Beer festival; issuance of special license; limitation; buying directly from licensed brewpub; showcasing beer; serving age requirement; "beer festival" defined.

(1) The commission may issue a special license under this section to an organization conducting a beer festival. The application must conform to the following: (a) Be submitted by a nonprofit entity composed primarily of brewers, micro brewers, and brewpubs, as determined by the commission. (b) Involve an event having for its primary purpose the showcasing of beer and its production. (c) Be accompanied by a fee of $25.00 per day of the event. (2) The special license must not allow more than 6 events per calendar year conforming to the requirements of subsection (1). For purposes of this subsection, a beer festival that spans 2 or more consecutive days is considered 1 event. (3) A holder of a special license issued under this section may buy a quantity of beer directly from any licensed brewpub or wholesaler or directly from a micro brewer eligible to self-distribute to the beer festival for consumption only at the licensed event. (4) Notwithstanding anything in this act to the contrary, beer that is dispensed to consumers for showcasing beer at a beer festival is considered a sample. A holder of a special license issued under this section may offer beer described in this subsection without consideration. (5) A member, who is 18 years of age or older, of an organization that holds a special license issued under this section may serve beer at the event. (6) As used in this section and section 413, "beer festival" means an event at which the various types and kinds of beer and the production of that beer are showcased to the general public and at which the general public can purchase and sample the beer being showcased for consumption on the licensed premises.