New Licensing Update for NH Nano-Breweries and Beverage Manufacturers: What You Need to Know
Taking effect at the end of October 2024, New Hampshire’s Senate Bill 137 will change the licensing structure for breweries by eliminating the “nano-brewery.” The Nano-Brewery license (RSA 178:12-a) is being retired, and instead, all breweries will fall under a new, tiered Beverage Manufacturer license (RSA 178:12). The change will streamline licensing but eliminate the specialized regulations that have built up to support tiny brewers.
Here’s what this means for current Nano-Brewery licensees. You’ll soon receive a Beverage Manufacturer Worksheet from the Division of Enforcement & Licensing. Completing and returning this worksheet is essential for updating your license status. You can mail it to the Division’s office at 50 Storrs Street, Concord, NH 03301, or email it to nhlc.licensing@liquor.nh.gov. This update is mandatory before you can receive your new license, so it’s best to act quickly once the worksheet arrives. License fees will now be determined in a tiered status based upon your annual barrel production:
Domestic sales under 500 barrels per year, $240.
Domestic sales of 501 to 2,500 barrels per year, $480.
Domestic sales of 2,501 to 15,000 barrels or less per year, $1,200.
Domestic sales of more than 15,000 barrels per year, $1,692.
The Division will update licenses in phases based on expiration dates, with those expiring soonest receiving priority. Once your worksheet is processed and fees are paid, you’ll receive your new license either via email or regular mail. This impacts all of the 22 licensed nano-breweries in the state. Nano-brewers will need to assess the impact of the new licensing scheme on their sampling requirements, self-distribution models, and facility requirements, all of which are likely to change under the new statute.
We encourage you to work closely with the Commission to ensure that your operations still meet regulatory limits, as regulation has not yet caught up with these changes. By working with the Commission to identify areas of friction, you can inform the need for future updates to the state’s regulatory scheme.
If you find yourself with questions, don’t hesitate to reach out for help with navigating these series of changes.
