Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, free at last!

[Charley]

Governor Bob Riley signs legislation increasing legal ABV percentage in beer sold in Alabama to 13.9% (http://www.freethehops.org/)

I am so incredibly happy right now. It's hard to really explain to other people who don't live in Alabama the mind-boggling frustration you have to endure to figure out what's legal to buy and what isn't. We still can't have larger single-serve containers than a pint, and we still can't buy alcohol online, but this is a step in the right direction, and hopefully one of many to be taken. Ironic, considering that we're the only state in the union that has an "official state liquor" (which, incidentally, is pretty tasty, but still).

There's so much beer out there that I've yet to get my mitts on, and I feel like I'm 21 all over again!


Just before 10 a.m., Alabama Governor Bob Riley signed into law HB373, the Gourmet Beer Bill, which will raise the limit on alcohol content in beer sold in Alabama.

The bill’s passage follows a five-year struggle by Alabama’s grassroots gourmet beer advocacy group, Free the Hops, to raise the limit on the alcohol content of beer sold in Alabama from 6.0% to 13.9%. The higher limit will allow Alabama’s package stores, grocery stores, and bars and restaurants to sell and serve higher gravity beers.

After Alabama’s senate passed the gourmet beer bill last Thursday, Free the Hops mobilized its followers. The organizations urged its members and followers to call Gov. Riley’s office and encourage the governor to sign the bill into law. Free The Hops announced a final push for calls just hours before the governor signed the bill.

“I have been informed that our phone calls made the difference,” said a post on the FreeTheHops Twitter account after Riley signed the bill. “Everyone who called the Gov deserves credit for getting this done.”

What happens next? Well, first, we celebrate. J. Clyde will host a celebratory party tonight at 5 p.m. featuring cask ale from Birmingham brewer Good People. In Huntsville, a similar party will commence at 5 p.m. at The Nook.

After that, Free the Hops might look to other limits on Alabama’s beer and brewing, such as Alabama’s container size limit for beer.

For more information and updates, check the Free The Hops website or Twitter.

http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/05/22/hops-freed-beer-to-flow-like-wine/

[Mu Satach]

13.9 ?

Thirteen? THIRTEEEEEEEN!!!

I don't even know how to begin to process that.


From <a href="http://saltlakecity.about.com/od/utahalcoholterms/Alcohol_in_Utah_A_Glossary_of_Utah_Alcohol_Terms.h tm">About.com</a>:
Utah beer is considered weak by most standards. In Utah, alcohol percentage in beer measured by weight rather than volume. Utah requires all beer sold in grocery stores and taverns be 3.2% or less.

granted - I don't know the difference between by volume vs. by weight... but the beer here tastes like bitter water. (correction - standard beers you buy in the store - if you stock up at the state run liquor store or eat at one of the micro brew pubs it's better... but still... it's weak.)

[Charley]

Believe it or not, 13.9% is a compromise figure that still excludes other beers. As far as ABV vs ABW, it's roughly analogous that 1 unit ABW = 0.8 unit ABV. This isn't exact, it's just a rough outline.

Also, 3.2%?!? Holy crap. That puts you at about 4% ABV. I didn't think it was possible to mandate weaker beer than we have.

Once again Mormons out-do Southern Baptists in the art of Killing Fun.

[Mu Satach]

You have no idea. Me and a friend swaggered home after our 1st pint in France last summer.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Well done, Alabama!

High quality alcohol for everyone!

[Morgan Evanar]

I...
they must really just hate people.

I'm glad Alabama has decided to unhate some.

[Eluna Thals]

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Here's a sad and hilarious insight into the State of Alabama legislature.

[Karl Valten]

I am amused. Very amused

[Lykaios]

¡Viva la beer-sistance!

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Brewfest beer list is published. It's a work in progress, as new beers that are being offered get posted daily. Anybody have any preferences that I should try? I've had most of the stuff on the list, but I'm keen to dabble in something that's good.



Bavik
Asahi Super Dry
Abita Amber
Beach Bum Blonde Ale
Boulevard IPA
Abita Purple Haze
Becks
Boulevard Pale Ale
Abita Restoration Ale
Becks Dark
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat
Abita Turbo Dog
Becks Light
Brooklyn Brown Ale
Atlanta Brewing Peachtree Pale Ale
Bud American Ale
Brooklyn Lager
Atlanta Brewing Porter
Bud Light Lime
Brooklyn Pennant Ale
Atlanta Brewing Red Brick Ale
Budweiser
Highland Gaelic Ale
Atlanta Brewing Red Brick Blonde
Czechvar
Highland Oatmeal Porter
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
Dominion Ale
Highland St. Terese's Pale Ale
Delerium Nocturnum
Dominion Beach House Golden Pilsner
Lazy Magnolia Indian Summer
Delerium Tremens
Dominion Lager
Lazy Magnolia Jefferson Stout
Duvel
Dominion Oak Barrel Stout
Lazy Magnolia Southern Gold
Good People Brown Ale
Dominion Pale Ale
Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan
Good People Coffee Oatmeal Stout
Durango Amber Ale
Leinies Amber Lager
Good People Cow Tipper Cream Ale
Durango Dark Lager
Leinies Summer Shandy
Good People Imperial Stout
Durango Golden Ale
Leinies Sunset Wheat
Good People IPA
Durango Wheat Beer
McSorley's Irish Black Lager
Good People Pale Ale
Famosa
McSorley's Irish Pale Ale
Good People Rye IPA
Firehouse American Pale Ale
Mike's Hard Punch Mango
Good People Snake Handler DIPA
Firehouse Hefeweizen
Mike's Hard Punch Pom
Left Hand Imperial Stout
Firehouse IPA
Miller Chill
Left Hand Milk Stout
Fordham Copperhead Ale
Parrot Bay Daiquiri
Left Hand Sawtooth Ale
Fordham Helles Lager
Peroni
Mendocino Blue Heron Pale Ale
Fordham Light Lager
Pilsner Urquell
Mendocino Eye of the Hawk
Fordham Tavern Ale
Samuel Adams Black Lager
Mendocino Red Tail Ale
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale
Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit
Mendocino White Hawk IPA
Great Divide Samurai Rice Ale
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Olde Towne Amber
Great Divide St. Bridget’s Porter
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat
Olde Towne Hefeweizen
Hoegaarden
Samuel Adams Cream Stout
Olde Towne Pale Ale
Kirin Ichiban
Samuel Adams Irish Red
Olde Towne Pilsner
Landshark Lager
Samuel Adams Light
Orval
Lowenbrau
Smirnoff Light
Rogue Brutal Bitter
Michelob
Smithwick's
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Michelob Amber Bock
Spark's
Rogue Mocha Porter
Michelob Dunkel Weisse
Spark's Plus
Rogue St. Rogue Red
Michelob Light
Terrapin Golden Ale
Saranac Caramel Porter
Michelob Pale Ale
Terrapin Indian Brown Ale
Saranac IPA
Michelob Porter
Terrapin Rye Pale Ale
Saranac Pale Ale
Redhook Copperhook
Terrapin Sunray Wheat
Saranac Pomegranate Wheat
Redhook Blackhook Porter
Yazoo Dos Peros
Spanish Peaks Black Dog Ale
Redhook Blonde Ale
Yazoo Hefe
Spanish Peaks Honey Raspberry Ale
Redhook ESB
Yazoo Pale Ale
Spanish Peaks Summer White
Rolling Rock
Yuengling Black & Tan
Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale
Shock Top
Yuengling Lager
Sweetwater Georgia Brown
Stella Artois
Yuengling Light
Sweetwater IPA
Stone Mill
Sweetwater Road Trip
Tommyknocker Alpine Glacier Lager
Heineken Light
Tommyknocker Jack Whacker Wheat
Imperial Beer
Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale
Jazz Light
Tommyknocker Ornery Amber Ale
Kaliber NA
Widmer Hefeweizen
Monty Python Holy Grail Ale
Wittekerke
Newcastle
Pabst
Amstel Light
Palma Louca
Bass Ale
Red Stripe
Boddingtons Pub Ale
Sapporo Draft
Buckler NA
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Carib
Sierra Nevada Porter
Curim Celtic Wheat Ale
Sierra Nevada Summer
Dixie Beer
Spaten Dunkel
Dixie Blackened Voodoo
Spaten Premium Lager
Dundees Honey Brown
St Pauli Dark
Dundees Pale Ale
St Pauli Light
Flying Dog Garde Dog
St Pauli NA
Flying Dog Old Scratch
St Ambroise Apricot Wheat
Flying Dog Pale Ale
St Ambroise McAuslan Oatmeal Stout
Flying Dog Tire Bite Ale
St Ambroise McAuslan Pale Ale
Flying Dog Woody Creek
Steinlager
Franziskaner Hefe Weiss
Tilburg Dutch Brown Ale
Guinness 250th Anniversary
Tucher Hefeweizen Helles
Guinness Draught
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weiss
Harp Irish Lager
Woodchuck Amber Cider
Harpoon Cider
Woodchuck Granny Smith
Harpoon IPA
Wychwood Hobgoblin
Harpoon Summer Ale
Xingu Black Beer
Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen
Hebrew Genesis Ale
Hebrew Messiah Bold
Heineken Lager

["Slim" Joel Ranes]

Hoegaarden gets a lot of praise from people I know, epsecially the Verboden Vruch varieties. I don't see Kronenbourg 1664 or Kronenbourg Blanc on there, but I'd recommend those too if they're available and you haven't tried them – Blanc especially.

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

I've had Kronenbourg 1664 a long time ago and didn't particularly care for it then. It tasted a little soapy and weak. I'd be willing to try it again because it's been years. Never had the blanc.

Hoegaarden is my friend's beer of choice. I like it alright enough.

[Khendon Sevon]

Oh my dear God! You were only allowed to drink beer 6% and under?!?!?!?!?!?

That's horrible :(

You need to come to Hoboken. My favorite bar has 30+ beers on tap :)

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Our limit isn't 6% anymore, so I'm all good :)

Maybe at some point though :)

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p156/LoungieMu/hops.jpg

Dear Governor Riley, Thank you. (http://chuckskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/06/free-hops-part-2.html)

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Suddenly it makes sense how much beer you used to put away. IT WAS BARELY ALCOHOL!

[Wyl Staedtler]

Hoegaarden is my friend's beer of choice. I like it alright enough.

Hoegaarden is delicious with a slice of orange squeezed innit. :yum

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Suddenly it makes sense how much beer you used to put away. IT WAS BARELY ALCOHOL!

And much, much, MUCH less filling.

I've been working on a glass of this Orval trappist ale for well over an hour. It's heavier than steel.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Don't strain yourself. :)

[Morgan Evanar]

Duvel is so good. mmmmm

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Duvel is so good. mmmmm

Having some now. It's amazing. Each sip crisps a bit as it foams on the tongue and the hops get even more aromatic. I've never had a beer that carries like that.

The first taste on the sip is rich and has a bit of apple. Then that foam lifts all the hops up into my sinuses and and it's spicy and woody. Swallow, and the apple taste returns and it finishes bitter with a buttery mouthfeel.

You really don't feel how heavy this beer is until you've swallowed. The color is bright bright gold and the head is airy.

[Morgan Evanar]

Sierra Nevada anything. Newcastle. Spaten. Lowenbrau.

[Randall Rudd]

Had all of those, and they're all enjoyable, especially Newcastle and Lowenbrau.

[Morgan Evanar]

I've only had about half the stuff on that list. The Brooklyn beers are p. good, but not good enough to push hard.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

See, I've only had the Brooklyn Brown of all of those, and I really really like it. It's one of three brown ales that I really enjoy, the other two being Newcastle obviously and He'Brew Messiah Bold.

[Vipul Chandrashekar]

Tonight is Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout.

Good black color. Thin head, quickly dissipates. Cocoa color, like espresso foam.

Smells of dark chocolate with a slight backnote of cherries and butterscotch.

Taste is immediately of bitter chocolate and smoke. Slight sweetness in the background. Finishes bitter and astringent.

Not my favorite stout, but it's pretty solidly built.

[Sanis Prent]

Well! Here's what I've had today.

Boulevard IPA
Boulevard Pale Ale
Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat
Brooklyn Brown Ale
Brooklyn Lager
Highland Gaelic Ale
Highland Oatmeal Porter
Highland St. Terese's Pale Ale
Lazy Magnolia Indian Summer
Lazy Magnolia Jefferson Stout
Lazy Magnolia Southern Gold
Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan
Abita Andygator
Carlsberg Elephant
Duvel
Three Philosophers Ale
Emerald Coast Amber Lager
Emerald Coast Pale Ale
Emerald Coast Pilsner
Good People Brown Ale
Good People Coffee Oatmeal Stout
Good Peaople IPA
Good People Mumbai Rye IPA
Good People Snake Handler DIPA
Mendoncino Eye of the Hawk
Mendoncino White Hawk IPA
Olde Towne Amber
Olde Towne Bock
Olde Towne Pale Ale
Olde Towne Pilsner
Rogue Brutal Bitter
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Rogue XS Imperial Stout
Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
Samuel Smith's Organic Lager
Saranac Pale Ale
Saranac Pomegranate Wheat
Sweetwater Road Trip
Hebrew Messiah Bold
Palma Louca
Tilburg Dutch Brown Ale
Bavik
Dominion Ale
Dominion Beach House Golden Pilsner
Dominion Lager
Dominion Oak Barrel Stout
Dominion Pale Ale
Durango Amber Ale
Durango Dark Lager
Durango Golden Ale
Durango Wheat Beer
Famosa Fordham Copperhead Ale
Fordham Helles Lager
Fordham Tavern Ale
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
Tommyknocker Alpine Glacier Lager
Tommyknocker Jack Whacker Wheat
Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale
Tommyknocker Ornery Amber Ale
Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale
Witterkerke

I may have forgotten a few, but I remember these. If you have any questions about any beer in particular, feel free to ask.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Just today? Holy hell, how did you manage that?!

[Sanis Prent]

They're given in two ounce tastings, so you have like maybe two or three gulps of beer in each sample.