We’re a little slow on the uptake this week, sorry. There are eight fantastic newbies this week:

DE GLAZEN TOREN Jan De Licht
DE GLAZEN TOREN Saison D’Erpe-Mere
DE GLAZEN TOREN Odineke
DE REGENBOOG t’Smisje Blonde
DE REGENBOOG t’Smisje Kerst
LA RULLES Triple
OTTER CREEK Cuckoo Maibock
OTTER CREEK White Sail

HR3218 is on the governor’s desk. Opposition is not expected, so SC brewers finally have creative freedom and customers finally have more choice. Everyone wins here, even though we’ll miss our regulars from Greenville. (We’re sure that good beer won’t keep you from the mountains.)

Now if only our dear friends in Alabama could get good beer. Their proposal narrowly missed passing the preliminary Budget Isolation Resolution, which is needed for a bill to hit the floor. If Rep. Laird has anything to do with it, he’d happilly take Bama back to full Prohilbition. Even a pastor has weighed-in on Laird’s faulty logic and sent him a “tsk-tsk” letter:

Dear Rep Laird, I am a native Alabamian and have been following the debate in Alabama regarding Gourmet Beer. I am not writing to try and persuade you to change your position, but after listening to a recording of your remarks on the floor in opposition to this bill, I do ask, as a Pastor, that you would refrain from misusing the Bible to support your opposition to this Bill.

Contrary to your remarks on the floor, the Bible is NOT in opposition to alcohol any more than it is in opposition to money, food, or sex—all of which have proper and improper uses. I know that you feel that your opposition to this bill is indeed a righteous cause, but equating Prohibition with biblical law as you do is a misappropriation of God’s word. Certainly, if you claim to be a Christian, the Bible should inform your public policy positions, but when you choose to speak for God in ways that he has not spoken, you are violating the 3rd Commandment and are undermining the Bible’s authority.

If you think that you should oppose this bill, then do so, but I implore you not to manipulate Scripture to support your position. And, incidentally, if you oppose this bill for moral reasons, you should also begin a moral crusade to outlaw wine and all forms of hard liquor on the same grounds.

-rev. brian prentiss
Associate Pastor – [name omitted] Presbyterian Church

Vermont’s House also voted to raise their 8.0% ABV restrictions.

Source: Pop The Cap SC / Free The Hops / Bennington Banner

 

 

 

 

There’s more good news this morning via Pisgah Dave. The limited edition Vortex II is almost here. We had the chance to try it last night at Barley’s (the only place to have it on tap) and it is chocolatey yummy goodness. This triple fermented Russian Imperial Stout (Batch 175) has a whopping 11.7% ABV, the strongest Pisgah beer to date. The 22oz bombers should be in-store in just a few weeks.

[edit] There is a forum post on Beerinator saying that Brooklyn Local 1 is going to be here in June. Our distributor still says Fall, but thought we’d throw this out there. 

The other day we wrote about Brooklyn Local 1 and all the news going around. Today we got the bad news. It seems that in order to keep up with production, as the beer is a permanent addition to their portfolio, Brooklyn Brewery will not be sending any down South until Fall.

Boo! If you need a tissue, we have an extra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have several customers with celiac disease, which makes one unable to tolerate gluten, the protein found in most grains used to make beer. We have two gluten-free beers in-store, Bard’s Tale Dragon’s Gold and Lakefront’s New Grist. We also just added the Belgian Sara Buckwheat Ale, which some can tolerate. (Buckwheat is sort-of a misnomer because it isn’t really a wheat.)

On the Beer Therapy blog, they discuss this new segment of the beer market and those who are helping it evolve. Specifically, there is a tidbit about a new brewery in Arkansas, Dark Hills, that is making FIVE gluten-free rice beers in a completely gluten-free facility to avoid any chance of cross-contamination. These beers will be available by Fall 2007. Coming soon from Dark Hills: Iron Age Lager, Eric’s Red, New World Pale Ale, Sleipnir’s Kick Dark Stout, and Loki’s Lemon Fruit Beer. (We love the last name, as Loki is the god of mishchief in Norse mythology.)

If you suspect any intolerance to beer (and you’ll know it via the digestive issues), have a check-up by a physician. If you have friends with celiac disease, here is a good online site for them.

Sources: Beer Therapy / Dark Hills Brewery
Logo: Dark Hills Brewery