OKLAHOMA CITY — July broke a revenue record for the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission.
Fees from licensing, penalties, registrations and surcharges brought in $3.2 million in July, the panel was told during its regular meeting Friday.
The figure represented a nearly 26% increase above July 2019, according to figures supplied by the agency.
Agency collections were down 17.6% in March, 24.7% in April, 33.7% in May and 13.1% in June compared to the same month in the prior year.
“With the last four months having double digit decreases, we weren’t expecting July to be an increase, but we collected over $3.2 million,” said Keith Burt, ABLE director.
The 2020 fiscal year, which ended June 30, also was a record for the agency, bringing in $13.8 million, up from $13.2 million in fiscal year 2019.
People are also reading…
Burt said the increases are due to a combination of factors.
Employees are returning to work and businesses are reopening after closing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, he said.
The state recently modernized its liquor laws, allowing grocery stores and convenience stores to sell wine and strong beer.
It increased the amount of revenue due to licensing, Burt said.
Many of those who applied for new licenses are now renewing them, he said.
Most of the revenue is sent to the state to be appropriated, said Joshua Maxey, ABLE director of management and budget.
Brett Robinson, Beer Distributors of Oklahoma president, told the panel about a beer shortage.
“There were supply disruptions early in the year,” he said after the meeting. “When the pandemic began, the Mexican government shut down breweries in Mexico as non-essential for a brief period of time.”
Once the breweries reopened the stocks started to rebuild, he said.
“From a consumer-demand perspective, we can’t sell enough beer,” he said. “It is all kinds of beer.”
Featured video
What the Ale: Broken Arrow has another brewery opening soon. The Nook Brewing Co.
The best Oklahoma beers to quench your thirst this summer
The best Oklahoma beers to quench your thirst this summer
American Solera’s Florida Beach Vacation
A collaboration with Florida’s Cigar City Brewing Co., described as a sour India Pale Ale with pineapple, lychee, milk sugar and sugar cane.
Find it: American Solera, 1803 S. 49th West Ave., and SOBO, 108 E. 18th St.
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Cabin Boys Brewery, Goin' Stag
A Belgian ale single-malt, single-hopped, it comes in at 5.2% ABV. Taste is described as dehydrated pineapple, Belgian spice and fruity esters.
Find it: Cabin Boys taproom, 1717 E. Seventh St., and at liquor stores and in some restaurants.
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Cabin Boys, Cast-A-Line Kolsch style ale
This refreshing West German-style ale gives you a splash of biscuit, lemongrass and pear.
Find it: Cabin Boys, 1717 E. Seventh St., and in grocery, convenience and liquor stores.
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Dead Armadillo’s High Tops
A pale wheat ale.
Find it: Dead Armadillo taproom, 1004 E. Fourth St., and liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Heirloom Rustic Ales’ Pool Toy
A rosé-inspired gose, a tart wheat German beer with salt added. They conditioned heaps of plums to impart a refreshing fruit profile and an unmistakable color hue. This seasonal is only brewed during the summer months.
Find it: Available at the Heirloom taproom, 2113 E. Admiral Blvd.; Duet, McNellie’s South, R Bar & Grill and Andolini’s on Cherry Street.
Marshall Brewing Co.’s This Land Lager
This Land Lager is a celebration of brewmaster Eric Marshall’s time in Germany and the passion he developed for perfectly executed lagers while studying and apprenticing.
Find it: Marshall’s taproom, 1742 E. Sixth St., and in grocery, convenience and liquor stores.
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Nothing’s Left Brewing Co.’s Galaxy Pale Ale
Brewed well more than 50 times in its early development and perfected for production, GPA has light, sweet malt tones and a refreshing citrus and exotic fruit presence with a hint of earthy, floral hop flavors.
Find it: Nothing’s Left taproom, 1502 E. Sixth St., and in grocery, convenience and liquor stores.
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Nine Band Brewing Co.’s T-Town Lager
An easy-drinking, American-style lager.
Find it: Nine Band’s taproom at Osage Casino, 1211 W. 36th St. North, and in liquor stores.
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Elk Valley Brewing Co.’s Straight Razor Pale Ale
It is brewed with high-quality malts, Pacific Northwest hops, Australian hops and a clean finishing yeast.
Find it: In liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Elk Valley Brewing Co.’s Tenkiller Pilsner
An American pilsner brewed with pilsner malt, 6-row barley, flaked corn and American hops.
Find it: In liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
COOP ALE Works’ Saturday Siren
A crisp and refreshing pilsner built for sunny days. Dry hop additions of Idaho 007 and Comet bring new world flavor to this old-world style.
Find it: In grocery, convenience and liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
COOP ALE Works’ Fly Me Away IPA
Inspired by Oklahoma’s colorful aviation history and featuring fruity, juicy hop flavors, this IPA is as hazy as the cabin of a 1960s jetliner.
Find it: In grocery, convenience and liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Prairie Artisan Ales’ Standard
It is a light, crisp farmhouse ale with a hoppy finish. This beer is dry-hopped with Motueka hops, a lovely New Zealand hop with a spicy lime-like flavor and aroma.
Find it: In grocery, convenience and liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Roughtail Brewing Co.’s Pale Ale
Four different varieties of hops give Roughtail Pale Ale a tropical fruit and citrus flavor indicative of a West Coast-style pale ale.
Find it: Roughtail’s taproom, 1279 N. Air Depot Blvd., in Midwest City and in grocery, convenience and liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Renaissance Brewing Co.’s Renaissance Gold
A highly drinkable, German-style golden ale.
Find it: Renaissance taproom, 1147 S. Lewis Ave., and liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Iron Monk’s Stilly Wheat
A crisp, refreshing, Belgian-style wheat ale bursting with “lemonycitrus” aromas and flavors, according to the brewery.
Find it: Iron Monk’s taproom, 519 S. Husband St., in Stillwater and in grocery, convenience and liquor stores
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Barbara Hoberock
405-528-2465
barbara.hoberock
@tulsaworld.com
Twitter: @bhoberock
Barbara Hoberock
Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer
