Season 2 - That Podcast in Hutch
And we're starting with one of my favorite people, about one of my favorite places
To kick off the first episode of our second season of That Podcast in Hutch, we’re going to go back in time - to just over a year ago - and visit with Pippin Williamson, owner of Sandhills Brewing in Hutchinson.
It was 2022, and fall was coming on fast. The Kansas State Fair had just wrapped up, and life was mostly starting to seem somewhat normal after two years of unexpected mayhem courtesy of a virus and a cultural lack of emotional regulation.
But just as things were settling into normal, alarming news struck Hutchinson - Sandhills Brewing was in danger of losing its liquor license. Not because it had done anything wrong, really. Not even because it failed to submit the proper paperwork.
No, the reason for this predicament was an antique law that requires any establishment that sells alcoholic liquor must make at least 30 percent of its gross sales from food.
I won’t go into all the details about the history of the law here, but if you’re interested I wrote pretty extensively on it and you can read it here.
But the gist of goes something like this: Kansas has an uncomfortable relationship and history with alcohol. We tried like mad to never allow a drop in our state, even years after the feds gave up on the movement to make America dry. Much like the debate on marijuana these days, it seems Kansas is perfectly fine letting everyone else get to the finish line before us.
By 1986, the lure of mediocre domestic mass produced beer had reached a fever pitch, so the state relented and put it up to a vote. Reno County approved what was known as liquor-by-the-drink - as long as there was food involved. People could at long last have beer with their dinners. In public. Without shame. But in all the years since, no one ever bothered to think about the matter again.
Until some really good breweries started popping up across the state. Including Sandhills here in Hutchinson.
In 2022, when Sandhills filed its liquor license renewal, they were rejected on account of the 30 percent food rule.
From that low of realizing this might be the end of years of effort and dedication, a plea was sent out to the community - and it worked.
In about a week’s time, Sandhills sold enough food to overcome the 30 percent food rule and secure renewal of its liquor license.
But that didn’t mean we’re out of the woods - because the whole thing could happen again in two years.
That’s why you’re seeing all the Vote Yes for Beer Freedom signs around town.
On Nov. 7, Reno County Voters will have the chance to get rid of this very outdated law. By voting yes, you will allow a number of businesses - breweries, entertainment venues, bingo halls, ax throwing and painting/crafting party businesses could all benefit from eliminating this rule.
In this episode, Pippin talks about that experience a year ago, as well as how it felt to see an entire community come to his aid.
I think you’ll find this episode fascinating, and full of insight about the behind the scenes story of the past year or so.
Here are some important dates.
Last day to register to Vote - October 17
First Day Advance ballots go out in the mail - Oct. 18
First Day for early voting at the Reno County Annex - Oct. 23
Can vote 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-Fri until Nov. 5. Can vote early 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 6
Election Day is Nov. 7
Voting open to all Reno County residents.
Go to https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview/ to check your registration and find your polling location.