New Bottled Brews Delayed By Government Shutdown

Craft beer lovers may not see many new brews on the shelves in coming weeks. The government shutdown means new labels can’t be approved, delaying the release of new bottled beers.

Dave Martin / AP

Craft beer drinkers in the U.S. may see fewer new bottled beers coming out in the next few months.

That’s because the federal agency that approves brewery labels is closed, a result of the government shutdown.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. One of the TTB’s jobs is to review beverage alcohol labels for things like alcohol content or fluid ounces in a bottle.