Last Call For Miller Lite in Inver Grove Heights?

Thanks to the state shutdown, in a matter of days, the Silver Bullet may not be allowed to make any more beer runs to Inver Grove Heights' bars, restaurants and liquor stores.

According to a report in the Star Tribune, MillerCoors, the company that brews and distributes products like Coors Light, Miller Lite and Blue Moon failed to renew their brand label registration with the state before the shutdown began. State law requires the company to stop selling products, Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesperson Doug Neville told the newspaper. The department oversees liquor regulation. Companies are required to renew their brand label registrations every three years, according to Star Tribune report.

A MillerCoors spokesperson told the Star Tribune that the company is fighting the decision.

The news caught Arbor Pointe Liquors owner Tom Harris off-guard.

“I’ve already paid for the beer that in my store, so I’m not quite clear why I would have to take it off my shelves, if it’s already paid for," Harris said on Wednesday afternoon.

Harris, who said he was frustrated by the state shutdown and its potential impact on his business, said that several customers have already visited his store to stock up on MillerCoors products. Harris said he had yet to receive formal notice from MillerCoors that he must pull their products from his shelves.

Neil Sorensen, in Inver Grove Heights, said this latest twist from the Minnesota government shutdown could have a significant impact on his business.

"Miller Lite and Coors Light are two of our big sellers,” Sorensen said. “I don’t know if our customers are going to switch brands or quit drinking or what."

Sorensen said he will continue to sell MillerCoors products until he runs out. But Sorensen also pointed out another potential problem: Other  distributors, facing increased demand when stores run out of their existing MillerCoors products, may also run low on products.

“I am not entirely sure that my other vendors can handle the extra demand," Sorensen said. 

The brands affected:

Blue Moon Pale Moon Belgian Style Pale Ale, Coors Banquet, Coors Light, Coors Light 3.2, Foster’s Lager Beer, Foster’s Premium Ale, Grolsch Amber Ale, Grolsch Blonde Lager, Grolsch Light Lager, Grolsch Premium Lager, Hamm’s, Hamm’s Genuine Draft Style, Hamm’s Special Light, Henry Weinhard’s Dark, Henry Weinhard’s Hefeweizen, Henry Weinhard’s Pale Ale, Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve, Icehouse Beer, Keystone Light Beer 3.2, Killians Irish Red 3.2, MGD Light 64, Mickey’s Ice Ale, Mickey’s Malt Liquor, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller High Life 12/16 oz can, Miller High Life Ice, Miller High Life Light 12 oz can, Miller Lite 3.2%, Miller Lite Beer, Milwaukee’s Best #1 , Milwaukee’s Best Ice, Milwaukee’s Best Light #1 3.2, Molson Canadian, Molson Canadian Light, Molson Golden, Molson Ice, Molson XXX, Olde English 800 Malt Liquor, Sparks Light.