Beer Industry Tax Break Bill Wins Majority Support in House

Legislation that would cut beer taxes charged to brewers has garnered 218 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, enough to get the measure passed in the 435-member House, according to the Beer Institute.

The bill, H.R. 836, would roll back the federal excise tax on beer to 1991 levels, cutting taxes on big breweries like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors from $18 per barrel of beer to $9 per barrel and the tax on smaller breweries from $7 per barrel to $3.50 per barrel.

"This relief will preserve American jobs and help breweries -- large and small -- remain competitive now and in the future," said Beer Institute President Jeff Becker when the measure was introduced back in February. The Beer Institute -- traditionally seen as the voice of the nation's large breweries -- has joined forces with the Brewers Association, a trade group for small and independent brewers, to support the tax rollback.