically licensed. Such a license shall also contain the certificate of authority number. 2. Such a license shall authorize the sale from the licensed premises of the beer brewed by such licensee to duly licensed wholesalers, retailers and permittees in this state, and to sell or deliver such beer to persons outside the state pursuant to the laws of the place of such sale or delivery. A person holding a brewer's license may apply for a license to sell beer brewed by him at wholesale at premises other than those designated in the brewery license and the provisions of this article relative to wholesaler's licenses shall apply so far as applicable to such application. 3. A licensed brewer may, under such rules as may be adopted by the liquor authority, sell beer at retail in bulk by the keg, cask or barrel for consumption and not for resale at a clam-bake, barbeque, picnic, outing or other similar outdoor gathering at which more than fifty persons are assembled. 3-a. A licensed brewer may at the licensed premises conduct tastings of, and sell at retail for consumption on or off the licensed premises, any beer manufactured by the licensee or any New York state labeled beer. Provided, however, that for tastings and sales for on-premises consumption, the licensee shall regularly keep food available for sale or service to its retail customers for consumption on the premises. A licensee providing the following shall be deemed in compliance with this provision: (i) sandwiches, soups or other such foods, whether fresh, processed, pre-cooked or frozen; and/or (ii) food items intended to complement the tasting of alcoholic beverages, which shall mean a diversified selection of food that is ordinarily consumed without the use of tableware and can be conveniently consumed while standing or walking, including but not limited to: cheeses, fruits, vegetables, chocolates, breads, mustards and crackers. All of the provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell beer at retail for consumption on and off the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such licensee. 4. A licensed brewery may operate a restaurant, hotel, catering establishment, or other food and drinking establishment in or adjacent to the licensed premises and sell at such place, at retail for consumption on the premises, beer manufactured by the licensee and any New York state labeled beer. All of the provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell beer at retail for consumption on the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such licensee. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the licensed brewer may apply to the liquor authority for a license to sell beer, wine or liquor at retail for consumption on the premises at such establishment. All of the provisions of this chapter relative to licenses to sell beer, wine or liquor at retail for consumption on the premises shall apply so far as applicable to such application. 5. A licensed brewer whose annual production is less than sixty thousand barrels may apply to the liquor authority for a permit to sell beer in a sealed container for off-premises consumption at the state fair, at recognized county fairs and at farmers' markets operated on a not-for-profit basis. As a condition of the permit a representative from the brewer must be present at the time of sale. 5-a. Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions three, four, five and six-a of this section and except as provided in section fifty-two of this article no brewer shall sell any beer, wine or liquor at retail. 6. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of section one hundred one of this chapter the authority may issue a brewer's license pursuant to this section for a premises which shall be located wholly within the town of Hyde Park, county of Dutchess, state of New York, known and designated as Lot No. 1 shown on a map entitled "Subdivision for Piney" filed in the Dutchess County Clerk's Office as Map No. 8764, being more particularly bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the easterly line of State Highway Route 9 (also known as Albany Post Road) at the northwest corner of the herein described parcel and the southwest corner of the lands now or formerly of Friendly Ice Cream Corp.; thence along the division line between the herein described parcel and the last mentioned lands; South 77 deg 10' 10" East 310.17 feet to the northeast corner of the herein described parcel and the southeast corner of the last mentioned lands at a point on the westerly line of other lands of Fernando Piney which are designated as Lot No. 1 as shown of Filed Map 5678; thence along the division line between the herein described parcel and the last described lands of Piney. South 06 deg 34' 20" West 157.76 feet to the southeast corner of the herein described parcel and the northeast corner of Lot No. 2 as shown on Filed Map No. 8764; thence along the northerly line of Lot No. 2 as shown on the last mentioned filed map. North 81 deg 25' 42" West 155.26 feet and South 87 deg 45' 20" West 155.00 feet to the southwest corner of Lot No. 1 and the northwest corner of Lot No. 2 at a point on the easterly line of State Highway Route 9; thence along the easterly line of State Highway Route 9. North 06 deg 34' 20" East 210.00 feet to the point of beginning. Being the same premises as conveyed to Anthony Lobianco, Joseph Lobianco and Carmelo DeCicco by deed of Universal Land Abstract, as agent of the grantor, Fernando Piney, dated March 21, 1995 and recorded in the office of the Dutchess County Clerk on such date as Receipt no. R12437, Batch record no. A00209; Being the same premises as conveyed to Angela DeCicco by deed of Schirmer Hrdlicka & Strohsahl, as agent of the grantor, Carmelo DeCicco, dated November 17, 2003 and recorded in the office of the Dutchess County Clerk on December 9, 2004 as document no. 02 2004 12028, Receipt no. R98669, Batch record no. C00440. 6-a. A licensed brewer producing New York state labelled beer may:(a) sell such beer to licensed farm distillers, farm wineries, farm cideries and farm breweries. All such beer sold by the licensee shall be securely sealed and have attached thereto a label as shall be required by section one hundred seven-a of this chapter;
(c) sell such beer at retail for consumption off the premises at the state fair, at recognized county fairs and at farmers markets operated on a not-for-profit basis;
(e) apply for a permit to conduct tastings away from the licensed premises of such beer. Such permit shall be valid throughout the state and may be issued on an annual basis or for individual events. Each such permit and the exercise of the privilege granted thereby shall be subject to such rules and conditions of the authority as it deems necessary. Tastings shall be conducted subject to the following conditions:
(i) tastings shall be conducted by an official agent, representative or solicitor of the licensee. Such agent, representative or solicitor shall be physically present at all times during the conduct of the tastings; and
(ii) any liability stemming from a right of action resulting from a tasting of beer or cider as authorized herein and in accordance with the provisions of sections 11-100 and 11-101 of the general obligations law, shall accrue to the licensee.
(f) if it holds a tasting permit issued pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subdivision, apply to the authority for a permit to sell such beer, for consumption off the premises, during such tastings in premises licensed under sections sixty-four, sixty-four-a, eighty-one and eighty-one-a of this chapter. Each such permit and the exercise of the privilege granted thereby shall be subject to such rules and conditions of the authority as it deems necessary. 7. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law or of any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, and in addition to the activities which may otherwise be carried on by any person licensed as a brewer under this chapter, such person may, on the premises designated in such license: (a) produce, package, bottle, sell and deliver soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages, vitamins, malt, malt sirup, and other by-products; (b) dry spent grain from the brewery; (c) recover carbon dioxide and yeast; (d) store bottles, packages and supplies necessary or incidental to all such operations; (e) package, bottle, sell and deliver wine products; (f) allow for the premises including space and equipment to be rented by a licensed tenant brewer for the purposes of alternation; and (g) manufacture, produce, blend, package, bottle, purchase, sell and deliver alcoholic beverages. If any licensed brewer desires to engage in any of the activities in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this subdivision which (a) require the use of by-products or wastage from the production of beer, or utilize buildings, room-areas or equipment not fully employed in the production of beer; or (b) are reasonably necessary to realize the maximum benefit from the premises and equipment and to reduce the overhead of the brewery; or (c) are in the public interest because of emergency conditions; or (d) involve experiments or research projects related to equipment, materials, processes, products, by-products or wastage of the brewery, he shall submit an application so to do to the liquor authority, on forms prescribed and furnished by it. If the authority determines that the activities specified in the application will not impede the effective administration of the alcoholic beverage control law, it may approve such application, subject to such restrictions or modifications, and in such manner and form as it may determine, and no brewer licensed under this chapter shall engage in any such activities without the prior approval of the authority. Provided, however, if the licensed brewer desires to engage in any activities identified in paragraph (f) or (g) of this subdivision the licensee shall submit an application to do so to the liquor authority, on forms prescribed and furnished by it. If the authority determines that the activities specified in the application will not impede the effective administration of this chapter, it may approve such application, subject to such restrictions or modifications, and in such manner and form as it may determine. The approval of such application shall be subject to the imposition of such additional license fees for such activities identified in paragraph (g) of this subdivision consistent with the manufacture of any alcoholic beverages under this article and articles five and six of this chapter. The liquor authority is hereby authorized to adopt such rules and regulations as it may determine necessary to effectuate the provisions of this subdivision. 8. (a) A licensee or his or her employee, or a brewer or manufacturer as defined in section three of this chapter or its employee or representative, or an importer having a basic permit as required by section 1.20 of title 27 of the code of federal regulations or its employee or representative, may obtain a permit to serve small samples of beer or malt beverages he or she produces or imports at establishments licensed under section fifty-four or fifty-four-a of this article. Furthermore such permit may also be obtained for serving small samples of beer or malt beverages produced or imported by such licensee, brewer, manufacturer or importer at annual fairs sponsored by agricultural and horticultural societies as defined in section fourteen hundred nine of the not-for-profit corporation law, and for sampling at the licensed premises of the holder of a wholesaler's license under section fifty-three of this article issued or renewed prior to July first, nineteen hundred sixty, and thereafter renewed or transferred, which authorizes the holder thereof to sell beer at retail to a person for consumption in his or her home. For purposes of this paragraph, a representative shall not include a person licensed under section fifty-three of this article or his or her employees.
(b) The fee for a temporary brewer tasting permit shall be twenty dollars and shall be issued by the authority and dated for its period of use, which shall not exceed three days. An applicant for such permit may also apply for an annual brewer tasting permit for a fee of one thousand dollars which shall be issued by the authority.
(c) Tastings at such licensed establishments or annual fairs shall be conducted only within the hours fixed by or pursuant to this chapter, during which alcoholic beverages may be lawfully sold or permitted upon premises licensed to sell beer or malt beverages for off-premises consumption.
(d) A licensee or his or her employee may provide small samples of beer or malt beverages he or she produces at their licensed establishment. No permit shall be required for a licensee or his or her employee to provide small samples of beer or malt beverages when served at his or her licensed establishment.
(e) Each serving at tastings shall be served only by the brewer or importer or his or her employee and shall be limited to three ounces or less of a brand of beer or malt beverage produced by the brewer or by the importer and no consumer of legal age shall be provided or given more than two servings of such brands offered for tasting.
(f) All beer or other malt beverages served pursuant to a permit issued under this subdivision shall have been purchased by the retail licensee upon whose premises the serving of samples is taking place.
(g) A brewer or importer to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this subdivision may not be assessed a fee or charge by the retail licensee upon whose premises the serving is taking place for the privilege of serving such samples.
(h) The brewer or importer, or his or her employee serving such samples, shall be responsible for ensuring that such samples are only served to individuals legally eligible to consume alcoholic beverages in this state.
(i) Any liability stemming from a right of action resulting from the sampling of beer or other malt beverages as authorized by this subdivision, and in accordance with the provisions of sections 11-100 and 11-101 of the general obligations law, shall accrue to the brewer or importer.
(j) The authority is authorized and directed to provide such forms to a brewer or importer to obtain the necessary temporary brewer tasting permit and promulgate such rules and regulations, as it deems necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of this subdivision to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of this state. 9. A brewery shall manufacture at least fifty barrels of beer annually.
