Vermont’s craft beer scene is red-hot. Breweries like Hill Farmstead, Lawson’s Finest, and Alchemist (Heady Topper, sigh) can hardly keep their product on the shelves. They’re winning national acclaim, and Vermont “beer tourism” is becoming quite a thing.

So wouldn’t it make sense to allow our craft brewers to ship directly to customers? Vermont wineries can do it; why not beer makers? Vermont’s brand (and brew) would get broader distribution, potentially creating opportunities for even more microbrewers and nanobrewers to enter the market.

As it happens, there’s a bill before a House committee that would do just that. Said committee took testimony yesterday, and you’ll never guess who spoke against the bill. Yep, retailers and distributors, who apparently fear the minuscule loss of sales they might suffer.

And boy, did they have to dig deep to find arguments against the bill.

A retailer and a distributors association testified Wednesday before a House committee that they are concerned about being shipped to underage consumers.

Really?

America’s thirsty teenagers are just waiting for the chance to mail-order high-priced specialty brews with complex flavor profiles?

Naah. They’re gonna keep on trying to buy Old Mil at their local party store.

But wait, there’s more!

They say that if Vermont allows beer to be shipped in state, then it would have to open itself up to out-of-state breweries shipping beer to Vermont customers.

To that, I say (and I’m sure Hill and Lawson and Alchemist would agree), “Bring it on!”

And one more specious argument, this from George Bergin of Vermont Wholesale Beverage in Winooski:

Selling alcohol in stores helps the Department of Liquor Control monitor who the beer is sold to and what condition they’re in when they buy it, to ensure they’re selling it safely, he said.

Wait wait wait. So you’re telling me that if this bill passes, somebody might drunk-order beer over the Internet.

Uh, there’s a small problem with that scenario: the delay between order and delivery. More than enough time to dry out, even if you pay the extra for overnight express.

Three strikes, the opposition is out.

Besides, I really don’t know what they’re so worried about. The only people who are going to mail-order beer are those who are (a) seeking a specialty product not available in their area, and (b) willing to pay full price plus shipping. That’s a small and devoted clientele. Hardly a threat to retailers and distributors, but to specialty brewers, it’s a significant new opportunity.

I hope the Legislature ignores the groundless pleadings of middlemen and retailers, and passes a bill that would open new markets to some of our best entrepreneurs.