Beer case may come to a head

Yesterday's ruling on interstate wine shipments may bolster challenges to state laws requiring brewers to sell through distributors and prohibiting direct sales to retailers.

Local public television runs ads featuring John Cleese saying something along the lines of, "You probably think I consider you a bunch of beer-swilling cheeseheads ... and you're right." In that sense, these cases do present a dilemma. On the one hand there are constitutional and policy issues. On the other hand, there's the possibility of cheaper beer.