Bruce Buerger with the Beer Barons of Milwaukee spoke in support of the bill, and emphasized that brewers are not interested in compensation. He said brewing is a hobby, and many brewers are just seeking feedback about their creations. He said ultimately, they just want to continue sharing their creations in the same way they've been doing for years.
"We are a responsible group of people," he said. "We don't want to break any laws."
Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, who helped introduce the bill, said the legislation is common sense and not aimed at illegal business activity.
"I was a little surprised that all of a sudden all these groups were having a problem with it," he said. "The intent of this is for the little guy to share some beer among friends. I sense the big guys are trying to blow it out of proportion and create scenarios to try to get people riled up. Suddenly, it's become David vs. Goliath."
