Crafting craft beer legislation

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds (center) with Toppling Goliath co-owners Barb & Clark Lewey

Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds is one of the co-chairs of the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress board.

The board's job is to help devise economic development strategies for state officials, pinpointing problems in various industries and looking for legislation that could allow Iowa's businesses to be more competitive.

Thursday afternoon Reynolds toured Toppling Goliath in Decorah--and got some advice from co-owners Clark and Barb Lewey in the process.  Toppling Goliath is getting ready to build a new brewery in the Decorah Business Park, one that will double the company's capacity.  "You can visibly see how they've grown," said Reynolds at the end of her tour.

Native breweries--like Toppling Goliath--can have a taproom to serve beer.  But Clark Lewey told Reynolds licensing issues often get in the way of craft breweries self-distributing their products.  Reynolds was receptive to the input and also to a comment that the state should encourage Iowa farmers to begin growing hops.

Reynolds says Governor Terry Branstad's administration has been looking for ways the reduce state regulations and lower tax burdens--all in an effort to grow the economy, such as what is happening with Toppling Goliath.