POP THE CAP: NORTH CAROLINIANS FOR SPECIALITY BEER March 13, 2005 Dear Mr. Sigmon, We are close to"popping the cap" on North Carolina's antiqued definition of beer. After two years of dedicated volunteer work, Pop the Cap: North Carolinians for Specialty Beer has filed legislation to completely lift the 6% ABV cap on beer in North Carolina (House Bill 392). Now we need your support. - As anyone who has worked familiar with politics knows, a lot of hard work can go down the drain very quickly. We need you to step up now to help ensure that House Bill 392 will get the attention it deserves. We're going to have a lot of expenses over the next couple weeks to keep the right people on the right message regarding our bill. This is the make-or-break time, and we need your financial commitment to get it done. As a business that will profit once the 6% cap is lifted, we would like you to consider a tax-deductible donation of $2000 to Pop The Cap. Tryon Distributing, Total Wine, Highland Brewery and others have all made the decision to financially support Pop the Cap. Please join these leading businesses today by donating money to Pop The Cap so we can make our final legislative push to remove the 6% cap. Your one-time donation wil likely pay for itself one month after the cap is lifted. Time is of the essence. The next thirty days represents our single best chance in seventy years to lift the cap. Without your support, we may be looking at another two-year wait to introduce a legislative change... if we're lucky. Please complete and mail the attached form along with your donation or visit www.popthecap.org/sponsors to provide a donation online. Your financial support will help lift the 6% cap on beer in North Carolina. Donate today! Sincerely, Sean Wilson, President Pop The Cap 919-357-5797 sean@popthecap.org Brad Johnston, CEO Tryon Distributing 704-334-0849 brad@tryondist.com Oscar Wong, President Highland Brewing Company 828-255-8145 WWW.POPTHECAP.ORG [Success stories] Pop The Cap's message has reached thousands of North Carolinians. MEDIA Spring 2004 WRAL-TV News (Raleigh): "N.C. Campaign Aims To 'Pop Cap' On Current Alcohol Limit In Beer" NBC 17 News (Raleigh): "Group Wants Alcohol Limits On Beer Removed" Summer 2004 Asheville Citizen-Times: "Local homebrew club serves up Belgian beers too big for North Carolina" Wine and Dine Radio (syndicated): Interview with Pop The Cap leadership and lobbyist Asheville Citizen-Times: "Taste some great brews and help Pop the Cap during benefit" Durham Herald-Sun: Southeastern Microbrewers' Association "On Tap" publication Wilmington Star-News: "The Hotz Ticket - Pop The Cap heads to the coast" Charleston (SC) Post and Courier: "Some seek to bring more kick to brews" Columbia (SC) The State: "Some call for more alcohol in beer" Charlotte Observer: "Advocates want beefed-up beer in Carolinas" High Point Enterprise: "Group lobbies for stronger beer in N. C." Asheville Citizen-Times: "A beer guy can't go wrong ... " Fall 2004 Raleigh News and Observer: "Unfiltered - name says it all" Durham Herald-Sun: "Stout-hearted crowd expect to sample brews" Triangle Business Journal: "Now here's a political campaign with some fizz" Asheville Citizen-Times: "Even though it's usually all about the craft beers..." Chapel Hill News: "Discerning beer drinkers want to 'Pop the Cap"' LEGISlATIVE EVENTS North Coast beer and gourmet cheese reception. In May 2004, forty legislators, lobbyists and staff members enjoyed an evening of North Coast Brewing Company beers paired with gourmet cheese selected by North Coast CEO Mark Reudrich, an N.C. State graduate and former Cary resident. Beer tasting for women legislators and staff members. Julie Bradford of Pop The Cap and our lobbyist, Theresa Kostrzewa, co-hosted this June 2004 educational event. The goal was to "demystify" beer and highlight specific world-class beers that are not available in North Carolina. Smithfield golf tournament. One of the highlights of lobbyist Theresa Kostrzewa's October legislative golf outing was a gift of a Pop The Cap cooler, all 100 of them containing a specialty beer.
