Washington Breweries Protest Beer Tax Scheme

It's enough to drive you to drink

Grabbing a pint at the local brewery might soon cost a few bucks more if new tax rules are approved.

Washington breweries descended on Olympia on Monday to protest Gov. Jay Inslee's plan to expand the state's brewery tax to even the smallest Washington brewers.

Inslee wants the Legislature to make permanent a $23.58 per-barrel tax that is set to expire this year. That tax has traditionally only applied to large-scale breweries – those that produce more than 60,000 barrels per year. Smaller breweries have paid a reduced rate of $4.78 per barrel.