City Council approves "Brew Beer Here" amendment

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the "Brew Beer Here" legislation on Friday, allowing brewers to sell their beer directly from their warehouses.

Previously in Minneapolis, only breweries that are also restaurants with on-sale liquor licenses could directly sell their beer for customers to take off the premises.

The amendment to the city's Code of Ordinances allows microbreweries to sell their beer in growlers - refillable, 64-ounce jugs - directly from their breweries.

Other nearby cities, such as St. Paul and Brooklyn Center, already allow this, causing some local brewers to relocate their businesses outside Minneapolis, said council member Gary Schiff, Ward 9, who proposed the amendment.

Schiff said he hopes the amendment will help local startup breweries launch their businesses in Minneapolis.