Redhook Helps Change Definition of Beer

An Oregon firm has won an award for helping Redhook Brewery change the legal definition of beer in New Hampshire.

For their efforts, LANE, a national, independent agency specializing in public relations, digital marketing and investor relations, has won a 2013 PRWeek Award for Public Affairs Campaign of the Year. LANE was one of five finalists competing for the award.

Redhook Brewery, which has a pub and brewery in Portsmouth, NH, in addition to the one in Woodinville, was banned from producing a number of their beers in New Hampshire because their beer definition preceded the advent of the craft movement and its nontraditional ingredients used in brewing.

Redhook was prohibited from even storing the beers in New Hampshire for distribution to other East Coast markets.

In January 2012, Redhook was approached about hosting a casual gathering for New Hampshire legislators. The LANE team, led by Ted Lane in New York and Shannon Brewer Riggs in Portland, Ore., used the event to launch an educational campaign for the captive legislative audience. The team highlighted opportunities lost due to outdated language, presenting the hurdles that restrained innovation, production and growth among all brewers in the state and the associated ramifications on employment and taxes.

Thanks to LANE and Redhook Brewery's lobbying efforts, the definition of beer in New Hampshire has changed. New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed House Bill 1241 in June 2012, allowing craft brewers to select from a much broader array of ingredients for their beers.

In related news, the Forecaster's Pub at Redhook in Woodinville was closed last week for renovations, according to a post on their Facebook page. Patch will update that story as we get more information.

Source: LANE