Who knew beer had to be registered? People in the business do. Sergeant William La Torre heads the unit that raided the pubs.
"We did find some beers that they, according to the PLCB, were unregistered and the investigation is ongoing."
Pennsylvania is famous for its arcane alcohol rules. If you want to sell beer it has to be registered, the state gets a fee. There is even an online list of more than 2000 registered beers. What happens if you sell an unregistered beer? You could get in trouble.
Beer makers are required to do the registering but it's your local pub that takes the heat if a brew is not on the list. Complaints are rare but authorities say they are obligated to investigate. Last fall Hartranft was sent a warning letter. He said this time however the liquor control agents went too far taking beer he claims was indeed registered.
"I know the majority of what they took was registered."
Hartranft would not go into details but reportedly one of the beers taken by agents was a Belgian ale served throughout the state.
Authorities stress if Hartranft thinks any of the confiscated beer is registered all he has to do is show them the paperwork.
"We would happy to have for them to come down, show us they are registered. If they are they can sign the property record and take custody of them," explained Sgt. La Torre.
