Tomorrow the Alabama Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee will hold a public hearing on SB355 aka, the Homebrewing Reform Bill. This bill would clarify the law regarding homebrewing, which is currently murky and specifically make it legal to hold homebrewing competitions, where homebrewers from around the state, region, et cetera can gather to trade recipes and techniques while quaffing delicious homebrewed beverages. It works for baked goods and barbecues, so why not beers?
I had the good fortune to help (I mostly watched) a couple of friends start a batch of Belgian Witte (witbier). It took me back to the glory days of backyard brewing in Virginia. Nothing quite like throwing on some brats and raising some pints while minding the wort. Fun and, eventually, delicious. But I digress…
Please contact your senator tomorrow morning (hearing is at 1pm) and urge him or her to support SB355, especially if your senator is on the committee. Getting this bill out of committee ensures a floor debate and vote and moves it one step closer to bringing freedom to homebrewers statewide.
Update Audio of the hearing available here.
Btw, if you haven’t already done so, join Free the Hops! More members means more momentum to bring freedom of choice to craft beer lovers who have labored for too long under the yoke of prohibition-era laws and regulations.
Mind if I quote your post on my new blog?
As a homebrewer I fully support this law. You also had the opportunity to drink a Belgian Witte on the Crash Across America last year, and help transport untaxed hooch across state and national borders.
Hooray beer, Boo government.
Quote away. When I get more time, I’ll give your blog its proper due and give you a shoutout here. Welcome aboard! Yes, your Witte was delicious and I always enjoy the opportunity to be a scofflaw, especially when such scoffing of laws involves violating stupid restrictions on freedom of choice and freedom of movement.