As a mildly frustrated homebrewer & craft bier enthusiast living in the great state of Mississippi I've been following Alabama's quest to 'Free the Hops' pretty much since it's inception. I must say I'm very happy for yall!
The real battle which was waged in AL, and which is being waged in MS is education. Same goes for a hand full of states which continue to restrict the making of homemade cider, wine, mead, or bier. Essentially people are ignorant as to why anyone wants or needs, or in the worst cases that there in fact is, anything other than BMC or the usual suspects of 'lite' biers. The worst part is that people don't know they're ignorant. For instance I know very little about the paper bag making industry! But I know I have very little knowledge about the subject. Conversly if I think I know a lot about the paper bag making industry when I actually don't... well then I'd probably get into the area of making a fool out of myself. Sadly that is where most people reside in most states... that is to say in an ignorant state of mind when it comes to things alcohol related.
The skinny on MS situation is that RYP, Raise Your Pints, is undertaking an effort to get the abw limit increased in our state. They've chosen to set aside seeking HB legislation for now. They're currently raising money to hire lobbyist. Sad but true... where would the world be without lawyers turned politicians turned lobbyist.... sigh. Sadly the last I heard was that RYP was only asking for raise of the abw to 8%. Translation about 10% abv. (in fairness the 8% goal may have been increased due to a recent re-organization & new approach at RYP)
Schlante,
Phillip
Ps Good ole MS, last in the nation... again! I think I'll lobby our legislature to change the state motto to, "Mississippi, we're first at being last"!