Beer and a Movie

As part of Alabama Beer Week, the South Alabama Film Festival and Free the Hops are happy to be hosting a screening of Beer Wars with a unique craft beer tasting to follow at Five Rivers Delta Center on Saturday, June 12 beginning at 6:30 P.M. This is a one time event with limited seating. Tickets are $25 and you must 21 years old to attend. Tickets can be purchased at Heroes Bar and Grille, Hop Jacks, Cottage Hill Package Store, Springhill Spirits, or online. All profits will benefit the South Alabama Film Festival and Free the Hops.

Click here for more information about the beer we will be sampling, or click here to view a trailer for the movie.

Support homebrewing in Alabama

If you have a minute, swing on over here and look around a bit. It’s a great resource for those of us interested in making homebrewing legal in Alabama. While you’re there, make sure to find out your legislator and call them in favor of SB153.

Thanks!

Hopsfest beer list announced

The folks at Mobile Baykeeper, who will be presenting the first-ever Hopsfest in downtown Mobile on March 20, have announced the beer list, and there are some intriguing choices that are sure to please everyone, from the novice beer-drinker to the hardened beer geek. The selections are:

Road Trip: Suds of the South in Tuscaloosa on March 13

The Tuscaloosa Chapter of Free The Hops has put together a great little Southern Beer Festival set for next Saturday, March 13, in T-Town. If you’re up for the drive, it looks like a great event, featuring the best beer in the South.

From the event’s Web site:

This event will highlight the fine craft breweries of the south. The fest will feature Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. from Kiln MS., Terrapin Beer Co. from Athens GA., Sweetwater Brewery from Atlanta GA., Good People Brewing Co. from Birmingham AL., Back Forty Beer Co. from Birmingham AL., Olde Towne Brewing Co.from Huntsville  AL., Abita Brewing Co. from Abit Springs LA. and Yazoo Brewing Co. from Nashville TN. Each brewery will have a table set up with reps to explain what makes the south rival any other beer region in the world. All proceeds will benefit Free the Hops to help in the fight to continue modernizing Alabama’s beer laws. The cost of the event is $10.00 and will cover unlimited samples, a 3oz sample glass and special discount on Southern Beers at the after party. The fest runs from 4pm to 6pm. We want everyone to have a good time designated drivers will be let in free of charge and Taxis will be on standby.

Tickets are still available, but, the last I heard, they were down to just a few left, so I wouldn’t dilly dally if you plan on going.

Hopsfest tickets now available throughout Mobile

If you haven’t bought your tickets to Hopsfest, the March 20 beer festival slated for Cathedral Square, there’s still plenty of time, and you don’t even have to be online to do it.

Tickets to the event are now available at Gourmet Galley, the Mellow Mushroom, Buck’s Pizza, Hopjack’s, Momma Goldberg’s and Spring Hill Spirits.

Catching up on a few things

Hey everybody. First off, my apologies for the lack of posts in recent weeks; my non-beer life has been a little crazy and has taken most of my energy lately. But there’s a lot of news to be caught up on, not the least of which is Mobile’s newest addition to the craft-beer-lover’s calendar, the first-ever Hopsfest in Cathedral Square.

Another new sponsor

I’d like to take a minute to thank Rafters Sports Bar at The Wharf in Orange Beach for their sponsorship of Free The Hops. If you’re in or around Orange Beach, stop in for a beer and tell them thanks for supporting our fine organization. Lets keep on freein’ them little ole hops!

Free The Hops in the news

A couple of stories popped up this past weekend after the introduction of the Brewery Modernization Act in the House. Notice that this bill encourages business in the state of Alabama, not more or stronger beer. The restrictions that are in place now are obviously not conducive for business to thrive. We’ve shown this state that we like our good beer. Now let’s show them that we like good, LOCAL beer.

From al.com: Alabama bill aims to help brewpubs through deregulation

Mobile’s now a “Select” market for Abita

The Abita Brew Pub was where I first tried an Abita Select Witte.

I can remember clearly when Purple Haze, Amber and, on occasion, Turbo Dog were the only offerings from Abita that could be found anywhere in Mobile. Those days called for ridiculous road trips to the swamps of Louisiana for a case of Strawberry Harvest Lager or a taste of whatever was brewing for the select taps at the Abita Brew Pub.

Thanks to the success of Free The Hops and the addition of Hopjacks to the downtown bar scene, Abita’s seasonal offerings, as well as their “Select” series, have made their way to south Alabama.

We recently stopped in at Hopjacks for a taste of Abita’s newest “select” offering, an imperial stout. This style, perfect for cold and rainy winter nights, is a bit of a departure for Abita, whose core line of beers are mostly session lagers brewed in the German style.

According to the brewery’s Brewmaster blog, this ale is brewed with British pale, caramel, chocolate and roasted malts, as well as oats to give the beer a fuller and sweeter taste. These malts certainly overpower any hop presence, giving it both the smell and taste of chocolate, coffee and toffee. Calling it an imperial stout may be a bit of a stretch, however, as this version doesn’t carry the heft of other imperial stouts, such as Old Rasputin, Brooklyn Chocolate Stout and Terrapin’s Coffee Oatmeal Stout. That’s not to say you can sit down and slug a dozen of ‘em in a sitting — at 8.5% ABV, this is no Guinness. Perhaps imperial porter would be a more apt description? Either way, the beer is delicious and a welcome addition to the tap selection along the Gulf Coast.

If you’re hoping to take some home with you, you’re out of luck; “select” offerings from the brewery are only available on draught.

Tasting at Gourmet Galley next Friday night, 1/22

Hey everyone. January’s been a little crazy, but we’ve managed to nail down a Free The Hops tasting at Gourmet Galley next Friday. I’ll have more information soon, but plan on being there from 6-8 for some great beer.

Thanks for your patience.

Update: I just found this info from Shari at Gourmet Galley:

When: Friday January 22nd
Time: 6 – 8 P.M.
Where: Gourmet Galley
6808 Airport Blvd
251-343-3555

COST: $10 per person ($5 each for club members)

What: A wide selection of high gravity beer to sample,
and catering provided by Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe.

Call to reserve your spot today.

P.S. Recent arrivals, with more on the way for the tasting…..
Tommyknocker – Cocoa Porter – Winter Warmer
Tommyknocker – Alpine Glacier Lager
Durango – Dark Lager
Bell’s – Double Cream Stout
Flying Dog – Double Dog – Double Pale Ale

Dan