SB 698

This bill creates a process for certification of fermented malt beverages (beer)

by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as

“state-certified Wisconsin beer.” Upon application, DATCP must review a beer's

formula or recipe, including the source of ingredients, and determine whether the

beer is made with at least the following percentage, by weight, of its hops grown or

manufactured in this state and at least the following percentage, by weight, of all of

its other ingredients, excluding water, grown in this state: 1) 20 percent, for

determinations made before January 1, 2020; 2) 60 percent, for determinations made

on or after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2024; and 3) 80 percent, for

determinations made on or after January 1, 2024. If DATCP determines that the

applicable criteria are satisfied, DATCP must issue a certification for the beer as

“state-certified Wisconsin beer.” This certification remains valid for as long as the

beer's formula or recipe, including the source of ingredients, does not materially

change, except that the certification expires on the dates on which the percentage

requirement described above increases. DATCP must keep confidential any

formula, recipe, or other information submitted to it for review.

Current law includes certain beer labeling requirements under the

enforcement jurisdiction of the Department of Revenue. Under this bill, beer sold

or offered for sale in this state may not display a label identifying it as “state-certified

Wisconsin beer,” or contain confusingly similar wording, unless DATCP has issued

such a certification for the beer and the certification is valid at the time the beer is

sold or offered for sale in this state.