Delaware · Through 2026-08-10 (85 Del. Laws, c. 421, 424) · Newer source version available

4 Del. C. § 512C: Microbreweries; license; alternating premises [Effective Oct. 21, 2026].

(a) Upon proper application and subject to the applicable provisions, restrictions, and prohibitions under this title, the Commissioner may grant a license to any of the following:
(1) A person who is the owner or lessee of a microbrewery to manufacture and sell beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider.
(2) A person who owns a tenant microbrewery under subsection (i) of this section.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Alternating premises” means the portion of a microbrewery’s premises that is used at different times by 2 or more microbreweries to manufacture beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider.
(2) “Host microbrewery” means the microbrewery that owns the brewing equipment in an alternating premises.
(3) “Microbrewery” means a single establishment in which beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider is manufactured and which is operated by the licensee under this section.
(4) “Tenant microbrewery” means the microbrewery that does not own, but uses, the brewing equipment in an alternating premises.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, a microbrewery license allows the licensee to do all of the following:
(1) To manufacture and sell on the licensed premises beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider or a combination thereof, but the licensee may not manufacture or sell more than the maximum amount permitted by federal regulations to qualify for a “reduced rate of tax for certain brewers” under 27 C.F.R., Part 25, § 25.152(a)(2).
(2) To manufacture on the licensed premises beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider for persons, other than the licensee, licensed under this title or for persons outside this State.
(3) To sell beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider manufactured on the licensed premises in labeled barrels, bottles, or other closed containers to importers licensed under this title for delivery by them to persons inside or outside the State.
(4) To sell at the licensed premises beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider manufactured on the licensed premises for consumption on or off the licensed premises. The amount of beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider sold for off-premises consumption is limited to a maximum of 5 cases per day to each retail customer.
(5) To purchase and store product from a Delaware-licensed importer or package store licensed under § 516 of this title, and sell the product to its retail customers for consumption on the premises where sold, so long as the product is manufactured by an entity that holds a Delaware license under § 512A, § 512B, § 512C, or § 512E of this title or the manufacturer, as determined by the Commissioner, would qualify for a license under 1 or more of these sections if the manufacturer were physically located in this State.
(6) The provisions of § 506 of this title to the contrary notwithstanding, to be permitted to have an interest in, be affiliated with, operate, or own another supplier or manufacturer located outside the State and have an interest in a farm winery, brewery-pub, or craft distillery licensed under this chapter and actually located in this State, provided that the total domestic sales of beer of all affiliated suppliers or manufacturers does not exceed 6 million barrels in a calendar year.
(d) It is unlawful for a person to operate a microbrewery if any of the following apply:
(1) The license is denied, canceled, suspended, or revoked for any of the grounds under § 543 or § 561 of this title.
(2) The establishment is moved to a location other than the licensed premises.
(3) The licensee owns, operates, or is affiliated with any importer of alcoholic liquor either in or without this State.
(e) A microbrewery licensee is exempt from the distance requirements for establishments licensed or to be licensed under § 543(d) of this title, and such requirements may not affect the granting of a microbrewery license.
(f) All beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider sold by a microbrewery licensee for off-premise consumption must be in containers that are securely sealed and have an attached label setting forth the information required under this title, Commissioner rules, and laws of the State.
(g) Any microbrewery licensed by the Commissioner to manufacture beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider in this State may provide samples of the beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider manufactured at the licensed premises in a manner approved by the Commissioner.
(h) Notwithstanding § 546 of this title, a microbrewery may sell a product that the microbrewery manufactures for off-premises consumption at a licensee licensed under this section and either at up to 2 brewery-pubs licensed under § 512B of this title or 1 additional microbrewery licensed under this section and 1 brewery-pub licensed under § 512B of this title that are all owned or controlled by the same person.
(i) (1) The requirements to grant a license to a tenant microbrewery must include all of the following:
a. An agreement with a host microbrewery that allows the tenant microbrewery to use the host microbrewery’s brewing equipment for specified periods of time to manufacture beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider. The compensation to the host microbrewery under an agreement may not be based upon the profit of the tenant microbrewery and is subject to the approval of the Commissioner.
b. The host microbrewery and the tenant microbrewery must have the approval of the Federal Trade and Tax Bureau (“TTB”), or its successor, to operate as an alternating premises.
c. The tenant microbrewery must retain title to all of the tenant microbrewery’s raw materials, except for water.
d. The tenant microbrewery must act as the brewer of the beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider.
e. Upon completion of the manufacturing process, the tenant microbrewery shall remove all product from the alternating premises and transport the product to a location approved by the Commissioner for the tenant microbrewery to store and sell for on or off premises consumption. A tenant microbrewery may satisfy the requirement under this paragraph (i)(1)e. by leasing space from the host microbrewery but the tenant microbrewery may only store the tenant microbrewery’s brands in the leased space.
(2) The Commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of the tenant microbrewery upon the termination of the agreement between the host microbrewery and the tenant microbrewery.
(3) The Commissioner may suspend all licenses at the alternating premises if the TTB suspends the approval of the host or tenant microbrewery, The Commissioner must provide reasons for and conditions of a suspension under this paragraph (i)(3).
(j) Any microbrewery licensed by the Commissioner to manufacture beer under this section may sell infused beverages for off-premises consumption if the following requirements are met:
(1) The microbrewery maintains a designated location on its floor plan to store its own infused beverages produced at the licensee’s approved premises.
(2) The microbrewery pays the following fees:
a. A $100 filing fee to request off-premises sales of infused beverages.
b. A $100 inspection fee for a floor plan.
c. A $200 biennial fee for limited off-premises sales of infused beverages.
(3) The microbrewery complies with the product “at-rest” requirement under § 1335G of this title.
(4) The microbrewery provides documentation as may be required by the Commissioner, including written landlord approval and a floor plan for the licensed premises that complies with this section.
(5) The microbrewery reports to the Division of Revenue, under § 581A of this title, all sales of infused beverages that were sold directly to consumers.
(6) The microbrewery’s designated importer or wholesaler includes infused beverages in its monthly price list that will be available for distribution to package stores or retail marijuana stores.
(k) Failure to comply with this section and any other provision of the Delaware Liquor Control Act [§ 101 et seq. of this title], Marijuana Control Act [§ 1301 et seq. of this title], or regulations promulgated under this title may result in a fine or in a suspension or revocation of the authorization for off-premises sales of infused beverages.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 4. Alcoholic Liquors and Marijuana
CHAPTER 5. Licenses and Taxes
Subchapter II. Purchase, Sale and Dispensing

(a) Upon proper application and subject to the applicable provisions, restrictions, and prohibitions under this title, the Commissioner may grant a license to any of the following:

(1) A person who is the owner or lessee of a microbrewery to manufacture and sell beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider.

(2) A person who owns a tenant microbrewery under subsection (i) of this section.

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Alternating premises” means the portion of a microbrewery’s premises that is used at different times by 2 or more microbreweries to manufacture beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider.

(2) “Host microbrewery” means the microbrewery that owns the brewing equipment in an alternating premises.

(3) “Microbrewery” means a single establishment in which beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider is manufactured and which is operated by the licensee under this section.

(4) “Tenant microbrewery” means the microbrewery that does not own, but uses, the brewing equipment in an alternating premises.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, a microbrewery license allows the licensee to do all of the following:

(1) To manufacture and sell on the licensed premises beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider or a combination thereof, but the licensee may not manufacture or sell more than the maximum amount permitted by federal regulations to qualify for a “reduced rate of tax for certain brewers” under 27 C.F.R., Part 25, § 25.152(a)(2).

(2) To manufacture on the licensed premises beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider for persons, other than the licensee, licensed under this title or for persons outside this State.

(3) To sell beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider manufactured on the licensed premises in labeled barrels, bottles, or other closed containers to importers licensed under this title for delivery by them to persons inside or outside the State.

(4) To sell at the licensed premises beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider manufactured on the licensed premises for consumption on or off the licensed premises. The amount of beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider sold for off-premises consumption is limited to a maximum of 5 cases per day to each retail customer.

(5) To purchase and store product from a Delaware-licensed importer or package store licensed under § 516 of this title, and sell the product to its retail customers for consumption on the premises where sold, so long as the product is manufactured by an entity that holds a Delaware license under § 512A, § 512B, § 512C, or § 512E of this title or the manufacturer, as determined by the Commissioner, would qualify for a license under 1 or more of these sections if the manufacturer were physically located in this State.

(6) The provisions of § 506 of this title to the contrary notwithstanding, to be permitted to have an interest in, be affiliated with, operate, or own another supplier or manufacturer located outside the State and have an interest in a farm winery, brewery-pub, or craft distillery licensed under this chapter and actually located in this State, provided that the total domestic sales of beer of all affiliated suppliers or manufacturers does not exceed 6 million barrels in a calendar year.

(d) It is unlawful for a person to operate a microbrewery if any of the following apply:

(1) The license is denied, canceled, suspended, or revoked for any of the grounds under § 543 or § 561 of this title.

(2) The establishment is moved to a location other than the licensed premises.

(3) The licensee owns, operates, or is affiliated with any importer of alcoholic liquor either in or without this State.

(e) A microbrewery licensee is exempt from the distance requirements for establishments licensed or to be licensed under § 543(d) of this title, and such requirements may not affect the granting of a microbrewery license.

(f) All beer, fermented beverages, mead, and cider sold by a microbrewery licensee for off-premise consumption must be in containers that are securely sealed and have an attached label setting forth the information required under this title, Commissioner rules, and laws of the State.

(g) Any microbrewery licensed by the Commissioner to manufacture beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider in this State may provide samples of the beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider manufactured at the licensed premises in a manner approved by the Commissioner.

(h) Notwithstanding § 546 of this title, a microbrewery may sell a product that the microbrewery manufactures for off-premises consumption at a licensee licensed under this section and either at up to 2 brewery-pubs licensed under § 512B of this title or 1 additional microbrewery licensed under this section and 1 brewery-pub licensed under § 512B of this title that are all owned or controlled by the same person.

(i) (1) The requirements to grant a license to a tenant microbrewery must include all of the following:

a. An agreement with a host microbrewery that allows the tenant microbrewery to use the host microbrewery’s brewing equipment for specified periods of time to manufacture beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider. The compensation to the host microbrewery under an agreement may not be based upon the profit of the tenant microbrewery and is subject to the approval of the Commissioner.

b. The host microbrewery and the tenant microbrewery must have the approval of the Federal Trade and Tax Bureau (“TTB”), or its successor, to operate as an alternating premises.

c. The tenant microbrewery must retain title to all of the tenant microbrewery’s raw materials, except for water.

d. The tenant microbrewery must act as the brewer of the beer, fermented beverages, mead, or cider.

e. Upon completion of the manufacturing process, the tenant microbrewery shall remove all product from the alternating premises and transport the product to a location approved by the Commissioner for the tenant microbrewery to store and sell for on or off premises consumption. A tenant microbrewery may satisfy the requirement under this paragraph (i)(1)e. by leasing space from the host microbrewery but the tenant microbrewery may only store the tenant microbrewery’s brands in the leased space.

(2) The Commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of the tenant microbrewery upon the termination of the agreement between the host microbrewery and the tenant microbrewery.

(3) The Commissioner may suspend all licenses at the alternating premises if the TTB suspends the approval of the host or tenant microbrewery, The Commissioner must provide reasons for and conditions of a suspension under this paragraph (i)(3).

(j) Any microbrewery licensed by the Commissioner to manufacture beer under this section may sell infused beverages for off-premises consumption if the following requirements are met:

(1) The microbrewery maintains a designated location on its floor plan to store its own infused beverages produced at the licensee’s approved premises.

(2) The microbrewery pays the following fees:

a. A $100 filing fee to request off-premises sales of infused beverages.

b. A $100 inspection fee for a floor plan.

c. A $200 biennial fee for limited off-premises sales of infused beverages.

(3) The microbrewery complies with the product “at-rest” requirement under § 1335G of this title.

(4) The microbrewery provides documentation as may be required by the Commissioner, including written landlord approval and a floor plan for the licensed premises that complies with this section.

(5) The microbrewery reports to the Division of Revenue, under § 581A of this title, all sales of infused beverages that were sold directly to consumers.

(6) The microbrewery’s designated importer or wholesaler includes infused beverages in its monthly price list that will be available for distribution to package stores or retail marijuana stores.

(k) Failure to comply with this section and any other provision of the Delaware Liquor Control Act [§ 101 et seq. of this title], Marijuana Control Act [§ 1301 et seq. of this title], or regulations promulgated under this title may result in a fine or in a suspension or revocation of the authorization for off-premises sales of infused beverages.

Collected 2026-09-05T23:02:04Z. Source file · JSON

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