Congressman Jim Gerlach, whose district is partly in Montgomery County, has introduced a bipartisan bill to reduce the federal excise tax on beer produced by breweries making less than six million barrels a year. He says the brewers asked for the tax break to help them grow their businesses.

“They produce a lot of great products, and by lowering the excise tax on them they’re going to be hiring more people and improving their operations and buying more equipment, which has a good economic impact.  In fact they have a study by Harvard University that demonstrates that over the next five years this would allow for basically a $700 million increase in economic activity within that industry nationwide.”

Gerlach says it’s a great way to help craft and micro breweries create jobs, and 102 Pennsylvania companies will benefit, including Sly Fox Brewing in Royersford and Victory Brewing in Downingtown.