U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, on Monday got a firsthand look at how Ska Brewing Co. creates and distributes its beer, and he drew praise for his effort to lower taxes on microbreweries.
Tipton toured the brewery after Ska co-founder Dave Thibodeau invited him during a trip to Washington, D.C. Tipton spent the weekend in Cortez for Mother’s Day.
“It’s nice to see someone actually come out to see what we do,” Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau said one of the bills Tipton sponsors would directly affect the brewery. U.S. House Bill 494, the Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce Act, would return money to the brewery and allow it to hire more employees.
The bill would reduce the federal taxes breweries pay per barrel. Ska currently pays $7 a barrel in federal taxes, but that rate would be reduced to $3.50 a barrel under the new legislation.
If the tax were reduced, Ska would hire about two more employees, Thibodeau said.
“We would immediately reinvest that money in more people,” he said. “We’re one of the most highly regulated and taxed industries.”
Colorado’s craft brewers contribute about $446 million to the economy each year, according to a University of Colorado study.
“Craft beer is huge in terms of job creation,” Tipton said.
Business that grow such as Ska “speak to what we as Americans do. We innovate and create,” he said.
Ska Brewing also distributes products from Left Hand Brewing Co. and Stone Brewing Co., among others, because of a Colorado law that allows breweries to self-distribute and distribute other beer.
“Everyone in the craft-brewing world seems to get along,” Thibodeau said.
In true Colorado fashion, Tipton left with a six-pack each of Ska’s Steele Toe Stout, Pinstripe Red Ale and True Blonde Ale.
jdahl@durangoherald.com
