Alabamians For Specialty Beer

Homebrewing (HB9) Bill Passes Senate

By Gabe Harris | Published: May 8, 2013

Email from Right to Brew…

After a drama-filled day for us listening to the Senate, and after all hope seemed long lost, they brought up HB9 unexpectedly, out of the blue, and passed it 18 – 7 – 1 tonight, without a single word of debate. The Alabama Homebrew Bill has passed the Legislature!!!!

It goes to Governor Bentley now. Although he has indicated that he supports the bill, we need to make sure he knows thousands of Alabamians want him to sign it. This is the one, last step needed before Homebrewing is legal in Alabama, and in all 50 states! So, please go to http://governor.alabama.gov/contact/contact_form.aspx, and fill out the form with your information. Choose “Legislative Session 2013″ from the “Email Concerning which Issue” choices. And in the “Comments”, in your own words, politely ask the governor to sign HB9, the Homebrew Bill. Try to get as many people as you can to do this! We know our prohibitionists opposition will be writing him, and we must vastly overwhelm their numbers!!!

Major thanks go to Senator Bill Holtzclaw for seeing this through, and to Representative Mac McCutcheon for many years of work. None of this would have been possible without our bills’ sponsors. And especially, none of this would have happened without you, the grassroots organization who has brought Alabama to the verge of ending the Prohibition of Homebrew! Thank you, all!
—
Right To Brew

http://www.alahomebrewing.org

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Homebrewing Bill Update

By Gabe Harris | Published: April 18, 2013

From Right to Brew…

The Alabama Homebrew Bill, HB9, was reported favorably by the Senate Job Creation and Economic Development Committee yesterday afternoon. The next step is for the whole Senate to vote on it. If HB9 gets approved by the Senate, then it goes to the governor to sign into law!

But first, it must be chosen out of the large stack of available bills to be placed on the Senate’s agenda for a vote. The Senate Rules Committee defines each day’s agenda on what is called a Special Order Calendar. In fact, there will be only eight more Legislative Days left in the session for HB9 to be placed on a Special Order Calendar. Those days will span about the next month’s time, but this means we have only 8 more opportunities to earn our Right To Brew….

So, what can you do to help? Contact some or all members of the Alabama Senate Rules Committee and politely ask them to please allow HB9 to get a vote by placing it on a Special Order Calendar as soon as possible. Last year’s Homebrew Bill died because the Senate never brought it up for a vote. We must not let that happen again this year!

The following senators constitute the Rules Committee. You will be surprised how quickly you can go through the list of phone numbers, one by one, asking the senators’ assistants who answer something like, “Please allow HB9, the Homebrew Bill, to get its chance for a vote by placing it on a Special Order Calendar.” Or, if you prefer, several of the senators have email addresses listed.

Thank you all for helping pass HB9, the Alabama Homebrew Bill!

Senate Rules Committee Members
——————————
Senator Jabo Waggoner, Chair
(334) 242-7892
jabo.waggoner@alsenate.gov

Senator Jimmy Holley, Vice Chair
(334) 242-7845

Senator Scott Beason
(334) 242-7794

Senator Roger Bedford
(334) 242-7862
senbedford@aol.com

Senator Gerald Dial
(334) 242-7874

Senator Priscilla Dunn
(334) 242-7793

Senator Vivian Figures
(334) 242-7871
vivian.figures@alsenate.gov

Senator Rusty Glover
(334) 242-7886

Senator Tammy Irons
(334) 242-7888
tammy@ironslawfirm.com

Senator Arthur Orr
(334) 242-7891

http://www.arthurorr.com/contact

Senator Trip Pittman
(334) 242-7897
trip.pittman@alsenate.gov

Senator Paul Sanford
(334) 242-7867
paul.sanford@alsenate.gov

Senator Clay Scofield
(334) 242-7876
clay.scofield@alsenate.gov

Senator Paul Bussman
(334) 242-7855
p_bussman@bellsouth.net

—
Right To Brew

http://www.alahomebrewing.org

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Homebrew Bill on Special Order Calendar, Tuesday, April 2nd

By Gabe Harris | Published: March 29, 2013

Homebrewers, craft beer enthusiasts, and everyone who respects personal freedom, it is time for all of us to email and/or call our Alabama House representatives! HB9, the Alabama Homebrew Bill, is scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives this Tuesday, April 2. Our neo-prohibitionists opposition is out in force, and it is critical that we outnumber their calls against our bill. It is up to all of us to ensure that Alabama is not left alone in Homebrew Prohibition this year. The bill is #3 on the special order calendar so it has a great chance next week.

This page on the website below will help you find your representative’s email address (if he/she has one), and State House phone number, along with some advice for what to say: http://www.alahomebrewing.org/contact-your-representatives. It is quicker and easier than you probably think.

Even if you have already emailed or called your representative earlier this session, now is the time to do it again! Sending a reminder shortly before the vote is always a good idea. Never forget, your voice as a constituent carries weight.

Thank you all for helping pass HB9, the Alabama Homebrew Bill!

—
Right To Brew

http://www.alahomebrewing.org

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A Statement from the Board of Directors of Free the Hops

By Gabe Harris | Published: September 21, 2012

Several weeks ago we made an announcement that although Free The Hops will be advocating for new legislation during the 2013 Alabama legislative session, we will not be taking on homebrewing legalization. As we pointed out then, a devoted group of homebrewers called Right To Brew has been working on that issue for several years and are on the cusp of success. We believe their efforts will very likely cross the finish line next year, so we’ll take the lead on another issue and simply lend our support to them wherever possible on the homebrew issue.

Perhaps you don’t homebrew and don’t really see what the big deal is. Well, the importance of homebrew legalization just came into focus for a lot of people when news broke that Birmingham ABC enforcement agents raided Hop City Craft Beer & Wine and confiscated $7,000 of homebrewing equipment.

This issue doesn’t just matter to homebrewers, it matters to small businesses who will lose out on revenue they could otherwise be making off equipment and ingredients for making beer and wine. And it matters to the future of local breweries in our state because most craft brewers start out homebrewing.

Free The Hops supports the efforts of Right To Brew 100% and we hope you will, too. Subscribe to their newsletter. Let your state Representative and Senator know of your support for legalizing homebrewing so Alabama can join the 48 other states where stores can sell brew kettles without fear of armed government agents raiding them. And we in FTH will do whatever we can to assist in the effort.

This ridiculous law needs to change as soon as possible. Let’s make 2013 the year.

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Statement From Free the Hops Regarding Homebrewing Legislation

By Gabe Harris | Published: August 7, 2012

The Free The Hops Board of Directors, Officers, and active members are currently in the process of discussing the official 2013 agenda for our organization. Yes, even though we’ve accomplished the two core reforms the group was founded to address (and a third we added along the way), Free The Hops is sticking around to continue working to improve Alabama craft beer culture and hopefully reform another beer law or two or more.

We’ve been soliciting feedback from our supporters and it is clear there is widespread enthusiasm among almost everyone involved in FTH at every level for legalizing homebrewing in our state. And if we were the only group in the state interested in changing that law, we’d likely be tackling that next.


However, we are not the only group interested in changing that law. There is a dedicated group of homebrewing enthusiasts that formed an organization called Right to Brew a few years ago (http://www.alahomebrewing.org/), and they have been passionately dedicating countless hours to the effort to legalize homebrewing. We discussed with them the possibility of FTH taking over that campaign but they understandably want to see their own efforts through to completion.


We respect the members of Right to Brew and their decision to continue in their fight. So in our discussions about what’s next for Free the Hops, we’ve taken homebrewing off the table as a possibility.


But make no mistake: FTH fully supports the efforts of Right to Brew in every way, and we will do everything possible to lend a hand during the 2013 session. We will update our supporters on their progress next year, and ask you to make calls to your legislators in support of their bill in addition to ours. Almost every professional craft brewer starts out as a homebrewer, so even if you don’t participate in the hobby, your support of Right to Brew’s efforts will help lead to more start-up breweries in Alabama.  More brewers means more local beer for Alabamians.
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Bomber Day in Alabama!

By Gabe Harris | Published: August 3, 2012

What a great day August 1, 2012 was for the great state of Alabama.  Craft beer from breweries that have never been offered in the state were readily available at places like Piggly Wiggly, J.Clyde, Whole Foods, and Neighborhood Hops & Vine.  People lined up to have the chance to be the first to buy some of these beers at midnight at stores in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile.

Some of the new breweries that came to Alabama because of the Gourmet Bottle Bill going into effect were Jester King, Stillwater, and Clown Shoes among others.  There was even a beer that Russian River collaborated on with Sierra Nevada called Brux.  Russian River in Alabama!  Truly unbelievable.  Old favorites like Terrapin and Rogue also sent a lot of beer that had never been available in the state before and those guys who have been around for a while should not be forgotten.  They brew so many great beers that are only available in bombers and it’s about time they were offered here as well.

Some of our local favorites like Cahaba Brewing, Blue Pants, and Straight to Ale all had some offerings in 22oz bottles which flew off the shelves as quickly as they were taken out of their boxes.

Many thanks to the members of Free the Hops for their diligence in working to get this bill passed and allowing Alabama to move one step closer to being one of the best craft beer states in the USA!

August 12th at the J.Clyde will be Bomber Day sponsored by the Piggly Wiggly.  For $18 you will get to sample a lot of these great new beers with all proceeds benefiting Free the Hops.  I hope to see you there.  You can buy tickets at the local Birmingham Piggly Wigglys and at the J.Clyde.  This event is close to selling out and you don’t want to miss it.

Cheers!

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Magic City Brewfest Events

By Gabe Harris | Published: May 31, 2012

Thursday, May 31st – Get your palate warmed up for brewfest weekend
Thursday night at Good People’s taproom. There will be music by
Stewart McNair and probably a game or two of ping pong.

Friday, June 1st – After you have had your fill of MCBF beer head on
over to Avondale Brewing for the Friday session after party. ABC is
staying up late after MCBF and is sure to be jumping with live music.

Saturday, June 2nd – Even though you’ll be sad to see MCBF 2012 go,
head over to The J.Clyde to cheer up with some post-brewfest munchies
and the best beer selection in Birmingham!

Avondale, Good People and J.Clyde will have regular hours Saturday
during the day as well if you want to stop by before Saturday’s
session.

See you all weekend!

Cheers,

Gabe

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A Statement from the Board of Directors of Free the Hops

By Gabe Harris | Published: May 22, 2012

With the Governor signing the Gourmet Bottle Bill into law, Free the Hops has met the second of our two main goals.  So, what now?  We still plan on coordinating beer festivals and Magic City Brewfest is coming up in less than two weeks – what a great way to celebrate our third bill being signed into law by the Governor of the State of Alabama.  And did you go to FestivAle last November?  It was awesome – too good for us to not do it again.

As far as our agenda goes, we are going to have a meeting of the minds this summer to discuss just that.  So, hang on – we will have that answer for you before too long. In the meantime, your membership still matters.  We will retain our lobbyist (who plays a MAJOR role in what we do) on an annual basis.  Your membership dollars and attending events is how we pay him (and we do not feel like we could have passed any of our legislation without him).  So keep up your support!  FTH can’t change laws without Alabamians who are passionate about craft beer as well.  Your voice is the most important thing.  Craft beer in Alabama is still growing and we plan on being a major part of that growth.  We will have more on our mission in the coming months.

Cheers!

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Governor Bentley Has Signed Gourmet Bottle Bill

By Gabe Harris | Published: May 16, 2012

Free the Hops has confirmed with Governor Bentley’s office that he
has signed the Gourmet Bottle Bill into law.

Thank you for all of your phone calls and emails to his office and the
legislature’s as well. This is a great day for craft beer in Alabama.

Please stop calling his office, they’ve had enough!! ;-)

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Continue Contacting Governor Bentley!

By Gabe Harris | Published: May 14, 2012

Gourmet Bottle Bill

To all of those who have been contacting Governor Bentley expressing your support for the Gourmet Bottle Bill (SB294)…THANK YOU!

But we are still only two-thirds of the way to our goal of making the GBB a state law.

If you have not contacted the Governor’s office please do so. If you have contacted his office then tell your friends and family that we need their help as well.

Contacting his office takes less than 60 seconds. Just give them your name, where you live and that you would like Governor Bentley to sign Senate Bill 294 into law.

You can contact the Governor via email through his website or by phone/fax.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to contact Governor Bentley expressing your support for SB294. We are almost there and we need your help to cross the finish line.

Homebrewing Update

The homebrewing bill only has one more day to get a vote before the 2012 legislative session ends. If the bill is not brought up this Wednesday then the homebrew bill will die. Please contact Senator Jabo Waggoner (Rules Committee Chairperson) at jabo.waggoner@alsenate.gov or 334-242-7892 and Senator Del Marsh (President Pro Tempore) at philip.bryan@alsenate.gov (Chief of Staff) or 334-242-7877. Ask them politely to put HB354, the Alabama Homebrew Bill, on the Senate Calendar for a vote.

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