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In 2011, state government approved a law allowing Tennessee liquor stores to hold on-premise tastings, including samples of high-alcohol beers. In 2012, the Memphis City Council went a step further to allow on-site beer tastings at grocery stores.

Local retailers are taking advantage of these new laws this week to promote their products during the inaugural Memphis Beer Week, with tastings at grocery stores and liquor stores all over town.

On Tuesday, Day 3 of Beer Week, I stopped at two tastings on my way home from the office — a Brooklyn Brewery tasting at Cash Saver on Madison, followed by a Stone Brewing Co. event at Joe’s Wines & Liquors.

The Brooklyn event at Cash Saver featured Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brown Ale and Brooklyn Summer Ale, all lower ABV beers that are new to Memphis within the past two months. If you haven’t had a chance to try these brews, these are very solid beers. The Summer Ale is even available in cans, which are perfect for Memphis’ hot summer days. Above, Cash Saver’s craft beer manager Taylor James (top, center) talks to customers.

The last time I visited Cash Saver, I declared that it was Midtown’s best place to buy craft beer. Well, in the last month and a half, Cash Saver has expanded even more. It’s added 8 more feet of warm shelf space (doubling in size) and a new display for Ghost River Brewing’s Golden Ale.  There’s a cooler that has only craft beer cans, just in time for summer. But that’s only the start.

Cash Saver now has a huge “make-your-own-six-pack” section. You can pick from no fewer than 250 beers from Tennessee breweries, regional breweries and other craft beer makers. There’s even craft cans in the mix. Build your own for $7.25, plus 10 percent.

In addition, Cash Saver has a new bomber rack with nearly 70 beers. The rack features Rogue, Samuel Adams and many others, all at great prices.

Cash Saver is hosting even more events this week:

Wednesday (today): Sierra Nevada tasting event, 5-7 p.m.

Friday: Yazoo tasting event, 4-6 p.m. Also, Yazoo growlers will be sold to-go. $8 for Hop Project #71 and $15 for “Rufus” sour collaboration with New Belgium.

After sampling the Brooklyn beers, I headed over to Joe’s for the Stone tasting event.  There were  four beers poured — Ruination IPA (a wonderful IPA!), Espresso Imperial Russian Stout (even better than the original), Oak Smoked Old Guardian (too smoky for my taste) and Vertical Epic 12-12-12 (wheeew, cloves).

I took home a bomber of the Espresso Imperial Russian Stout and also grabbed a bomber of New Belgium’s Rampant IPA, a fantastic new imperial IPA that recently arrived in Memphis.

Joe’s has more events coming up this week, as well:

Wednesday (today): New Belgium tasting, 5-6:30 p.m.

Thursday: Belgian beer tasting, 4:30-6:30 p.m., hosted by Steve Barzizza.

Friday: Abita Beer tasting, 4-6 p.m.

For a list of all Memphis Beer Week events, click here.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today signed a bill into law that will reform the state’s beer wholesale tax that has contributed to the state having the highest beer taxes in the nation.

The so-called Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013 –  the subject of a statewide “Fix the Beer Tax” campaign — had been approved by Tennessee’s Senate and House of Representatives and was awaiting Haslam’s pen.

Proponents hope the new law will spur craft beer entrepreneurs to open businesses or expand their current ones in Tennessee, help contain increases in beer prices and improve the variety of beers on shelves and taps. The campaign drew statewide support from every level of Tennessee’s beer industry, from large brewers such as Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors to craft brewers and beer wholesalers.

Instead of the present 17% tax on the wholesale price, the bill revises it to instead impose a volume tax of $35.60 per barrel of 31 gallons of beer sold. The tax upon barrels containing more or less than 31 gallons would be taxed at a proportionate rate.

The “Fix the Beer Tax” coalition, which lobbied for passage of the law, was being spearheaded by the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild and Tennessee Malt Beverage Association.

CHEERS! Gov. @billhaslam signed the Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013 into #LAW today. #freshink #letsgrowsomebusinesses #canwegetaRT?

— Fix the Beer Tax (@FixtheBeerTax) April 23, 2013

Beer tax reform in Tennessee is but a signature away from becoming law.

The state House of Representatives today gave its near-unanimous endorsement of the so-called Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013, voting to approve it by an 87-2 margin. The action follows Monday’s 30-1 approval in the Tennessee Senate.

The bill now heads to the desk of Gov. Bill Haslam for his signature.

The Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013 seeks to reform the 17% beer wholesale tax in Tennessee, which contributes to the state having the highest beer taxes in the nation.

Instead of the present 17% tax on the wholesale price, the bill would revise it to instead impose a volume tax of $35.60 per barrel of 31 gallons of beer sold. The tax upon barrels containing more or less than 31 gallons would be taxed at a proportionate rate.

The “Fix the Beer Tax” coalition, which has been lobbying for passage of the law, is being spearheaded by the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild and Tennessee Malt Beverage Association.

Read more about today’s vote on commercialappeal.com.

Also, read the coalition’s press release below:

Tax Reform Tapped for Tennessee

Tennessee General Assembly passes Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013

    
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee General Assembly voted Wednesday to approve the Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013. The near unanimous vote in both the House and Senate only added to the excitement surrounding a campaign deemed a legislative sensation.

The reform proposal to fix the highest beer tax in the nation has drawn statewide support from every level of Tennessee’s beer industry, from large brewers such as Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors to craft brewers and beer wholesalers. As the spotlight heated up on state lawmakers, it also caught the support and attention of a national audience.

“This tax reform makes Tennessee more appealing to business,” said Rich Foge, president of the Tennessee Malt Beverage Association. “It will attract new brewers to the state, as well as help those already here to expand and create additional jobs.”

Senate Bill 422 and House Bill 999, sponsored by Representative Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Representative Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), will convert Tennessee’s outdated price-based tax to a more business-friendly volume based tax. Currently, Tennessee has the highest beer tax rate in the nation, propelling higher and higher every year with inflation.

“When it came down to it,” said Senator Ken Yager (R- Harriman) on the Senate floor Monday, “this vote was about whether or not Tennessee would become competitive in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries.”

Tennessee leads all other states’ beer tax rate by a 12 percent margin. In comparison to our neighbors, Arkansas’ tax per barrel rings up at $7.51 and Mississippi’s at $13.23, while Tennessee tops out at a whopping $37 per barrel.

“In a historically low tax state, Tennessee’s 1950s era triple layer beer tax has been no friend to businesses,” said Sexton. “Whether you are a small brewery or a large scale operation, the tax has hindered expansion and recruitment as well as punished growth. It was simply time for a change in the tax structure and everyone involved is honored to have enjoyed such sweeping support.”

Since the bill’s introduction, more than 2,000 supporters of the grass-roots Fix the Beer Tax Campaign rallied in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis and Tri-Cities, resulting each time in a flurry of social media and support from local businesses.

“This is also a victory for Tennessee consumers who will benefit from more selection in the marketplace as more beer brands become available as a direct result of this new tax structure,” Foge added.

The bill will now head to the Governor’s desk for a signature, as the statewide sound of clinking glasses swells in a toast to Tennessee’s brighter future.

The Tennessee Senate on Monday approved the Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013 by a 30-1 margin. The vote sends the bill to the state’s House of Representatives, which is set to take it up Wednesday.

The Beer Tax Reform Act of 2013 seeks to reform the 17% beer wholesale tax in Tennessee, which contributes to the state having the highest beer taxes in the nation.

Instead of the present 17% tax on the wholesale price, the bill would revise it to instead impose a tax of $35.60 per barrel of 31 gallons of beer sold. The tax upon barrels containing more or less than 31 gallons would be taxed at a proportionate rate.

The “Fix the Beer Tax” coalition, which is lobbying for passage of the law, is is being spearheaded by the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild and Tennessee Malt Beverage Association.

30 ayes and 1 nay. #fixthebeertax THANK YOU #TNSTATESENATE!

— Fix the Beer Tax (@FixtheBeerTax) April 8, 2013