How to Get a License to Operate a Microbrewery in Texas
The microbrewery market, despite its small percentage of the overall domestic beer market in the United States, is subject to the same laws that must be followed by larger brewers. The Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) monitors liquor and beer sales in the state of Texas and enforces laws that apply to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of spirits. To run a legal microbrewery in Texas, you must first obtain a brewer's license from the TABC.
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Instructions
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Navigate to the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission website (see Resources) and locate the licensing link located on the left. Click the link and find the "Description of License and Permit Types" in the middle of the page. Before applying for a microbrewery license in Texas, find the license type that you need for your establishment. If you only want to brew beer and do not plan to sell beer for consumption on site, you need a "B" license from the TABC.
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Navigate to the "Forms and Instructions" link on the licensing page of the TABC website. On the "Forms and Instructions" page, find the "Manufacturer's Pre-Qualification Packet" link and download the packet. The packet requires that you include the name of your business, its proposed location, your criminal history, the type of permit you want, the contact information for you and any business partners and the lease or ownership information for your business. Mail the packet to the address listed.
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Locate the "Business Packet" link on the TABC Licensing Forms webpage and download the packet. Fill out the requested information on the packet. The packet needs information similar to the Pre-Qualification Packet you filled out previously. Once your are approved for the application process via the Pre-Qualification Packet, you may submit the Business Packet to the TABC.
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Schedule an interview with the TABC once your Business Packet is approved. The TABC requires that you participate in an interview so it can teach the responsibilities of owning a microbrewery in Texas and verify the information found on your Business Packet. The TABC contacts applicants for interviews, so resist calling for an appointment.
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Pay the $3,490 TABC licensing fee for your microbrewery. The fee is good for up to two years. Before your two-year expiration date, the TABC will mail a renewal form. Renew your license before it expires. If you do not renew, you will need to apply as a new applicant again.
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Attend your TABC scheduled court appearance before the county judge. The appearance is mandatory for all applicants. The TABC will inform the judge that you have followed all protocol and procedures necessary for a microbrewery license. Provided that you do not have any felonies, the judge will grant the license.
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Keep contact with your local TABC office to monitor the status and location of your license. The TABC mails the license to the address listed on your application once it is finalized.
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References
Resources
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