By Whitney Roper, Contributing Writer

The glass is looking more than half full for beer lovers in Pennsylvania, home of America’s oldest brewery.

That’s because last week, Rep. Jim Gerlach from the 6th district proposed beer friendly legislation appropriately titled the BREW Act. The Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce (BREW) Act would offer a tax cut to PA brewers that produce less than 6 million barrels of beer a year.

And it earned Gerlach the following headline on WFMZ, which we humbly submit is the greatest possible headline an elect official can get:

“Local Congressman Wants To Lower Beer Tax.”

Think booze doesn’t matter in politics? Ask Dan Onorato.

The act calls for a 50% tax cut on the first 60,000 barrels of beer small brewers produce: from $7 to $3.50 per barrel. In addition, the $18 tax on barrels produced between 60,000 and 2 million would be cut to $16.

The BREW Act would be a big relief to small manufacturers trying to grow their businesses in a less than perfect economic state.

“This legislation would be a major boost to some of Pennsylvania’s most innovative small businesses. In addition to producing world-class products, small brewery owners provide paychecks to thousands of Pennsylvanians,” Gerlach said.

Bill Covaleski, Brewmaster and President of Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, PA said the tax break would allow for his company to expand their employee base. “This legislation represents an investment in American job growth with a delicious upside for all.”

Victory Brewing Company is just one of the 102 companies that would benefit from Gerlach’s palatable proposal. And in a world where beer is the third most consumed beverage, losing out only to water and tea, the BREW Act may be the secret ingredient in PA economic success.