To reinforce "Revvy"'s posts we have what's currently underway here in IL. The state allowed craft / micro brewers to self-distribute several years ago. Now Bud InBev has got a judge to declare the law unconstitutional, because it discriminates against companies that dominate the beer market >90%. Nevertheless, the legislature in Springfield has been pushed to act (which, under any circumstances, scares those of us who are, ah, fortunate enough to live in the "Land of Lincoln").
The best possibility is for the state to confine self-distribution by output. I've read that the current proposal would be that brewers who did <60K bbl. per year would be able to self-distribute, which would get rid of the problem with the earlier statute. Will it happen? In Illinois, who knows? The only thing really good for homebrewers here would be if Michael Madigan (the guy who really calls the shots in this state- the Governor doesn't take a squat without calling him) became a homebrewer.
I feel that I must also reinforce the idea that NOTHING North Dakota (or any other state) does can remove the problem of dealing with the Fed. You sell ONE bottle of beer, they are going to want their taxes. If they catch you, I promise that you will learn that the saying "It's always easier to obtain forgiveness than permission" does NOT apply where the IRS is concerned. You will pay tax, and you will pay penalty, and that is if it's your lucky, lucky day.
