very high %s a week out already SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL NEXT WEEK: Interesting to note our friends at the Storm Prediction Center have put a decent part of Alabama in a severe weather risk on the “Day 7” convective outlook, which is for Tuesday, Tuesday night, and early Wednesday morning of next week. Global models develop a very dynamic weather system, that will bring big snow to the southern Rockies Sunday, and ultimately out across the High Plains and the Great Lakes. We will be in the warm sector of the system, and it certainly looks like a setup for strong to severe storms for parts of the southern U.S.
Nice guide, agreed with a lot of his recommendations. I read a lot of magazines that have these sort of things where they highlight a particular destination every issue or so. In almost every single one of those articles the "booming brewery/craft beer scene" is mentioned. Even small towns like Florence have breweries now...I feel like almost every town with a decent population has that going on. Being very cunty about that detail I just find it amusing to see it become so cliche.
Also- I love the craft beer options...the more the merrier, but how is this not a bubble? Can someone who knows more about the beer industry tell me how 28 breweries can remain profitable in AL? Just seems like when they start popping up in places like Florence, Phenix City, Guntersville, and Dothan (though one could argue they have an isolated local market to peddle to) that the market is getting very crowded to keep so many going. Just seems odd than nearly every city in AL with more than 40k population has a viable brewery. It's a good thing for people like me who enjoy beer I just wonder how so many are able to stay in business. I know next to nothing about the industry so I guess overhead is much lower than I think...I just walk into places like Good People and see those huge vats and think- "this can't be cheap to do", but then again they are one of the few that can their beer and are a big operation.
beer engineers died already but also i imagine some of those breweries are in the historic sites (avondale, for example) and can get tax rebates etc. for those otherwise economically depressed areas
This probably doesnt really answer the question, but I have recently seen Singing River (Florence based) all over Nashville. I feel like there is a much smaller craft brewery scene in TN (Mostly Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga). So those AL breweries also have the TN, MS, etc. markets to sell/expand to. Having said that, it could still very well be a bubble. But, it isn't like beer sales in the US are going to regress any time soon. And it seems like the craft brew fad is much like the health food fad, so it may not go away easily. Obviously there are people who know a ton more about this than I do. So I could be way off
Also, Birmingham and AL in General are starting to get a national reputation for the brew scene. I've even heard it described as Louisville but with beer instead of whiskey. Singing River is sold in bham and I stand by my earlier post, it is fucking delicious.
I've really enjoyed all the beers I've tried from Singing River. I saw you mentioned that you really like the Blonde Ale, which was how I got into that brewery. Small local gas station near me has a growler fill station and a tiny, 2-door, fridge with local-ish beer. Dude in there says its his favorite blonde ale he has ever had, so I had to try it. Then after I bought it, I discovered it was from my hometown
Alabama produces less than 1% of what states like PA, CO, IL, and CA produce. There's plenty of room for growth.
You don't like session beers or you don't like Red Hills Brewery? Or you just love the feel of a penis in your hand?
I enjoy session beers for what they are but a brewery full of session beers is the feel of a penis in my hand is another story
None of them have a 100 times more people. We also have Atlanta two hours away that very few of our breweries have entered.
From what I understand, they don't intend to do solely session beers. They intend to have 'high grav,' as well. They just intend to specialize in great session beers. That said, I look forward to trying it. As you know, I'm not a huge beer guy but being able to drink beer with friends for a few hours without being totally shitfaced is appealing.
One of my best friends had a real bad infection after a hip replacement. He couldn't drink alcohol for an entire year. The day of the blue angels in Pensacola he drank a case of odouls
I stole an O'Doul's out of my friend's refrigerator in 5th grade. They were for his grandfather. It was my first "beer." I figured that if I got caught, I'd get in less trouble since it was non-alcoholic.
I think there's potentially a bubble in the distribution of beers, but not necessarily breweries. i think there's plenty of room for watering holes all over the state. Even if they aren't all gonna be the next bell's, they can still exist essentially as bars that brew their own beer.
It's my understanding that distributors used to use their "marketing budget" to lobby Montgomery. They'd buy politicians and votes to block the freeing of the hops. Now that the 'Hops are Free', I suspect they'll reallocate those marketing/lobbying funds to acquire the new craft competition. The same competition they campaigned against. #Capitalism
Thinking about my week -- watching football -- maybe some golf... Sunday is a fantastic day to drink beer. Maybe yall can get these "lobbyists" to use the "extra" Free the Hops money to become somewhat progressive and let me drink on Sundays. Shit pisses me off, and it has nothing to do with alcohol.
Well of course. I'll be I church from 9am to 9pm. But if I wanted a beer, I'm not sure why couldn't get one.
i can get it after noon, and it isnt a big deal. just the fact we have them is absurd, but due to our demographics i understand why theyre there. what i dont get is why in some places (tuscaloosa) you cant buy beer after 9:00pm on sundays. does god want us to go to bed or something?
Took uber to the airport on Tuesday and it cost $23. Took a cab back from the airport and it cost $34. Thank god the fucking monopoly is crumbling. Maybe one day we'll be able to use uber coming from the airport.
I like to drink, so having all these different breweries is a good thing. I might be the only one who feels this way, but what bothers me is it seems like restaurants only stock Alabama/Birmingham brewed beer for the drafts most of the time. I would almost always prefer to drink the local stuff at the specified taprooms and have more national options at other places. Who wants to pay $8 dollars for a trim tab at a restaurant when the tap room is cool and it's only $5 there? I basically don't drink at restaurants in Avondale because they have a monopoly and I hate their beer.
The two are about equal to me, with Avondale having better/more interesting small-batch things. Pecking order: Good People > Cahaba > Avondale > Trim Tab (with the caveat that TT's hoppy beers are better than Avondale's)
I have been jonesing for a Cuban sammich with fresh jalapeños from Kool Korner since it closed last year. I believe the new location will be opening this week.
Avondale has quality control issues. They also over carbonate their beers to hide deficiencies. Every Trim Tab beer I have tried is either meh or really bad. Good People has SnakeHandler and really good seasonal/limited beers (Mumbai Rye, HitchHiker, Gordo) Cahaba Blonde and Liquambar are good. Also, their Oktoberfest is the best in the city, only behind Straight to Ale's in the state. Obviously this is all imo Good People>Cahaba>>>>>>>Avondale>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Trim Tab
Highly recommend Alabama Gas Light and Grill in Homewood. If you enjoy grilling it is a must visit. Carry Primo, Kamado Joe and Pro Fire Kamado grills along with gas grills and every tool and accessory imaginable. Bought a Kamado Joe there today and a little bird told me they are having a sale in a week or two.
Ha! No. They just did a good job. Low pressure sale which I appreciated. And I love grilling and am stoked to find out about it.
Venue rankings 1. Avondale - can't beat the two bars and huge outdoor area and stage. 2. Cahaba - new brewery is just phenomenal. Best indoor area in Birmingham 3. Good People - nice but nothing spectacular 4. Trim Tab - haven't been in almost a year so it's probably changed some but it's the smallest and the outdoor area was very meh. Also suuuuuupppperrrr fucking hipster.