Senate passes Griffo bill allowing beer to be served at Boilermaker post-race party

New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-C-Rome, announced today that the state Senate passed legislation he sponsored that would ensure that the F.X. Matt Brewing Company in Utica can continue to host the annual Boilermaker Road Race post-race party.

 

Last year, the state Legislature passed a new law that broadened the hours that beer would be sold in convenience stores on Sundays but inadvertently repealed the law that allows the F.X. Matt Brewing Company to host and provide free beer during the Boilermaker after party. 

 

Sen. Griffo raised this issue at the time of passage and voted no on that legislation because of the negative impact it would have on the Boilermaker.

In response to last year’s law, Sen. Griffo introduced a bill (S8884-A) that would restore this longstanding allowance to ensure that the annual Boilermaker post-race party will continue to be a special event for the thousands of people that make their way to Utica on the second Sunday of July.

 

“The Boilermaker Road Race is an extraordinary event that attracts thousands of people to the City of Utica, Oneida County and the Mohawk Valley,” Sen. Griffo said. “The post-race party – and a cold Utica Club or Saranac beverage – is tradition for many who run or attend this event. This legislation will allow this tradition to continue and the brewery to showcase its products to the local community and visitors from across the state and nation. I appreciate the bipartisan effort in the Senate to bring about a resolution to this issue.”

 

Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-C-Marcy, has sponsored a companion bill (A9694-A) in the Assembly. That legislation has been referred to the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee.

 

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