By Lance Knickerbocker

Tuesday morning Victory Brewing’s co-Founders Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet led U.S. Representatives Jim Gerlach and Patrick Meehan on a tour of the Parkesburg brewing and distributing center.

The visit is part of a renewed effort to bring attention to Rep. Gerlach’s Small BREW Act (Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce Act). If passed, the Act will reduce taxes on the 3,000 small craft breweries nationwide:

“H.R. 494 would reduce the excise tax applicable to small brewers producing up to 6 million barrels per year in two ways. First, the tax rate applicable to the first 60,000 barrels would be lowered to $3.50 per barrel.

“Second, the tax rate on additional barrels below 2 million per year would be reduced to $16. Currently, small brewers pay $7 per barrel in federal excise tax on the first 60,000 barrels produced.

“Only those brewers producing fewer than 2 million barrels per year are eligible. Otherwise, brewers pay the full federal excise tax of $18 per barrel.”

According to a Harvard University study, the Small BREW Act would create 5,000 new jobs in its first twelve to eighteen months. Going forward the study estimates a steady, annual growth of 400 new jobs with “an economic activity increase of $10.89 per dollar of foregone tax revenue”.

Congressman Gerlach, who is Chairman of the House Small Brewers Caucus, introduced the bill in 2013. So far the bill has 177 cosponsors including Congressman Meehan.

What will Victory do with the extra cash? They’re ready to grow.

On Tuesday Covaleski and Barchet highlighted plans to convert an expansive industrial vestibule with sweeping views of western Chester County farmland into a full service restaurant and bar.

The Brewmasters’ reputation for grand thinking serves them well.

Cheers Gentlemen!

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Top photo courtesy of Zach Heaton @ abovetheworldfilms.com who contributed the artful, birds-eye photograph of VBC Parkesburg.