HARRISBURG, PA (8.1.18) – The Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP), the state’s official brewers guild, has announced the recipients of the second annual Legislative Awards, an honor that recognizes a person or organization the BOP considers a partner in the industry, one who continually strives to promote and protect Pennsylvania’s craft beer industry. The six Pennsylvania legislators will be honored at the BOP’s popular annual event 2018 Meeting of the Malts in Bethlehem on Thursday, August 23.
House
Receiving the 2018 Legislative Awards are Rep. Paul Costa (Pa. District 34, serving Allegheny County), Rep. Adam Harris (Pa. District 82, serving Franklin, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties), and Rep. Patty Kim (Pa. District 103, serving Dauphin County). Rep. Costa and Rep. Harris are Chairmen of the Pa. House Liquor Control Committee.
Senate
Also receiving the 2018 Legislative Awards are Sen. James Brewster (Pa. District 45, serving Allegheny County and Westmoreland County), Sen. John Rafferty (Pa. District 44, serving Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties), and Sen. Charles McIlhinney, (Pa. District 10, serving Bucks County). Senator McIlhinney is the Chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, which is responsible for reviewing legislation, regulations, and policies pertaining to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Receiving the inaugural Legislative Awards last year were Speaker Mike Turzai (Pa. District 28, serving Allegheny County), Rep. Mike Tobash (Pa. District 125, serving Dauphin County and Schuylkill County), and Sen. Richard Alloway II (Pa. District 33, serving Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York Counties).
“The six 2018 honorees, as well as those legislators who received the award last year, partner with us in working diligently to support and expand Pennsylvania’s thriving craft beer industry,” said Dan LaBert, Executive Director of the BOP. “They continue to listen to the concerns of craft brewers in their districts and throughout the state, and are willing to act to make sure community-based craft brewing has a fighting chance against ‘big beer.’ We appreciate all of their attention and friendship, and look forward to working with them, and other legislators in keeping Pennsylvania at the pinnacle of the craft beer industry in the United States.”
The six Pennsylvania legislators will be honored during the dinner portion of Meeting of the Malts VII, which will also include a discussion featuring a power house panel – Bill Covaleski (Victory Brewing Company), Tom Kehoe (Yards Brewing Company), Wendy Yuengling (D. G. Yuengling & Son), Mike Stevens (Michigan-based Founders Brewing Company), and Joey Redner (Florida-based Cigar City Brewing). The panel discussion, which will run from 6-7 p.m., will be emceed by industry icon, Bump Williams. Dick Yuengling and Jim Koch (Samuel Adams) will provide the opening remarks.
In 2016, to support the BOP’s legislative and advocacy initiatives, the BOP launched its Brewer For A Day program, an initiative designed to give state legislators a hands-on insider’s perspective on the brewing process, as well as further educate Pennsylvania Senators and Representatives on the direct economic impact craft brewers have on communities throughout the state. The following state legislators have participated in the Brewer For A Day program:
John Rafferty, Pa. District 44 – Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown
Kurt Masser, Pa. District 107 – Old Forge Brewing Company in Danville
Sean Wiley, Pa District 49 – Lavery Brewing Company in Erie
Harry Lewis, Pa. District 74 – Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown
Adam Harris and Rep. Paul Costa – Victory Brewing Company in Parkesburg
Mike Carroll, Pa. District 118, Sen. John Yudichak, Pa. District 14, and Rep. Aaron
Kaufer, Pa. District 120 – Susquehanna Brewing Company in Pittston
Dave Reed, Pa. District 62 – Levity Brewing Company in Indiana
Tom Mehaffie, Pa. District 106 – Troegs Independent Brewing in Hershey
Richard Alloway, Pa. District 33 – GearHouse Brewing Company in Chambersburg
Chuck McIlhinney, Pa. District 10 – Weyerbacher Brewing Company in Easton
John Gordner, Pa. District 27 – Berwick Brewing Company in Berwick
Patty Kim, Pa. District 103 – Zeroday Brewing Company in Harrisburg
Meeting of the Malts VII, presented by Micro Matic USA, will take place Thursday, August 23 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST at Artsquest Center at SteelStacks, 711 First St., Bethlehem, PA.
Draft Magazine has named Meeting of the Malts as the #12 (out of 101) rated beer experiences on the industry bucket list. Meeting of the Malts VII, #supportPAbeer, will include panel discussions, keynote addresses, valuable networking opportunities, a silent beer auction, and the Pennsylvania BrewPub Festival.
