Help Us Free The Hops

Free The Hops | Alabamians For Specialty Beer (FTH) is a grassroots, non-profit organization whose mission is to help bring the highest quality beers in the world to Alabama. These beers are commonly referred to as craft beers due to the skill and artistry required to brew them, but they are also appropriately classified as specialty or gourmet.

2012 legislative session

This year we reintroduced the Gourmet Bottle Bill, which seeks to raise the maximum package size allowed for the sale of beer. Right now, you won't find any beer sold in a bottle larger than 16 ounces, but hundreds of craft beers are packaged only in 22 ounce or 750 milliliter bottles. This Bill never made it out of committee for 2011. You can follow its progress this year, or you can just read the important update below:
Governor Bentley signed the Gourmet Bottle Bill into law on May 16, the last day of the 2012 session. It will come into effect from August 1!

Brewfest season

It's brewfest season again. Huntsville successfully held their 4th annual Rocket City Brewfest at the Historic Depot and Roundhouse on May 11-12.

Next month, June 1-2, is Birmingham's Magic City Brewfest. Tickets range from $33 upwards, and are currently on sale.