JACKSON — The House has sent a bill to Gov. Phil Bryant that would legalize home brewing in Mississippi.
House members voted 70-36 Wednesday to approve the final version of Senate Bill 2183, which allows people 21 and older to brew up to 200 gallons of beer each year, as long as they live in a city or county where alcohol sales are legal.
“We’re excited about it,” said Craig Hendry, of Jackson, president of the beer advocacy group Raise Your Pints. “We’ve been working on it for five years, so it’s been a long hard road.”
Bryant’s spokesman did not immediately respond to a question about whether the Republican governor would sign the bill.
The bill says home-brewed beer can’t be sold and can only be taken outside a home when the brewer is taking it to a tasting event or competition.
People who live alone can brew up to 100 gallons a year. Households that include two or more other adults can brew up to 200 gallons.
“A lot of my friends and neighbors enjoy making beer. It’s a hobby,” said Rep. Hank Zuber, R-Ocean Springs. Zuber, who shepherded the bill to final passage, told House members that he believed the measure would clear the way for one or two large home brewing festivals in Mississippi.
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