© 2024 Innovation Trail

Schumer visits Genesee to stump for BEER Act

Senator Schumer stopped in Rochester to call for a cut in the excise tax that brewers have to pay.
Zack Seward
/
WXXI
Senator Schumer stopped in Rochester to call for a cut in the excise tax that brewers have to pay.

Senator Charles Schumer resumed his statewide tour of New York breweries today. His stop at Rochester's Genesee Brewery was the latest sudsy venue in which Schumer stumped for the Brewers Excise and Economic Relief Act.

In a political environment where a bill can often be only as good as the catchiness of its name, this bipartisan piece of legislation is surefire winner: it's known as the BEER Act.

Genesee says the proposed tax break would save them about $4 million a year.

What New York-brewed beer do you think is deserving of getting half off the $7 excise tax that brewers currently pay? Let us know in the comments!

Update: Schumer says there are about 65 brewing operations across New York state that would benefit from BEER Act legislation. Here's a map of almost all of them. Or if a statewide trek seems a bit too ambitious, here's Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton and Albany.

WXXI/Finger Lakes reporter for the Innovation Trail.
Related Content