Legislation Sponsored by Amedore, Fahy To Allow Farm Cideries to Serve Beer, Wine, and Sprits by the Glass Signed Into Law

New York State farm cideries will now be able to serve wine, beer and spirits by the glass under a new law, championed in the Legislature by Senator George Amedore (R-Rotterdam) and Assemblymember Patricia Fahy (D-Albany), signed by Governor Cuomo today.

Previously, farm cideries would have to apply for a separate farm brewery, winery, or distiller license in order to serve by the glass. Whereas a cidery can sell beer, wine, and spirits by the bottle for retail, a consumer could not consume by the glass.

"As New York's farm beverage industry continues to grow, it's important to do everything we can to encourage further expansion of this important piece of our economy. Allowing farm cideries to offer other New York State produced beers, wines, and spirits by the glass encourages cross promotion of all the great products New York State has to offer, and will help strengthen the growing craft beverage industry throughout New York State. I am proud to continue to partner with Assemblymember Fahy to encourage growth in the farm beverage industry, and I m glad Governor Cuomo saw the great benefits of this legislation and has signed it into law,” said Senator Amedore.

"The growth of New York's burgeoning craft beverage industry is a direct result of Governor Cuomo's leadership in promoting New York agriculture and small businesses. Allowing farm cideries to serve and sell New York made beer, wine, and spirits, dramatically expands the potential for collaboration between local producers -- and reinforces New York as the leader of the craft beverage revolution. I thank Governor Cuomo for signing this important legislation and Senator Amedore on his partnership on this bill," said Assemblymember Fahy.

“This bill creates parity among the various farm based licensees and supports the growth of the value added products produced by them. We will now be able to serve other New York farm based beverages to our customers in our tasting room just as those farm wineries and breweries are able to serve cider to their customers”, said Alejandro del Peral, co-founder and cider maker at Nine Pin Ciderworks. “We commend the hardworking legislators who have made this bill possible and are so grateful for their continuing support of New York agriculture.”

"We thank Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for this exciting new opportunity for our farm business," said Dietrich Gehring, co-owner of Indian Ladder Farmstead Cidery and Brewery, located in Albany County. "Now in addition to the hard cider and beer we make with the apples, hops and malting barley we grow here in the farm we can also offer New York wine and spirits at our Tasting Room and Beer Garden at Indian Ladder Farms. The timing couldn't be better as thousands of customers are heading to our farm this fall for apple picking season."
 

"As a coalition of craft beverage producers, the Capital Craft Beverage Trail Association thanks Governor Cuomo, Senator Amedore, and Assemblymember Fahy for their leadership to make regulations easier for farm-based producers to promote New York-made beverages. As a distiller and small business owner myself, this continues the state's commitment to building the farm-based craft alcohol sector," said John Curtin, president, Capital Craft Beverage Trail Association.

"It’s great to see New York State government - thanks to Senator Amedore, Assemblymember Fahy, and Governor Cuomo - doing so much to accommodate the incredible growth we have seen in the craft beverage segment over the last few years. Allowing for cider makers, breweries and distillers to really support one another helps grow the entire New York state craft category while creating job opportunities on the producer side as well as the end retailer. From a distributor standpoint, the ability to help facilitate these collaborative efforts allows for our continued growth as we look to continue to be one of America’s fastest growing companies. Cheers to New York," said Jeremy Irving, founding member, Remarkable Liquids.
 

The law, Chapter 327 of the laws of 2016, goes into effect immediately.

Last year, Governor Cuomo signed another Amedore/Fahy bill to allow farm distilleries to sell gift items, whereas previously only farm breweries, cideries, and wineries were able to do so. That law has helped farm distilleries increase their revenue, encourage repeat customers, and improve their business.

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