Craft brewers hoping bills are right brew to boost industry

New Jersey craft brewers are hoping a package of bills being pushed by Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature will help them grow.

The legislation comes as the craft beer industry in New Jersey is expanding and after lawmakers sought to loosen the state’s tight alcoholic beverage controls with legislation in 2012.

The pending bills would let craft breweries sell beer at farmers markets. Another measure would permit food truck fare to be sold at microbreweries and a third authorizes brewpubs to sell up to 1,000 barrels of beer to licensed retailers in New Jersey and other states.

Brewers say even if the legislation advances lawmakers could consider additional legislative updates to help loosen Prohibition-era laws governing craft beer.