Red Brick Brewing (Atlanta, GA) is releasing the 2012 round of Brick Mason Smoked Vanilla Gorilla this week. The 2012 edition is a little different. The vanilla beans aren’t smoked this year, just the malt. The smoke is subtle. brewer Garrett Lockhart Continue Reading →
Lovers of the lovely liquid that comes of SweetWater Brewery’s Dank Tank, your wait for a new release is here. Behold, Danktoberfest. Tis the season, and time to get festy. Oktoberfesty that is. Yesterday the brewery worked hard bottling and hand Continue Reading →
Last week, armed ABC agents entered Hop City’s second location in Birmingham, Alabama. The beer store (founded in Atlanta) is ready to open their second location. Agents entered the unopened location last Thursday and confiscated books and materials dealing with Continue Reading →
Do you need any proof that Alabama legislature is a backwards thinking? Read on.
My good friend Kraig Torres founded Hop City a few years ago in Atlanta, Georgia. The store sells 1,800+ beers, wine, and homebrewing supplies. Not to mention Continue Reading →
Redd’s Apple Ale (Albany, GA) has officially launched. The beer is “Crisp like an Apple. Brewed like an ale.” This is no cider, it’s a golden ale with red apple hints. The beer is a foreign brand owned by SABMiller, Continue Reading →
Atlanta. You’ve missed your chance to attend the Decatur Beer Festival 2012. (That is, if you haven’t bought tickets yet.) One of the southeast’s most popular beer festivals held in downtown Decatur, Georgia has already sold out.
Two ex-SweetWater Brewing employees and Georgia Tech students are planning to open Southbound Brewing Co in Savannah, Georgia this year. Carly Wiggins & Smith Mathews are business partners for the new 13,000 square foot brewery coming to Lathrop Avenue in Continue Reading →
Red Brick Smoked Vanilla Gorilla Arrives This Week, With Changes
Red Brick Brewing (Atlanta, GA) is releasing the 2012 round of Brick MasonSmoked Vanilla Gorilla this week. The 2012 edition is a little different. The vanilla beans aren’t smoked this year, just the malt. The smoke is subtle. brewer Garrett Lockhart wanted the beer to have a bit more silky smoothness. Also, no barrel aging this year. The base beer is still Red Brick oatmeal porter.
Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft. Arrival: First week of October, 2012
Tasting Notes (Per Red Brick): Vanilla Gorilla is a strong porter with big chocolate and roasted flavors. It has a delicate addition of vanilla that compliments its subtle smokey finish.
Lovers of the lovely liquid that comes of SweetWater Brewery’s Dank Tank, your wait for a new release is here. Behold, Danktoberfest. Tis the season, and time to get festy. Oktoberfesty that is. Yesterday the brewery worked hard bottling and hand packaging bombers of SweetWater’s first true lager.
Danktoberfest is big, clocking in at 8.5% ABV. Don’t worry though. This beer doesn’t drink that way at all. You can quaff a full 22 ounces of this malty brew and not even know it’s pushing 9%. From the pics, you’ll see bottle filling, freshies coming down the line, and the guys hand boxing them. Head brewer Nick Nock pulled a few off the line for “quality control” purposes. That’s the bearded fella pictured below. Danktoberfest is only available in 22oz bombers. Draft only at the brewery for tours.
Style:Imperial Oktoberfest Availability: 22 oz bombers. No Draft Arrival: Headed to shelves now
Without Home Brew Supplies, Hop City Granted Liquor License In Alabama
Last week, armed ABC agents entered Hop City’s second location in Birmingham, Alabama. The beer store (founded in Atlanta) is ready to open their second location. Agents entered the unopened location last Thursday and confiscated books and materials dealing with home brewing. Nearly $7,000 of grain, books, hops and equipment were taken.
The rest was moved back to the first store in Atlanta, Georgia. After interviewing the owner of Hop City, he tells me that they cooperated with agents the best they could. However, Torres tells BSJ that no warrant was presented to the manager on duty.
On Monday (Sept 24) Hop City was granted their liquor license and will open this week. No home brewing supplies of course.
It is illegal to home brew in the state of Alabama.
Armed Alabama Agents Confiscate Home Brewing Supplies
Do you need any proof that Alabama legislature is a backwards thinking? Read on.
My good friend Kraig Torres founded Hop City a few years ago in Atlanta, Georgia. The store sells 1,800+ beers, wine, and homebrewing supplies. Not to mention a 60+ growler station. Hop City is ranked among the best beer stores on planet earth on RateBeer.com Building upon his great success, Kraig decided to open a second location in Birmingham, Alabama. Recent law changes make Birmingham a great place for a second Hop City.
Kraig has received all the necessary permits to open except for one – the liquor license from the Alabama Beverage Commission. Kraig applied for this license, and with it, provided a floor plan. In the floor plan, he included an area for home brewing supplies. Home brewing is illegal in Alabama, but selling the ingredients is not. Kraig and his lawyer have done extensive diligence on the matter.
Yesterday (Thursday), ARMED ABC agents raided Hop City Birmingham, and confiscated books on home brewing, grain, wort chillers, and more. The agents threatened to arrest his store manager because he harbored materials used to make beer. The ABC Agents loaded up a van with $7,000 of Kraig’s inventory, stating they would be back the next day for the rest. Every single grain, hop, and carboy has to be out of the Hop City Birmingham location before a license will be granted.
Kraig tells me that his opening will now be delayed, until his license can be granted. “I’m being held hostage by the ABC board.”
Sound off. What are your thoughts on armed men confiscating books on brewing? Bagging hops and grain like it’s cocaine?
UPDATE 9/22/12. 9 AM: The agents were armed. Whether the guns were drawn, or pointed at employees is up for contention.
Ed. Note: Pic above is one BSJ took at the Atlanta Hop City location.
Redd’s Apple Ale (Albany, GA) has officially launched. The beer is “Crisp like an Apple. Brewed like an ale.” This is no cider, it’s a golden ale with red apple hints. The beer is a foreign brand owned by SABMiller, and now brewed at the MillerCoors plant in Albany.
“We are proud to introduce a refreshingly crisp brew that showcases the natural flavor of apples,” said Andrew Zrike, brand manager of Redd’s Apple Ale. “By blending the flavor of apples into a golden ale, Redd’s Apple Ale is the perfect choice for the times when you want a refreshing and sweet alternative to your everyday beers.”
Atlanta. You’ve missed your chance to attend the Decatur Beer Festival 2012. (That is, if you haven’t bought tickets yet.) One of the southeast’s most popular beer festivals held in downtown Decatur, Georgia has already sold out.
It took about an hour. Luckily, it kicks off Atlanta Beer Week 2012. So you’ll have beer-portunities to drink. AtlantaBeerWeek.com
Southbound Brewing Looks To Open In Savannah, Georgia
Two ex-SweetWater Brewing employees and Georgia Tech students are planning to open Southbound Brewing Co in Savannah, Georgia this year. Carly Wiggins & Smith Mathews are business partners for the new 13,000 square foot brewery coming to Lathrop Avenue in Savannah, Georgia.
The first pieces of equipment arrive in October, and should be open late 2012/2013 to the public. More: Southbound Brewing
