Try it before you buy it?

How handy would this be?

Legislators in Washington state have approved a program to allow beer and wine samples in grocery stores, according to this concise item from the AP. It's designed to help smaller, local producers expose their product to the public.

How great would it be the next time you load up on free cheese or pizza roll samples at your favorite grocery or club store to walk an aisle over and wash it down with a quality brew? Don't get too excited, though; the samples are limited to 4 ounces.

EDIT: Here's a good piece from the Seattle Post Intelligencer on the industry lobbying effort that has brought Washington craft brewers success on the grocery-tasting bill and other matters.

Southern beer culture is a long way from the Pacific Northwest's, but I wonder if brewers here will ever become a force in Montgomery, Atlanta or Jackson. Your thoughts?