Empire State has some of the lowest beer taxes in US

Summer’s here, so it’s the perfect time to crack open a nice cold beer here in the Big Apple.

Indeed, most of us can afford to have a lot of cold ones this summer in New York and in the region. That’s because the Empire State — which is usually top of list when it comes to taxing things — actually has some of the lowest beer taxes in the nation. And neighboring states also apparently like suds.

That frothy analysis comes from a new report from the Tax Foundation.

In the report, New York ranked 11th-lowest in beer taxes, at 14 cents per gallon. New Jersey was eighth, at just 12 cents. Pennsylvania had the fourth-lowest brew levy, at 8 cents. Connecticut’s tax was 23 cents.

The national beer tax average is 33.1 cents per gallon, according to the Tax Foundation.

Why are New York and the Northeast for once in the low end of the tax bracket?

“The Northeast has a high concentration of breweries and there is a tendency of these states to protect their industries,” said Katherine Loughead, a policy analyst with the Tax Foundation.

She added that the same trend can be seen in otherwise high-tax California. There, lawmakers protect their local industry and keep wine taxes low.

These taxes, which are levied at various points of beer production and distribution, can be important, especially for those price-conscious beer guzzlers who are having more than one.

That’s because, according to the Beer Institute, “Taxes are the single most expensive ingredient in beer, costing more than labor and materials.”

But if you really want to get sloshed on a budget, then head for the Grand Tetons.

The Tax Foundation says that Wyoming, home of the mountain range, has the lowest beer taxes in the nation — just 2 cents per gallon.