Drink to this: Rules eased on selling and making local beer

Photo used under a Creative Commons license courtesy Nicola

The city council voted on Thursday to allow farmers and producers to sell local beer and spirits at the Downtown City Market.

That follows a popular change last year that allowed sale of local wine there.

Those who want to sell all the products must get a temporary caterer’s permit and must manufacture the product.

In another measure supporting local production, the council also voted to allow small “nano” breweries in commercial buildings like neighborhood strip malls and storefronts.

Before, such small breweries of less than 5,000 square feet had to be in industrial areas.