tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75912770055767775352011-06-08T00:10:00.471-05:00Star Metro Editor Ben Cunningham's look at beer & brewing in Alabama.Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comBlogger1531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-65635342156140135842008-12-31T10:51:00.002-06:002008-12-31T10:57:37.308-06:00

If alcohol has an official, traditional, front-and-center place in any holiday celebration, it's New Year's Eve.Sadly, most people give beer the boot with the old year, and ring in the new with champagne. But any committed beer lover should resolve to celebrate with something brewed, not vinified.Anyone thinking here that beer just doesn't seem special enough to take center stage at the stroke of

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-53116632261526584312008-12-17T12:22:00.001-06:002008-12-17T12:26:48.510-06:00

So you're shopping for a beer lover, and it just doesn't seem right to put a six pack under the tree. As if there was something wrong with that, the following suggestions ought to help fill the holiday with cheer — or, rather, cheers.GlasswareBeer tastes best when poured into the proper glass. No true beer fan can ever have too many glasses, or too many types — until room in the cupboard starts

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-91226578159105237862008-12-09T13:29:00.004-06:002008-12-09T13:51:01.417-06:00

As promised, here's the second of three chili & stew recipes mentioned in last week's column. (The first is here.) Star Features Editor Tosha Jupiter has made this for just about all of our semi-regular chili days in the newsroom for a few years now. It's one of my favorites.She typically uses an amber lager such as Michelob Amber Bock or Sam Adams Boston Lager, which sets this recipe apart from

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-6556542417866606012008-12-05T11:13:00.003-06:002008-12-05T11:26:20.557-06:00

I've got a crowd of around 15 coming over this weekend to talk about forming a local alumni group of my college fraternity. I expect there'll be some beer sipped, but in a responsible, adult manner. Even in school we weren't exactly the Animal House crowd.As for what'll be on offer: I've got some Sweetwater 420 in the fridge finally, picked up on a trip out of town for Thanksgiving, along with

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-13980373725784123522008-12-05T11:06:00.003-06:002008-12-05T11:12:09.218-06:00

So, it took a day or two, but I've managed to round up the recipes I promised you in Wednesday's column. They get a little long, so I'll divide them up among three posts spread over a few days. The first one is Star multimedia director Justin Thurman's Porter Chili. I haven't tasted it yet, but he's threatening to make another batch soon to share with the newsroom. Above the recipe is a note from

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-50217477295216935702008-12-03T14:36:00.002-06:002008-12-03T15:28:27.405-06:00

(Recipes coming soon, btw. -Ben)With the mercury plunging, a good beer or two may warm you up, once the capillaries in your face relax and turn your cheeks rosy. But that serving temperature — cool to ice cold — might just give you the shivers this time of year.It's never too cold for a beer, really, but if you're looking for another way to warm up with a cold one, why not heat it in a pot? Of

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-20053748723141016712008-11-29T12:10:00.004-06:002008-11-29T12:17:50.372-06:00

Appropriately for the holiday weekend, I'm just trying to take care of what I've got left in the fridge before beginning a search for something new. So far that's meant some Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (ol' standby) and Abita Turbodog. There's also a Sam Adams Honey Porter or two left in there that I might get around to pouring.What are you drinking this weekend with your leftover turkey and dressing?

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-12711233751088713892008-11-21T16:45:00.003-06:002008-11-21T19:33:19.685-06:00

It's been a rough week here at The Star, and I've never really appreciated the meaning of "Miller Time" more than today.To that end, my friend who made the big beer run last week is bringing down some of the unconsumed portion of that haul. I'm not sure what's left or what he'll bring, but I remember seeing a bottle of Young's Double Chocolate Stout and a Sweetwater Festive Ale. We're going to

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-76254524837008420902008-11-19T10:17:00.002-06:002008-11-19T10:23:43.915-06:00

11-19-2008 Since porter derived its name from an early popularity with people who carried things for a living, it's sort of fitting that many people now think of it as a winter beer.After all, it's this time of year that people are toting loaded shopping bags, hefting big dishes to the feast table and hauling the family off to visit relatives for the holidays.Or maybe it's that the deep-dark

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-84827986797794783782008-11-15T20:31:00.004-06:002008-11-15T20:47:33.343-06:00

Great news, Calhoun County beer fans: Lazy Magnolia's Southern Pecan Brown Ale is now available in bottles here.After we finished cleaning up the reception hall following the wedding tonight, my fellow groomsman and I headed to the Grub Mart at Mountain & Pelham in Jacksonville (click for a map) to restock my nearly empty fridge. I was shocked to see a pile of the Lazy Mag sixers on display in

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-3401634770766806722008-11-14T14:49:00.003-06:002008-11-14T15:18:05.346-06:00

A good buddy of mine is getting married this weekend, and both he and my fellow groomsman are beer fans. There's expected to be a little consumption tonight, as you might already have assumed. The other groomsman arrived from Georgia today with a load of assorted goodies, including a number of winter seasonals - Sweetwater's Festive Ale and Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale among them.I'm unsure if

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-16053005257277664432008-11-12T09:43:00.004-06:002008-11-12T09:54:48.343-06:00

Cleburne County residents voted Nov. 4 to go "wet," ending that county's longtime unique "moist" status, under which beer could be sold only un-chilled (or "hot" as people keep saying - that just sounds wrong) and sales of hard liquor were prohibited. But the Heflin City Council last night discussed new laws to prevent bars from opening in the city. County Commission officials also are

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-3457024860079314942008-10-22T11:11:00.001-05:002008-11-12T11:17:31.374-06:00

Brian Yaeger, admittedly, was introduced to beer the way many young people (perhaps too many and definitely too young) are.He was a college student, and drank "all the super-cheap stuff" in larger quantities than he should have. A chance to travel Europe for a semester broadened his beer horizons and opened his eyes to all the good stuff available at home."It was definitely after a semester

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-35631884899389125452008-09-26T11:35:00.007-05:002008-09-26T14:32:15.272-05:00

A colleague who lives nearer to Birmingham offered to pick me up something this week on his regular trip to Whole Foods. He brought my request with him to the office today - a six pack of Sweetwater IPA, newly legal again in Alabama. The brewers reportedly adjusted the recipe, bringing the ABV back under 6 percent. Now if only someone would start stocking it in Calhoun County (the trucks have to

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-16907959169980453552008-09-25T17:21:00.003-05:002008-09-25T17:26:24.146-05:00

Sad news from Wisconsin today: Bill Leinenkugel, former president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., has died of cancer. There's an obituary available online at annistonstar.com.Leinenkugel helped his family's company, founded in 1867, survive industry consolidation that saw many other breweries close. A year after he retired in 1987, it merged with giant Miller Brewing, though the fmaily

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-72985076692429163562008-09-24T14:28:00.002-05:002008-09-24T14:43:12.865-05:00

Recognizing that the Oktoberfest season is upon us, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Bob Townsend this week runs down a list of seasonal craft brews whose release is timed to coincide with the annual foamy fall frolicking.For the most part, they look pretty enticing. Shmaltz Brewing's Coney Island Freaktoberfest is a different story. Shmaltz went with a Halloween theme for this one, and may be

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-87855462767043294452008-09-18T09:54:00.006-05:002008-09-18T10:19:51.837-05:00

There's a story in today's New York Times on Rothaus, a state-owned brewer in Germany that has seen sales double over the last 15 years, while overall beer sales in the country have been declining. The success has come without a single TV or radio commercial. The story says many Germans seem to be drawn to the brand because of its non-corporate image. From the story:“The ad agencies always wanted

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-16988519657402923012008-09-17T15:40:00.002-05:002008-09-26T14:32:40.510-05:00

We Americans like to do things our way, even (sometimes especially) if old-world tradition frowns on it.Exhibit A: the Berman Museum decides to throw an autumnal celebration of beer, holds it on one day in September, and does the whole thing indoors.Oktoberfest it's not, but then, Anniston ain't exactly Munich.The museum's fourth annual Autumn Suds Fest is set for Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. The proceeds

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-77275166987205922822008-09-03T09:53:00.002-05:002008-09-03T09:59:52.726-05:00

The new football season has at least this much in common with the just-concluded Olympic games: Both signaled their start with fire — at Beijing with the lighting of a giant cauldron, here, in a thousand parking lots with the flame of countless grills.Food and sport are married in America like nowhere else, and nothing shows off that relationship so well as the tailgate parties that surround

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-2962458944186947992008-08-20T07:56:00.001-05:002008-08-20T07:59:28.604-05:00

Beer lovers will have to wait just a little longer to get Alabama brew in bottles, but in the meantime there is a suitable substitute newly available from just a little farther north.Things are finally brewing again up in Huntsville, as Olde Towne Brewing Co. gets back in business after a fire in July 2007. Founder and brewmaster Don Alan Hankins reports the company is finally filling kegs

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-70259380883632364992008-08-12T11:32:00.003-05:002008-08-12T11:46:40.697-05:00

Looks like Huntsville's Olde Towne Brewing Co. is back in business. The brewery's Web site says they produced the first keg in their brand-new facility at the end of July. The company is in the midst of a series of Huntsville-area celebrations now. Here's a list from the site:Olde Towne Tasting at 801 Franklin, Wednesday 6-8 p.m.801 Franklin, Huntsville, AL; $20 per person. For more details and

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-89378448774627032442008-08-06T10:43:00.000-05:002008-08-07T10:48:29.594-05:00

08-06-2008 They're lands of long, hot and dry summers tempered by breezes from the sea.And they're lands of incredible food — dishes dominated by intensely-flavored herbs, meats and cheeses.Ah, the sun-soaked shores of the Mediterranean, where the olive trees don't offer a lot of shade, but do provide plenty of oil to flavor the cooking.The arid, sunny climate that is the source of so much

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-43995985444483228972008-07-23T21:30:00.002-05:002008-07-24T13:58:10.924-05:00

Pitcher This: Beer travels well 07-23-2008 Traveling is its own reward — the chance to see new things, to get out of one's comfort zone, and of course the pleasure of getting away from work, which I'm sure is a vacation motivator for others (though not for me, honest).But I take special pleasure in getting out of town because it means trying beers I can't get at home.Beyond the brews

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-64591664834728526452008-07-09T14:08:00.002-05:002008-07-24T13:58:45.753-05:00

Pitcher This: The selling of 'the great American lager' 07-09-2008 There's been lots of talk recently about the biggest beer deal in years: The offer by Belgium-based international brewing giant InBev to pay $46 billion for America's iconic beer-maker, Anheuser-Busch. Depending on who's talking, the offer is either a common-sense investment by one giant corporation in another, a

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-71084136393564774582008-06-25T00:00:00.001-05:002008-07-24T13:59:03.652-05:00

Wow, didn't realize I'd skipped one. Here it is, just two weeks late.Pitcher This: Fresh tastes better, even with beer 06-25-2008 It was an unexpected phone call, but definitely the welcome kind."Can I pick you up some beer?"That's similar to asking someone if they'd like a free pile of cash, isn't it?The caller was in a store I don't normally frequent, one that tends to stock brands

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-67111691347280945072008-06-11T11:28:00.003-05:002008-07-24T13:59:20.994-05:00

Pitcher This: At last, good things are brewing in Bama again 06-11-2008 After a long, thirsty year, Alabamans can again wet their whistles with beer brewed in their home state.Just in time for the Magic City Brewfest a week and a half ago, Birmingham's Good People Brewing Co. started filling kegs and brought some of its brand-new brown ale to the festival.This came just shy of a year

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-81461869110915715402008-06-04T11:57:00.006-05:002008-06-04T13:56:33.921-05:00

As noted in the first post from the Magic City Brewfest, a great surprise was to find Alabama-brewed beer there after all. Birmingham's Good People Brewing Co. offered its beer to the public for the first time at the festival.I got a chance Sunday to chat with Good People's Jason Malone, who said the company this week is beginning keg production, and will begin distributing the draft beer to Five

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-25834402540081790602008-06-01T21:40:00.006-05:002008-06-02T13:23:42.666-05:00

Just in from the 2008 Magic City Brewfest. The Star's 10-strong contingent had a great time, despite the occasional rain and one nearly hour-long storm delay. Over the next few days I'll be emptying out my notebook here on the blog. In the meantime, here's a few highlights from the festival off the top of my head:There was Alabama-brewed beer there after all. Birmingham's Good People Brewing Co.

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-79502506641372433522008-06-01T10:38:00.004-05:002008-06-01T11:45:11.641-05:00

I, the Mrs. and a group from The Star are rolling out this afternoon for the Magic City Brewfest.Looks like there was overwhelming support from the public last night. Enough people showed up that there were ticketing and entry problems. Free the Hops' Danner Kline posted a message at the festival Web site last night after the session was over, indicating they would handle some things different

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-44056935440849722752008-05-28T10:34:00.001-05:002008-05-28T10:36:53.581-05:00

Pitcher This: Birmingham's beer bonanza 05-28-2008 With apologies to the Iron Bowl and Talladega Superspeedway's twice-a-year festivities, there's no better time to enjoy beer in Alabama than this weekend.Saturday and Sunday will see the return of the Magic City Brewfest, which debuted in 2007 to rave reviews despite a few first-year glitches.The two-day festival will again take

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-4351342619351976072008-05-23T10:45:00.002-05:002008-05-23T11:08:23.723-05:00

The second annual Magic City Brewfest is just over a week away. Organizers say this year there'll be more beer, more food, and probably more people.The festivities will be at Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces Park, Saturday, May 31 from 7 p.m.-11 p.m., and Sunday, June 1, from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Tickets are available online now; they'll be more expensive at the gate.Stuart Carter, president of Free the Hops

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-4670363274061121742008-05-20T15:15:00.003-05:002008-05-20T15:30:11.465-05:00

I just spoke with Stuart Carter, president of Free the Hops, the group pushing the Gourmet Beer Bill to raise the allowed alcohol-by-volume limit on beer sold in the Alabama to 13.9 percent from 6 percent. He said last night's failure by the state Senate to do much of anything has ended any chance of passing the bill this year. Carter and other members were disappointed, to say the least."If it

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-38535748853369420982008-05-20T11:26:00.002-05:002008-05-20T11:53:04.231-05:00

The Alabama Senate adjourned last night without passing an education budget or accomplishing much of anything else, let alone getting close to touching the Gourmet Beer Bill. Free the Hops' President Stuart Carter, in a post on the group's blog that was also e-mailed to members and supporters, wrote that Alabamans were "failed by the Senate." Beyond FTH's pet issue of raising the ABV limit on

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-56334128504283925752008-05-19T14:32:00.003-05:002008-05-19T14:44:09.643-05:00

It could be that we'll never know if Gov. Bob Riley would sign a bill to increase the amount of alcohol allowed in beer here this year. It could also be that we'll never know if the Senate would approve such a measure. That's because the Senate is stalled in its final day of deliberation on the state's education budget. The Associated Press is reporting that the Senate is in danger of ending the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-6582468545876312782008-05-19T10:39:00.002-05:002008-05-19T11:07:44.040-05:00

The Alabama Senate should today take up what supporters have called the Gourmet Beer Bill, which would increase the allowed alcohol limit for beer to 13.9 percent from 6 percent. Free the Hops, the citizens' group which has sought the change for three years now, decided two weeks ago to hold off on having the bill considered as tensions were running high in the Senate's rush to get things

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-40156313349380133062008-05-14T12:34:00.001-05:002008-05-14T12:35:55.142-05:00

This from The Daily Home in Talladega. -aj By Chris Norwood 05-13-2008 TALLADEGA COUNTY — The County Commission voted unanimously Monday night to authorize county attorney Barry Vaughn to come up with a proposed bill that would allow the sale of draft beer on and off premises in the county following a public hearing.There was no opposition to the proposal during the hearing, and

Andy Johns, mobile reporternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-34619674819196268332008-05-05T11:24:00.002-05:002008-05-05T11:36:11.912-05:00

Is the promised land in sight? The folks at Free the Hops say the Gourmet Beer Bill, HB196, will finally be up for discussion in the Alabama Senate this week, likely on Tuesday. The bill would raise the allowed alcohol limit on beer sold here from 6 percent alcohol by volume to 13.9 percent.The group's president, Stuart Carter, sent an e-mail to supporters this morning asking that they call their

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-21088812778875519782008-04-30T07:32:00.001-05:002008-04-30T07:39:35.757-05:00

Pitcher This: 121 bottles of beer on the wall 04-30-2008 There's an old saying attributed to an ancient philosopher comparing loudmouths and containers."As empty vessels make the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest blabbers," it goes.One might add that when it comes to beer bottles, he who empties more vessels tends to display less wit and blab

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-15255141223065410912008-04-23T20:25:00.002-05:002008-04-23T20:49:39.038-05:00

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Bob Townsend, in today's column, profiles hometown-brewer-done-good Sweetwater. In March the company installed eight new 400 barrel fermentation tanks, doubling capacity at the downtown facility.Sweetwater's beers are available in eastern Alabama, but only on tap at a few places I've seen (Cooter Brown's Rib Shack and the Vault in Jacksonville, plus the Mellow

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-5291420349065248912008-04-17T19:04:00.005-05:002008-04-18T21:38:10.554-05:00

One of the joys of starting a beer column has been that people in the newsroom now randomly bring me new beers to try. This works well as long as I can wait until I get home to sample them. A fellow hop-head at the office (Staff Writer Matt Kasper, whose dad Rob Kasper, coincidentally, writes the Kasper On Tap blog for the Baltimore Sun), recently brought me a can (yes, can) of Dale's Pale Ale,

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-36118059281105985022008-04-16T11:57:00.001-05:002008-04-16T12:03:41.776-05:00

Pitcher This: Lawnmower beer — Brews to cool you 04-16-2008 The dust is still settling. The sun will blaze for a few hours more.You've just pushed your 80-pound Craftsman over every square inch of your half-acre lawn and your arms are pink from the exposure. Your head aches from the heat and two-cycle exhaust.Your body somehow still is squeezing out sweat, which in turn runs right

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-23765500542498018922008-04-15T11:31:00.004-05:002008-04-15T11:54:29.632-05:00

Looking for something cool and beer-related to do this weekend? Atlanta's Sweetwater Brewing Co. is havin' a big ol' Earth Day throwdown. The two-day Sweetwater 420 Fest takes place Saturday & Sunday at Atlanta's Candler Park.There's live music both days, a 5K run on Saturday, lots of good Sweetwater-brewed beer, and a new "Planet 420" environmental expo with all sorts of info on how to live the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-84293589967862979252008-04-09T17:01:00.003-05:002008-04-09T17:18:12.777-05:00

Boston Beer Co. is recalling Samuel Adams beer sold in bottles shipped from one of its glass suppliers.The bottles may contain small fragments of glass that could injure drinkers if ingested, the company said. They've set up a Web site with information about the recall here. Bottles embossed with the code "N35 OI" at their base should not be drunk, according to the site.According to news reports

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-85533083859031525112008-04-07T15:38:00.002-05:002008-04-07T16:41:27.825-05:00

Today's April 7th, marking 75 years since the first legal beer in 13 years as an amendment to the Volstead Act took effect in 1933, effectively ending the total ban on alcoholic beverages in the United States. Liquor would flow later that year after the 18th Amendment was repealed. But for eight months, beer slaked the nation's thirst.Tonight, I'll raise a glass of whatever's in my fridge to the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-9231610868888044552008-04-04T13:30:00.005-05:002008-04-04T15:18:40.710-05:00

Long-time Pitcher This readers may recall my erstwhile fondness for Rolling Rock, and my concern for the fortunes of Latrobe, Pa., where it was once produced. I wrote a column last year relating to Anheuser-Busch's purchase of the brand, and the decision to move production to New Jersey. City Brewing later bought the shuttered Latrobe plant and began using it to brew Samuel Adams under contract (

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-67412161298218777452008-04-04T11:48:00.003-05:002008-04-04T11:55:51.975-05:00

The Wall Street Journal has this bit today (you've got to be a subscriber to read the whole thing, but the main news is in the free nugget): Anheuser-Busch will begin allowing some of its distributors to carry competing brands.How big a deal is this? Aren't AB's exclusive distribution deals one of the major tools it's used to build it's mammoth market share? Is this a sign that we should expect

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-61352385642704725922008-04-03T10:30:00.004-05:002008-04-03T10:45:10.978-05:00

Markeshia Ricks filed a report on Wednesday's Senate committee hearing on home brewing. She seems to have read more reluctance into the senators' reactions than I've seen mentioned elsewhere. The story pasted below is carried in today's edition of The Anniston Star. Normally it would be available on our Web site for subscribers only, but we're offering it for free to Pitcher This readers. Enjoy!

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-64499524611376434742008-04-02T10:47:00.005-05:002008-04-02T15:41:02.321-05:00

The Alabama Senate's Tourism & Marketing Committee today is set for a public hearing on a bill that would legalize home brewing of beer, cider and wine. The hearing is set for 1 p.m. in room 727 of the State House.Text of the bill, Senate Bill 355, is here. The Star's capitol correspondent, Markeshia Ricks, plans to be there. I'll let you know what she hears.EDIT (3:40 p.m.): Haven't heard from

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-35470931552053361382008-04-02T08:53:00.002-05:002008-04-02T09:00:15.532-05:00

Pitcher This: Imagine a world without beer 04-02-2008 Before you read the following lines, be sure that you've got the lights on. And perhaps make sure you're not alone. It could get frightening.Ready? O.K.Imagine a world without beer.Scary, I know. Let alone knot being able to drink the stuff, how could one make beer-battered onion rings or beer-can chicken? How would the Super Bowl

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-58027696754270086402008-04-01T11:23:00.003-05:002008-04-01T11:34:01.521-05:00

The folks at Free the Hops are looking for volunteers to staff their second annual Magic City Brewfest, the big whopping beer extravaganza at Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces (info on last year's Brewfest is here). There's a sign-up form available online, here.This year's festival is set for two sessions, one Saturday, May 31 from 7 p.m.-11 p.m., the other Sunday, June 1 from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. FTH prez

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-84964326690906211402008-03-28T14:19:00.004-05:002008-03-28T14:38:01.468-05:00

Greg Kitsock's column in the Washington Post this week looks at beer-and-food pairing in advance of a big event happening in D.C. this May, SAVOR: An American Craft beer & Food Experience. Kitsock makes much of the beer-wine rivalry that's been growing as craft beer takes off. From his lead:How often in a high-end restaurant have you been handed a wine list that runs on for pages, while the list

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-79246350359776715632008-03-26T10:42:00.004-05:002008-03-26T11:08:38.261-05:00

It's interesting that a local church group is advocating now for a ban on alcohol in Oxford (Thanks to Star reporter Andy Johns for the item below). April marks the 75th anniversary of the first legal brewing of beer after Prohibition. An Amendment to the Volstead Act allowed the brewing of beer up to 4 percent ABV in the spring of 1933, which quenched the nation's thirst until the full repeal

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-11316852533010404612008-03-26T10:00:00.003-05:002008-03-26T10:42:31.263-05:00

At last night's Oxford City Council meeting the deacons of Meadowbrook Baptist Church presented a letter to the Oxford City Council. The letter urged the council and mayor to consider banning the sale of alcohol in the city. The council did not respond to the letter.My thinking is the council will not consider the proposal because restaurants (like all of the new ones built over the last decade)

Andy Johns, mobile reporternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-32048229708665621972008-03-25T06:26:00.003-05:002008-03-25T06:35:28.371-05:00

Is there a beer-lover in the world who hasn't imagined this before? A bar in Atlanta has tables with two tap handles each that customers can operate themselves. Here's a story from the AP (courtesy of MSNBC) on the system, at STATS, a sports bar. There's also an AP video report embedded below.What do you think about it? The video shows there's plenty of variety in the bar, but you don't get to

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-10145084661367075632008-03-21T12:23:00.004-05:002008-03-21T12:49:28.063-05:00

There's more coverage of the effort in some states to lower the drinking age from 21, this time in a story from USA Today. (We first discussed this a few days ago.)The story says 77 percent of Americans are against the idea, citing a 2007 Gallup poll. The poll also found that 60 percent of Americans believe penalties for drinking underage should be tougher. Young people, men and people who drink

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-355713042788505912008-03-20T07:31:00.004-05:002008-05-20T15:30:57.271-05:00

NPR on Wednesday aired a segment on the effort to lift Alabama's 6-percent alcohol by volume beer limit, on its All Things Considered program. The report was by WBHM's Tanya Ott.It's a good, basic overview of the issue. Rev. Dan Ireland of ALCAP gets to say how afraid he is that expensive beer will get into the hands of Alabama teenagers. But that's quickly countered by Rep. Patricia Todd, who

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-71076166366458768592008-03-19T08:51:00.002-05:002008-03-19T08:59:22.459-05:00

Here's today's column. The Bud Light commercial referenced is embedded below for your viewing pleasure. Here's a link, in case you need it.Pitcher This: Use your head — Mastering the perfect pour 03-19-2008 Say what you will about their beer, but the folks at Anheuser-Busch make what may be the best commercials in the business.A couple years ago, they ran a classic Bud Light spot

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-84733709949574847472008-03-18T13:14:00.004-05:002008-03-18T13:30:50.104-05:00

Weird beer news from The New York Times: a Czech ornithologist has published a study that says scientists who drink more beer publish fewer papers.Seems a little obvious at first: anyone who's spending too much time with pint glasses might not be spending enough time with test tubes. But the study seems to indicate that even scientists who drink just a few times a year are less productive than

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-16136935243576687302008-03-15T21:38:00.005-05:002008-03-15T22:39:27.723-05:00

I was considering a beer-related road trip to metro Atlanta today, but decided to stay home after seeing that that city's downtown was smashed by a tornado last night. Throw in a little tornado action here at home this morning, and it didn't seem like a good idea to travel.I consoled myself with a stop by my local craft-beer-friendly convenience store to see if they had anything new. Man, am I

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-32464196476675434812008-03-14T13:00:00.005-05:002008-05-20T15:32:06.999-05:00

I somehow missed this last week when the bill to raise the allowed ABV level passed the Alabama House. A Free the Hops member recorded the live audio feed of debate from the House floor, overlaid photos of the Legislators and FTH-related events, and added lots of text commentary - responses to what legislators were saying and notes on FTH and beer in general. The results are available for your

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-71339692201825119312008-03-13T07:36:00.003-05:002008-03-13T07:51:53.435-05:00

The Los Angeles Times this weekend published a thorough look at efforts to change Alabama's beer-related laws, with a particularly close look at homebrewing's illegality and Free the Hops' efforts to raise the 6-percent ABV limit.Stephanie Simon's piece is perhaps the best-written, best-researched story the press has yet produced on the state of beer in Alabama. Bravo.One voice I'm glad to see

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-5077650516821347362008-03-12T13:58:00.005-05:002008-03-12T14:15:23.819-05:00

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

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-73201702350637720692008-03-11T09:28:00.003-05:002008-03-11T11:36:47.777-05:00

How old is old enough to drink? That's the topic of a big ol' story the Chicago Tribune published Sunday. It looks at movements in several states to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to as low as 18.The proposals vary from state to state - in South Dakota, petitioners want to allow 19- and 20-year-olds to buy beer with no more than 3.2 percent alcohol, while those in Missouri want simply to

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-85520188618697116432008-03-09T07:27:00.004-05:002008-03-09T09:42:21.737-05:00

I spotted something new as I took my customary stroll down the beer aisle at Winn Dixie yesterday, two offerings from Cable Car Brewing, an amber ale and a lager (that's the lager in my hand at the store, at right). Having never heard of the label before, I decided to look 'em up before taking the plunge.There's not much on the Web, apparently because the brand is kinda new, and also because the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-49041847912325254182008-03-08T08:25:00.003-06:002008-03-08T08:43:07.940-06:00

I had my first beer in nearly a week last night. I've been laid up at home since Monday, recovering from some minor surgery, and didn't want to consume while popping pain meds. It was also my first chance to get away from the house, so the Mrs. and I headed for dinner at the Vault, on Jacksonville's downtown square. A pint of Sweetwater 420 was just the tonic I needed to start feeling normal

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-9871288196034876752008-03-06T08:49:00.004-06:002008-03-06T10:30:37.032-06:00

All the legislatin' earlier this week has me thinking about a main argument of those against raising Alabama's 6-percent alcohol-by-volume limit for beer. Teenagers, they say, will get their hands on gourmet beers and guzzle them down like Kool-Aid, leading to Lord-knows-what type of other dangerous behavior.First off, I'm not sure why other people's inability to keep their children from breaking

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-19152853404753233792008-03-05T06:57:00.002-06:002008-03-05T07:00:15.243-06:00

On the heels of yesterday's legislatin' in Montgomery, here's a bit about the efforts of folks to change another restrictive beer-related law. Also available in today's Star and at the paper's Web site.Pitcher This: Help for brew-it-yourselfers 03-05-2008 There are food fans who turn their noses up at anything that comes from a box, can or jar.Pre-packaged spaghetti sauce? Give 'em a

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-75002967549153557902008-03-04T15:16:00.005-06:002008-03-04T15:25:47.458-06:00

The fella I couldn't identify below (I allied him to the railroad and then retail industry below, probably incorrectly), wound up offering an amendment to HB196 that would prohibit low-cost, high-alcohol beer from being sold. He was worried about it getting into the hands of teenagers. I would counter that it's already illegal for teens to buy alcohol, and that no additional laws are needed to

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-67345970828583359562008-03-04T15:02:00.002-06:002008-03-04T15:07:14.130-06:00

HB196 passed!EDIT: I think the vote was 48-42. Close, but enough to get by. Bring on the Senate.Free the Hops' message board is acting screwy. Must be a lot of folks trying to celebrate online right now. And rightly so!

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-84598834606770735322008-03-04T14:36:00.004-06:002008-03-04T15:02:26.074-06:00

The bill to increase the allowed ABV limit on beer sold in Alabama has passed the Budget Isolation Resolution vote, where a similar bill stumbled in the House of Representatives last year. That means it's now finally up for debate, looking for an up-or-down vote on the proposal itself.It's now being discussed on the floor (I think), and you can hear it live via the House Web site.I'm not sure

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-73285637265890333402008-03-04T07:26:00.005-06:002008-03-04T10:46:02.979-06:00

It's still a ways from becoming law, but if today's vote in the Alabama House of Representatives on HB196 passes, it'll be one big step farther than things got last year. The next hurdle is clearing the Senate, where an identical bill already has been approved in committee. Then it's up to Gov. Bob Riley to sign, and beer fans in Alabama can raise one big toast and enjoy more of the world's best

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-11338206866585843102008-02-28T15:10:00.003-06:002008-02-28T15:15:36.195-06:00

Stuart Carter at Free The Hops reports that House Bill 196, the Alabama Gourmet Beer Bill, will be up for a third reading and vote on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 4.The bill would raise the allowed alcohol content in beer to 13.9 percent from 6 percent. Alabama is one of three states to so restrict beer. FTH and its supporters say the low limit keeps

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-5657152884861525602008-02-27T12:24:00.003-06:002008-02-27T12:49:57.059-06:00

In today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, beer columnist Bob Townsend writes about North Carolina microbrewer Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, which bills itself as "the dark beer specialist." The regular lineup consists of an amber ale, a brown ale, porter and stout.Founder Paul Philippon is a former philosophy student who named the company after a well-known ambiguous image that can be seen as either

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-21569553846008555792008-02-25T13:14:00.003-06:002008-02-25T13:31:10.585-06:00

So, I only bothered to make one prediction in the Brewing News' March Madness-style National IPA Championship. True to the form I tend to follow in basketball brackets, I bombed out early. Dogfish Head's 60 Minute IPA lost out to Flower Power from Ithaca Beer Co.Shows what I know.Check out the first-round results here.The only other two brews in the field I'd actually tried also lost this

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-83160206745216474522008-02-22T13:35:00.003-06:002008-02-22T14:46:53.684-06:00

March is just around the corner, which any college sports fan will tell you means there's a boatload of basketball headed our way. Well, the folks at Great Lakes Brewing News are taking that idea and running down the court with it, sponsoring the National IPA Championship, which kicks off Saturday.Featuring hops instead of hoops, the contest will see brewers judging 32 American-brewed IPAs

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-78548424791891098662008-02-21T10:41:00.006-06:002008-02-21T14:36:46.482-06:00

The ABV bill approved Wednesday by the Alabama House Tourism & Travel Committee got its second reading in the full House today, according to ALISON, the Legislature's interactive Web site. It's set for a third reading, and hopefully a vote, on Tuesday.By the way, the bill - HB196 - as approved by the committee, amended the proposed new alcohol limit for beer to 13.9 percent. The bill originally

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-15465097843029870652008-02-20T15:00:00.002-06:002008-02-20T15:16:13.859-06:00

Thanks to The Star's Montgomery correspondent, Markeshia Ricks, we've got the latest on the Alabama House ABV bill - it was approved by the House's Tourism & Travel Committee after a public hearing today.Free the Hops President Stuart Carter, and John Little, an attorney who represents Huntsville's Olde Towne Brewing and founded the Auburn Brew Club, spoke in support of the bill. The Alabama

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-57329237046522452012008-02-20T11:51:00.001-06:002008-02-20T11:54:44.697-06:00

Also available at The Star's Web site, annistonstar.com.Pitcher This: A brewery grows in Brooklyn 02-20-2008 Local beer disappeared from Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1976. It took about a decade before someone had the idea to bring it back, and within 20 years, Brooklyn was finally brewing again.That’s the short version of the history of Brooklyn Brewery, which turned the resurgence of craft

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-70818000436023708432008-02-19T12:25:00.003-06:002008-02-19T12:52:10.665-06:00

The Alabama House Travel & Tourism Committee is getting together Wednesday for public hearings on a number of alcohol-related bills, including the legislation that would raise Alabama's alcohol-by-volume limit from 6 percent.According to the schedule at the Alabama Legislative Information System Online, the committee's set to meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 123 of the State House (that's the big

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-2948217913036274032008-02-19T11:45:00.003-06:002008-02-19T11:58:21.078-06:00

I'm back in the saddle today, after a long trip back from New York.We did make it to the Ginger Man Sunday night, and weren't disappointed. I had a Smuttynose IPA from one of the bar's nearly 70 taps. Nice stuff. There's a lot more in bottles, and there were a few casks on hand too, though I didn't get a chance to sample any. The bratwurst plate was great, as was the turkey & brie sandwich the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-38568098541431738462008-02-16T14:40:00.005-06:002008-02-16T15:11:43.503-06:00

So, the trip's not entirely about beer, but it was for this afternoon, at least. The Mrs. and I are in New York City for a long weekend, and we hopped the L train from Manhattan to Bedford Avenue today for a visit to Brooklyn Brewery, one of the country's most successful craft brewers.There's a bar in-house, tours on the hour between 1 and 4 on Saturday afternoons, and a happenin' happy hour on

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-25458920734076549432008-02-14T13:33:00.004-06:002008-02-14T13:57:41.539-06:00

The folks at Free the Hops report that they've struck deals that may lead to the passage of a bill that would raise the state's ABV cap to 13.9 from the current 6. A couple of points of progress to report:FTH's Stuart Carter says the Alabama Wholesale Beer Association helped negotiate a deal with Birmingham Budweiser's Pat Lynch. FTH had called for a boycott of products distributed by B'ham Bud

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-64580774453551599972008-02-11T11:52:00.001-06:002008-02-11T12:21:40.485-06:00

While Alabama may be behind the times in beer laws, we're on the cutting edge when it comes to transparency of the legislative process online. With a system called ALISON (for Alabama Legislative Information System ONline), Web users can track the status of any bill introduced in the Legislature. You can also read the full text of each bill, and see how it fares in votes on the floor. With so

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-89645949317941058552008-02-07T12:28:00.000-06:002008-02-07T14:05:34.250-06:00

Here's yesterday's column. Sorry it's getting up here a day late - I was out yesterday with the funk that's going around, and barely switched on my computer at home. (Note: Flying Dog's Road Dog Porter with a hot bowl of potato soup and a grilled Swiss cheese sandwich is a great pick-up when you're feeling low).Pitcher This: Another round of battle over beer laws 02-06-2008 Advocates

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-79389349111389058632008-02-05T10:57:00.000-06:002008-02-05T11:32:42.561-06:00

It's primary day here in Alabama. That means I voted this morning. It also means I won't be having a beer tonight, since I'll be here at the paper working. So, here's your politically themed post for the day.It was said a lot about George W. Bush when he was first seeking the White House back in 2000: He was the candidate voters would most like to have a beer with. (Never mind that he says he

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-54949868321864742872008-02-05T10:47:00.000-06:002008-02-05T10:54:09.149-06:00

I meant to post a link to this on Friday. The Birmingham News had a story on Free the Hops' Birmingham Budweiser boycott. Pretty well well done.I spoke with Stuart Carter, FTH's president yesterday, and apparently the group is happy with the coverage. They feel the media has often gotten key points of their proposals wrong in the past, but that this story, in providing background on the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-71546425443607315342008-01-30T13:21:00.000-06:002008-01-30T13:36:36.211-06:00

In his Washington Post column today, Greg Kitsock explores the practice of aging beers to enhance their flavor."Which styles will stand the test of time? High-test brews such as barley wines, imperial stouts, wee heavies and Belgian strong ales have an advantage over beers of moderate strength."Kitsock also mentions lambics as prime for leaving be a while.One key in keeping beer around long

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-47846789208611678952008-01-29T10:54:00.000-06:002008-01-30T13:44:41.255-06:00

Here's a brilliant concept, but probably a bad idea.You're likely familiar with Camelbaks, the backpack-style water bottles that have been around for several years. Well, some enterprising folks have adapted the design and marketing a bit. Introducing the Beerbelly.The company's Web site says the product is designed for worn under one's clothing to resemble an ample gut. In theory, this would

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-82445150246055351522008-01-24T13:53:00.000-06:002008-01-24T15:39:47.742-06:00

In a post yesterday evening, I reported that Pat Lynch, Birmingham Budweiser vice president, said he blocked a bill in the Legislature last year that would have raised the allowed alcohol limit for beer sold in Jefferson County because the bill's supporters broke a compromise by drafting a bill that also would have allowed for beer sales in containers larger than 16 ounces. The text of the bill

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-56204677240631468652008-01-23T17:08:00.000-06:002008-01-23T17:55:32.905-06:00

An executive for a Birmingham beer distributor says he's not happy with calls by a beer enthusiasts' group to boycott his company's products.A post earlier today carried the news that Free the Hops is calling for a boycott of Birmingham Budweiser, Anheuser-Busch's Jefferson County distributor. FTH president Stuart Carter said the company's vice president, Pat Lynch, was opposing a bill in the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-49042717554391730832008-01-23T13:22:00.000-06:002008-01-23T13:13:59.057-06:00

Free the Hops, the grassroots organization trying to change Alabama's restrictive beer laws, is calling for a boycott of Anheuser-Busch products from Birmingham Budweiser, an AB distributor. Stuart Carter, FTH's president, says B'ham Bud is opposing its effort to pass a local bill in the upcoming legislative session that would lift some restrictions on beer in Jefferson County.FTH announced the

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-8654824314935033072008-01-23T11:57:00.000-06:002008-01-23T14:05:56.147-06:00

Also available at our Web site, annistonstar.com.Pitcher This: Laissez les bonnes bières roulez 01-23-2008 If you're of the sort who's usually looking for any excuse to throw a party, it has probably not escaped you that Carnival is upon us, and Lent is looming.And given that many celebrations in observance of the above involve alcohol, it's a safe bet that readers of this column

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-77054094729837210762008-01-22T12:53:00.000-06:002008-01-23T07:06:10.768-06:00

Say what you will about their brews, but Anheuser-Busch has got to be the king of beer advertising, at least.With the advertsing frenzy of the Super Bowl just around the corner, the New York Times says in a story today that AB will be saving all its ad love for its two flagship brands, Budweiser and Bud Light.That seems like an odd decision. We've seen that craft brewing is the only segment of

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-48218669454531071052008-01-17T12:36:00.000-06:002008-01-17T13:18:45.437-06:00

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Bob Townsend explores the tasty world of beer aged in used whiskey barrels in his column this week. I've never had the pleasure, but Townsend says these specialized brews pick up vanilla, woody and - of course -whiskey flavors from the used barrels.He also notes that Athens, Ga.,-based Terrapin Beer Co. is now up and running at its new brewery in its hometown,

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-37965425228872225312008-01-16T12:31:00.001-06:002008-01-16T13:01:59.715-06:00

A press released landed here at The Star yesterday announcing the arrival in Alabama of two new beers from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing, a Wisconsin-based craft brewer owned by Miller. The brewery's Honey Weiss and Berry Weiss have actually been on shelves here for a few months already. They followed the Sunset Wheat, which was introduced a year or so ago.I've not tried the honey or berry brews yet,

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-44107875964508271132008-01-15T12:09:00.000-06:002008-01-15T17:23:02.827-06:00

I've just started in on a volume of The Complete Novels of Flann O'Brian, one of the pen names for the Irish writer Brian O'Nolan, a contemporary of James Joyce. (Fellow fans of the TV series Lost likely are familiar with his novel The Third Policeman). The first book in the collection is At Swim-Two-Birds, which the introductions says pokes a bit of fun at the Ireland of O'Brian's time and at

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-80199297506425087462008-01-14T07:02:00.000-06:002008-01-14T07:04:39.627-06:00

It was jarring to see the The Guardian (or The Observer, as it's known on Sundays) make the distinction between "lager" and "beer" in this story, the latter term apparently being reserved exclusively for ales. "Beer" and "ale" are used interchangeable in the story. An example:"Although total lager sales in supermarkets outnumber those of beer by around five to one, the big retailers are now

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-8363817625800568142008-01-12T09:00:00.000-06:002008-01-11T12:27:14.799-06:00

A fellow beer-loving colleague came into work yesterday with a nice surprise. When I got my first six-pack of Lazy Magnolia's Southern Pecan Brown Ale last weekend, I picked up some for him too. He's driven as far as Starkville, Miss., looking for their Party Pigs before, so the least I could do was get him some while I was in Birmingham.He returned the favor with a self-built sampler of beers

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-68120460064066085292008-01-10T21:17:00.000-06:002008-01-10T20:17:58.757-06:00

We told you here on the blog that Mississippi's Lazy Magnolia Brewing was putting its Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale into bottles for the first time in December. Well, a shipment made its way to Birmingham the week of Christmas. I ventured out to the Whole Foods grocery there on Saturday, and finally picked up my first six pack.The packaging is nice, with a simple, classy label and two Southern "

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7591277005576777535.post-59338154190766522712008-01-09T21:54:00.000-06:002008-01-09T22:12:09.665-06:00

This post is the permanent home of what I'm calling the Pitcher This Price Check. Most know by now that beer prices are on the rise, thanks to shortages and market changes for hops and malted barely, two of beer's essential ingredients. Brewers, of course, will have to pass on their higher cost to distributors and to you, the drinker. But just how much will you wind up paying?Brewers have said

Ben Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11089028149998032584noreply@blogger.com