Tax relief on tap?

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. (WVIT) - A bill is brewing in Washington which could help businesses across the country.

If approved, a tax on microbreweries could be slashed in half.

Senator Richard Blumenthal is proposing a bill that would cut the excise tax in half for small breweries.

Breweries that sell fewer than 60,000 barrels of beer a year would be eligible.

"It's a win-win for beer drinkers, beer producers, our economy and people who work in these kinds of establishments," Blumenthal says.

Bloomfield, Connecticut's Hooker Brewery predict they could save $40-50,000, and that comes at a perfect time because they're looking into building a new brewery.

"Which could mean a couple new employees, equipment," says Hooker's Curt Cameron.

Blumenthal, a non-drinker, is pushing the bipartisan bill because he says it will help more than 20 small breweries around Connecticut.