Just noticed on a bottle of Sam Adams Octoberfest that it has the word 'lager' printed in the bottom corner of the label, but '(Ale in TX)' printed in the top corner.
I wondered why it wasn't a lager in Texas and did a quick google search - came up with this http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/marketing_practices/bulletins/MPB007.pdf - apparently the state of Texas has defined 'Beer' to be a malt liquor with an ABV between 0.5% - 4% and 'Ale' as any malt liquor over 4% ABV. So a 4+% ABV lager has to be labeled as an ale.
My favorite part of the linked document is the rationale - so as not to mislead or deceive the consumer!
I wondered why it wasn't a lager in Texas and did a quick google search - came up with this http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/marketing_practices/bulletins/MPB007.pdf - apparently the state of Texas has defined 'Beer' to be a malt liquor with an ABV between 0.5% - 4% and 'Ale' as any malt liquor over 4% ABV. So a 4+% ABV lager has to be labeled as an ale.
My favorite part of the linked document is the rationale - so as not to mislead or deceive the consumer!