Author Archives: Brian Allen

Today's Session in the Alabama Senate and HB196 Update

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Well, the Alabama Senate keep dragging their feet throughout the day trying to get the Food Tax Bill back on track at the expense of every other bill.

Senator Smitherman was filibustering every bill. The Democrats were requiring every bill to be read at length and full rolls called on the votes.

Free The Hops has bill HB196, the Gourmet Beer Bill, which is in the senate for approval. The bill was pulled from last night's calendar, because of all the issues in the senate.

So, the bill is on the schedule for Monday, May 19th. We need your support in getting this bill passed.

Next Monday, May 19th, the bill will be before the Alabama Senate, which will seek to allow Gourmet Beers in Alabama.

The bill only changes the law to allow beers to be treated in a similar manner as wine.

If you could, please contact your senator to tell them that you support the Gourmet Beer Bill, HB196. An email or quick phone call is all that I ask.

You can find your senator here: www.legislature.state.al.us. Simply enter your ZIP code in the box on the left hand side of the page to find out who your Senator is, then please call them about HB196, the Gourmet Beer Bill. A call is easy, because most representatives have a receptionist that take down your request and your done.

Thanks for your help,

Brian Allen

256-722-0552

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HB196: The Gourmet Beer Bill in Alabama Senate

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Well, today I am sitting hear listening the Alabama Senate Audio feed. It is hard to believe that we pay these people.

The group can have one person stop the whole process and that is what we are dealing with presently.

Smitherman had started filibustering every bill. With this being the last day, it will kill every bill. During this whole session, the senators have been fighting each and have not passed any bills until these last couple of days.

It looks like these actions will kill the Gourmet Beer Bill.

Any of the Free The Hops members are listening to the feed with me. It is killing us to hear this crap.

The latest issue is the Food Tax Bill. The bill is associated with removing the state sells tax on food while removing to exemption of Federal taxes from Alabama tax. It is basically a shift in taxes from the very poor to everyone else.

More to come…

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The Gourmet Beer Bill up for Vote in Alabama

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The House Representative bill, HB196, is up for a vote this Tuesday, March 4th.

Please call your representative and let him or her know that you want HB196 to pass!

Please visit www.legislature.state.al.us and enter your ZIP code in the box on the left hand side of the page to find out who your House Representative is, then please call them about HB196, the Gourmet Beer Bill.

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Tasted Brasserie des Rocs Triple Imperiale

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Well, Karen and I decided to drink one of the Brasserie des Rocs Triple Imperiale bottles.

We both enjoyed it. The beer has a very complex flavor. It is on the sweet side, but it is not overly sweet.

Karen hadn't had a beer in over a year due to being pregnant and nursing. She truly enjoyed it.

Prior to drinking the Brasserie des Rocs Triple Imperiale, she had her first XXX Warlock Double Imperial Stout from Bristol Brewing Company. AT 18.4% ABV, this beer reminds me of a Port wine. Its flavors go well with chocolate, too.

Progress at The Nook

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My dad’s bar has come a long way. He has over 70 beers available and 10 beers on draft. He has multiple coolers setup to keep the beer at their preferred temperature, too.

The building is slowly coming a long, too.

The sign at the street is being redone, which is badly needed. The original sign was painted with what looks like a roller. It is hard to paint letters with just a roller. Both sides of the sign don’t even look the same. But, this will all be fixed with the new sign.

With the sign fix on the way, the inside of the building is the process of being painted to tone down the Irish green that is everywhere. The bar had been Patty’s Pub at one time so everything is covered with bright green and the colors of the Irish flag.

They are going the start some radio advertising, too. My dad has not decided the details, but it is in the works.

First Alabama Beer Festival

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Free The Hops is hosting the first annual Magic City Brewfest at the Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama on June 2nd, 2007. Here is the flyer:

They will be serving just about every beer available in Alabama. They are raising money to help change the Alabama beer laws to allow speciality beers into our state. Presently, most beers listed as the best beers on Beer Advocate can't be sold in Alabama. Here is a great chance to help change Alabama for the better and enjoy some food and beers.

The Nook is Coming A Long

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As I have indicated before, my dad purchased a bar. He has been in the process of making the changes he wants to the bar over past few weeks.

This week is big for changes at the bar. On Tuesday, his direct draw cooler arrived. Direct draw cooler is beverage industry speak for draft beer cooler with taps on top. This addition will give the bar up to eight beers on draft and room for storage, which will be great. I hate going to a bar or restaurant to learn that they are out of beer.

Today, the Glass Door Merchandisers arrived. Glass Door Merchandisers is industry speak for refrigerators with glass doors. He wanted the selection of beers to be highly visible to the staff and customers. They are replacing Deep Well Bottle Coolers, which are the coolers normally behind a bar with siding top doors.

He has a moving company down there today helping setup the equipment. Because, the equipment has to be lifted over the bar and it weights over 400 pounds.

He is hoping to have the coolers all stocked by tomorrow.

My Dad Purchased a Bar

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Well, my dad has been talking about purchasing a bar for years. He up and did it today!

He had been talking with the own of the business and the owner of the property. In the end, he decided to just purchase the business. But, the property owner is still interested in selling the property.

It is a neighborhood bar located at 3305 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama.

It has been operating under the name “The Nook”, but the name had legally been “Paddy's Pub”. The own had just changed the sign out front without notifying the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board.

My dad has a number of plans for the place. The first of which is to change the bar to non-smoking.

More to come …