Ohio votes to scrap limit on beer abv

Lawmakers in Ohio have voted to get rid of legislation that previously forbade the production or sale of beer above 12% abv.

The news was announced this week by the Ohio legislature although the bill must now pass to governor John Kasich to sign off.

The cap was originally set in the 1930s with the intention of preventing drunkenness but as the craft beer scene continues to grow and becomes more valuable to the economy so attitudes have changed.

UK brewer BrewDog has also sited its US headquarters in the city of Columbus, Ohio – at the cost of US$30 million.

The removal of the percentage cap will mean it will be able to brew some of its stronger 14% and above beers at this facility rather than in neighbouring Pennsylvania, Indiana or Michigan which have already scrapped similar laws.

Tennessee’s failure to raise its beer cap beyond 10% in 2014 saw the state lose the chance to be the site of a Sierra Nevada brewery which ended up in North Carolina instead.

State representative, Dan Ramos, told ABC: “I think more and more people began to comprehend that this is a good industry, a thriving industry we want to encourage in Ohio.

“This is one of those anchor industries that entertainment districts tend to be built around. If you can get a good, successful brewery that people like, it can revitalise a whole neighbourhood.”