A coalition of brewers, distributors, lawmakers and others will gather this afternoon at Yazoo Brewing in The Gulch to formally launch their push to overhaul the way Tennessee taxes the brewing of beer. The state now assesses on brewers a wholesale tax that is based on price, not volume, and that has grown more than 30 percent since 1999. (Check out some of the group's talking points here.) Following today's event, other campaign stops will be organized in Memphis, Clarksville, Nashville, Cookeville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities.

“Tennessee is beyond the tipping point,” said Rich Foge, president of Tennessee Malt Beverage Association. “The current tax policy allows the tax rate to rise unchecked at such a dramatic rise that it is now impacting competitiveness, economic opportunity and costs and choice for consumers. The tax rate is out of control — it’s time to modernize this old tax and make it right.”

SEE ALSO: #fixthebeertax