Category Archives: food

Gourmet Bottle Bill goes before AL State Senate Tuesday

Posted on February 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Free the Hops logoFree The Hops (FTH) shared earlier in the day Monday that SB294 – the legislation supported by the organization that would change the 16 fluid oz. limit on beer sold in Alabama to 25.4 fluid oz. – might be placed on the special order calendar for the Alabama State Senate on Tuesday, February 21.

A tweet was sent out earlier this evening by FTH stating they’d confirmed it would be up for a vote.

The 25.4 number was chosen by FTH because “it would allow for 22 oz. and 750 mL bottle sizes – the two most common bottle sizes for high-end specialty beers” to be sold in the state.

The “Gourmet Bottle Bill” has also been submitted to the Alabama State House of Representatives as HB264.

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Bogue’s moves into new fire station location on Clairmont

Posted on February 20, 2012 | 5 comments

part of Bogue's new interiorFolks driving along Clairmont Avenue near 32nd St. South this Saturday may have noticed some cars sitting in the parking lot adjacent to the renovated Fire Station No. 22.

Bogue’s was getting a chance to kick the tires on their new space in the building – its front door marked by an orange awning – and are continuing to do so today. They are not as of yet able to accept credit cards (read: cash only), but if you’re in the mood to see what the new space is like before everyone starts to swarm on the building, you may still have some time. The most notable of the new features for the space is the patio that looks out onto 32nd St. and the site of the first ever Alabama vs. Auburn football game (it’s important to note there’s currently no furniture on the patio).

Workers were almost finished putting the fence up around the old location (first inhabited by the restaurant in 1946) as we left this morning, suggesting that demolition of that structure is imminent to allow for construction of a new Walgreens location seen as the centerpiece of this redevelopment project.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll see some of the perks of the new Walgreens flagship store up in Chicago that opened last month when it opens this summer…

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UPDATE: Brew B-Q at the “14th St. Entertainment District” tomorrow

Posted on June 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

UPDATE: We’ve been informed that this is a beer tasting event hosted by Piggly Wiggly in the parking next to Good People Brewing Co. Check out this flyer for more information. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Magic City Harvest and Alabama Tornado Relief.

Good People Brewing logoYou figured with all of the excitement among craft brewers in Alabama about the passage and signing of the Brewery Modernization Act into law that it wouldn’t take long for one of them to announce take part in a their post BMA event.

Well, wait no more – Good People Brewing Co. will be the answer (sort of) to that trivia question here in Birmingham, AL and it’s this Thursday.

It’s already shaping up to be a fairly busy day in the Magic City with the YP Street Fair taking place along 2nd Ave. N. between 23rd and 24th Streets and the Birmingham Museum of Art holding a VIP party for the opening of their Who Shot Rock & Roll exhibit. Craft beer fans can now add a visit to the parking lot next to Good People’s home on 14th Street South to the list for Brew B-Q, an event being hosted by Piggly Wiggly. Tickets are currently available for $25 at all area Piggly Wiggly locations. A beer tasting as well as Full Moon BBQ is included. There will apparently also be a chance to win a private beer dinner for 10 people.

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Camp Taco empire expands

Posted on June 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

Fans of Camp Taco who ventured into Homewood in recent days may have done a double take after seeing the logo hanging over a former Qdoba location.

It appears that the Five Points South-based restaurant is preparing to open a new location on Greensprings Hwy, one that gives them much more space and an outdoor patio so regulars have another option of where to enjoy their meals.

The Qdoba location it replaces was the last one operating in Alabama. The metro area had two locations as late as early last year. The other location, at 18th Street and 5th Ave. S., closed in early 2010 and was replaced that May by a Moe’s Southwest Grill.

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Alabama craft brewers talk about Brewery Modernization

Posted on June 8, 2011 | 3 comments

We’re still waiting to see if Governor Bentley will be signing the Beer Modernization Act passed last week in Montgomery before the end of the legislative session on Thursday. One group tremendously interested in his decision are those currently operating  craft breweries in the state – and we got a chance to talk to a few of them at Magic City Brewfest last weekend.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QE27WEsUZE?hd=1&w=640]

Free the Hops is continuing to ask people to contact the Governor’s office to voice their wanting him to sign it into law. We’ll let you know what happens.

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Brewery Modernization Act passes Alabama State House

Posted on May 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Free The Hops tulip glassBoth of Birmingham, AL’s microbreweries hope to soon enjoy the opportunity to serve their beer on their premises. The Brewery Modernization Act, supported by Free the Hops, passed the Alabama State House of Representatives earlier this evening in Montgomery.

If the State Senate concurs with the substitution made to the bill this evening during their session tomorrow, it will go to Governor Bentley’s desk in Montgomery for his signature.

It had been endorsed by the Alabama Brewers Guild, but also the Alabama Restaurants Association and the Alabama Hospitality Association.

The bill would allow for existing breweries to add tap rooms. It would also make it easier for brewpubs to open in the state, providing opportunities for additional jobs. As reported earlier this month in The Birmingham News, concessions were made to allow for passage that doesn’t necessarily sit well with all parties.

Both of the existing breweries in metro Birmingham, Good People Brewing Co. and Avondale Brewing Co., have the capabilities to be modified to allow for serving beer on their premises.

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Travelogue: Lou’s Pub makes Esquire’s list of best bars

Posted on May 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Lou's Pub & Package Store logoReaders of the current edition of Esquire Magazine may have recognized the name of a local watering hole included in a very prestigious list of bars. Lou’s Pub not only made the latest installment of the magazine’s list of “The Best Bars in America” (PDF) it did so as the only representative from the state of Alabama.

It’s the second time that the bar has been included on the list – the first being in 2007 (when mental_floss‘ Neely Harris (formerly of mental_floss; now of ESPN The Magazine) wrote this piece for the magazine). It’s one of several bars that can claim that designation in Birmingham over the last few years – a list that includes Rojo, The Garage, The Bottletree, and Highlands Bar & Grill.

The full list is also available as well as an interactive map including bars previously on the list on the magazine’s website.

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