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Terrapin Oaked Big Hoppy Debuts Today

Terrapin Beer Co. debuts Oaked Big Hoppy Monster today at the brewery in Athens, Georgia. This years edition is is oaked, compared to last year. It is also now shipping to wholesalers. 

The Monster Beer leads with a tantalizing hop aroma Continue Reading →

SweetWater’s LowRYEder Party [Video]

Last Saturday, SweetWater Brewing threw a bash at the brewery celebrating the launch of their LowRYEder IPA bottles.  There were low rider cars, Luche Libre wrestling matches, rain, & more.  The brewery would like to thank Platinum Championship Wrestling, Ormsby’s, African Sky pretzels, King of Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News

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.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Miller Coors, Redd's Brewing Company

Miller Coors Launches Redd’s Apple Ale

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.”

Style: Fruit Beer (Apples)
Availability: 12 oz bottles
Area: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, ME, MI, MO, OK, TX

5% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Breweries, Southbound Brewing Co

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

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Mikkeller, New Releases

Mikkeller It’s Alive In White Wine Hits Shelves

A white wine edition of Mikkeller’s It’s Alive is now on shelves.  It’s Alive is a Belgian strong ale homage to the Trappist beer Orval. There is a Grand Marnier barrel aged edition in the works too.

Style: Belgian Strong Ale (Barrel Aged, White Wine)
Availability: 12.7 oz bottles

8% ABV

Pic via @GreensBeer

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Seasonal Return, Terrapin Beer Company

Terrapin Oaked Big Hoppy Debuts Today

Terrapin Beer Co. debuts Oaked Big Hoppy Monster today at the brewery in Athens, Georgia. This years edition is is oaked, compared to last year. It is also now shipping to wholesalers. 

The Monster Beer leads with a tantalizing hop aroma that is complemented by an enormous, malty backbone and finishes with a multitude of hoppy goodness.  

Style: Red Ale (Oak Aged)
Availability: 12 oz bottles, Draft
Arrival: September, 2012

8.75% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cool Stuff, SweetWater Brewing, Videos
Posted in JailHouse Brewing

Jailhouse & Max Lagers Create “Partners In Crime”

Glenn Golden of Jailhouse Brewing Company (Hampton, GA), John Roberts of Max Lagers’ (Atlanta), and Chris Collier (formerly of Nantahala) just released a new collaboration- Partners In Crime. The group created a Berliner Weiss, a beer traditionally soured by lactobacillus. Lacto is a bacteria you don’t want freely running around your brewery. (It can sour beers that aren’t supposed to be sour.) Their solution is add lactobacillus to the beer “preboil” and allowed it to sour over night. Viola! The rest of the beers are safe.

Partners in Crime exhibits a dominant wheat beer character with a supporting cast of unique and funky flavors. Our sour mash and lactobacillus additions impart an extra depth described as a lemon and peach fruit with a hint of corn and farmland. The star is the sour notethat brightens the beer and adds a crisp tart finish.

Style: Berliner Weisse
Taste (Per JH): A tart wheat flavor with lemon and peach accents. An earthy farm-like aroma and flavor adds complexity to the beer that finishes with a crisp tartness.

Availability: Draft only

4.5% ABV, 10 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay