Calif. law allows free beer tastings

A California law went into effect Monday allowing beer manufacturers and distributors to give free samples to drinkers at restaurants and bars.

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Anheuser-Busch had backed the measure, claiming previous laws barring free samples of beer gave unfair advantages to the makers of wine and distilled spirits, which have been rising in popularity as beer declines, the Sacramento (Calif.) Bee reported.

"It's an opportunity for us to get consumers to sample some of our new products," Anheuser-Bush's Andrew Baldonado told the newspaper. "The winter's bourbon cask ale is a seasonal beer that we're doing. The best way to introduce those new products to consumers is to be able to have them sample them."

However, some smaller brewers that can't afford to give free samples say the measure gives larger companies a leg-up on the competition.

"A small guy like me, I can't afford to do that," said Glynn Phillips, owner of Rubicon Brewing Co. "But bigger breweries can walk into a restaurant and sample an entire crowd."