VALDOSTA, Ga. — The craft beer brewery coming to downtown Valdosta may be able to sell its beer onsite when it opens, thanks to a new state bill that is making its way through the legislature.

Senate Bill 85, proposed in January and already passed by the state senate, would allow Georgia breweries to sell up to 3,000 barrels of beer per year onsite. Customers would be able to buy drinks on the premises and even take up to a case of beer to go.

Currently, breweries have to go through distributors to sell their products, and only samples can be given to consumers onsite.

Chris Jones is the part-owner of Georgia Beer Company, the business working to put a micro-brewery in the city’s old waterworks building downtown (off of West Hill Avenue at 109 S. Briggs St.). He said the new bill is a great move that’s long past due.

It will raise revenue and cash flow for the new brewery but will also enhance the customer experience, Jones said.

“It’s important for the consumer because it gives them choice. They can come in after work, come off the interstate, stop by on the weekend, and they can have one beer, two beers, three beers or whatever their preference is,” Jones said.

“Previously, the brewing industry in Georgia had to kind of backhandedly serve those beers to the customer technically for free in return for them paying for a tour or paying for a pint glass.

“What that did was force the consumer to either fill their pantries with a ton of pint glasses from the same brewery or half-heartedly attend a tour of a facility that they’ve seen time and time again. Now those hoops [will be] gone and they can order a beer or several to their preference.

“We appreciate the collaborative effort between the [Georgia Beer] Wholesalers Association, the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild and the State of Georgia on making this happen.”

The site of the new downtown brewery is a 100-year-old building that needs a major renovation. Georgia Beer Company is hoping to start construction within 60 days and have the brewery open in time for the new bill to take effect Sept. 1, if it passes the house.

For more information on Georgia Beer Company, visit www.georgiabeercompany.com.