Thursday, March 23, 2017

Check out the Run The Jewels beer and concert I covered for the new 'October' site!


The all-new beer website October had me cover Jewels’ performance and beer at their launch party in Charlotte. It was crazy!

Whaddup?!
When I hit up Charlotte, NC, on Tuesday, March 14th, the first night kicked off with me going by a super fly beer garden called VBGB Beer Hall & Garden for a brew and small bites (Go there!), and then covering the launch of a new beer culture site called October. I happily accepted the idea of collaborating with them because they are going to be no joke. With the support of Pitchfork's Slow Focus StudioZX Ventures, Condé Nast, Good Beer Hunting, and BeerGraphs, October is undoubtedly going to be MAJOR in the sippin’ scene. I mean hell, they entered the game blasting thanks to Run The Jewels rocking their launch party. I had the pleasure of writing and shooting their performance, plus trying their new beer collabo brewed by Interboro out of New York; it’s a Northeast-style IPA at 6 percent called “Stay Gold” named after a track on RTJ’s new album, RTJ3!
The 'Stay Gold' IPA at 6 percent is phenomenal! This is brewed and shot by Interboro based in Brooklyn, NY.
The party was off the meter as you can tell from my play-by-play calling here. I am not going to spoil the fun, so just read it and see how crazy this night was. I am writing a lot more for October and welcome you to follow them. They will only make the world’s beer experience that much more informative and enjoyable.
Anyway, peep this article and stay tuned for more dopeness!
The RTJ crowd was LIT!

Cheers!

Ale
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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Stone’s former brewmaster Mitch Steele has a ‘New Realm’ Atlanta brewery project coming!

Just arriving back to ATL, I hear this dope news. Word! 
From left to right: Mitch Steele, Carey Falcone and Bob Powers (Photo by Sara Hanna Photography and New Realm Brewery)

I’m baaaaaaaaaack!
So after a whirlwind of plane hopping to Cali, Utah, back to Cali, then Charlotte and recently southern Florida, I returned to my beloved city of ATL. I have so many damn pics to update on my Instagram, Twitter and this blog, plus a gang of articles do, so the grind is real. Regardless, I am blessed to be home after putting two uncles to rest in between exploring the world. (Rest in peace Uncle George and Uncle Jay.)
Well to confirm Atlanta will continue to be one of the best beer cities in the world, I received the great news that one of the best brewers in the world—Mitch Steele (formerly Stone Brewing’s brewmaster and IPA king)—is setting up shop with an all new brewing complex just down the street from me at 820 Ralph McGill Blvd. near our burgeoning Beltline. Hell effin’ yeah! I had the pleasure of meeting Steele a few times in the past and recently judged the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting with him earlier this year. Trust me, he is super cool.
Anyway, Brother Steele has graciously relocated to the ATL, and partnered with Carey Falcone and Bob Powers to bring the city a “New Realm” in terms of an extraordinary sippin’ and eating experience. Wait, “eating”? Yep!
In a recent press release (Whaddup Kitsy!), Co-Founder and CEO Falcone says, “It has taken us quite a bit of time—over many beers, of course—to create our vision and land on the right name for our future brewery and restaurant. New Realm speaks to our desire to create a new realm in brewing and dining experiences, and to support an outstanding and dynamic local craft beer community.”
Powers, the other Co-Founder and CCO, chimed in. “Plans are underway to bring Atlanta and its visitors a distinctive venue to enjoy craft beer and great artisanal foods in an inviting, unique and fun atmosphere,” he said. “In addition to our production brewery, we will have a restaurant, as well as both a rooftop bar and an outdoor beer garden at New Realm and we look forward to unveiling design plans in the near future.”
Now this is some good ass news! And if that wasn't enough, the seriously dope firm ai3 will be handling the architecture and design. Whoa!
ATL, get ready to have another gangster beer destination. I will be announcing the exact grand opening date as soon as I get word.

Follow New Realm on Instagram and Twitter at @newrealmbrewing, and on Facebook at New Realm Brewing.

Cheers!
Ale


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Monday, March 13, 2017

Direct Sales from GA Breweries and Distilleries Gets Love in the ‘House’!

 
Senate Bill 85 is in the ‘House’ passing 147 to 14!

I guess Mondays aren’t that bad!

This is a big step for Georgia’s breweries and distilleries and get our state to, well, a state of normalcy when it comes to selling our brews and spirits like pretty much everyone else. Passing in the House of Representatives today with a vote of 147 to 14, Senate Bill 85 now goes back to the Senate for their very possible thumbs up. This Schoolhouse Rock episode featuring my man "Bill" pictured up top is a perfect reflection of what is going down with SB 85 (but on a national level), but hopefully the ending will be just as happy.
Below is the official press release coming straight from the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild. Shout outs to Senate Bill 85 author Senator Rick Jeffares (R-Locust Grove), Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas) for carrying it through the House, and Nancy Palmer, the exec and big cheese for of GCBG!


Bill to Allow Limited Direct Sales from Breweries and Distilleries Passes Vote in House of Representatives

The 2017 Georgia House of Representatives voted today in favor of legislation to allow consumers to purchase beer or spirits directly at the brewery or distillery where they are made. Senate Bill 85, authored by Senator Rick Jeffares (R-Locust Grove) and carried in the House by Representative Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas), passed with vote of 147 to 14. 
“This legislation is a victory for small businesses across our state from Blue Ridge to the Golden Isles,” said Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). “I appreciate all of the stakeholders coming together and working out a solution that empowers our craft brewers and distillers to create more jobs. As Georgia’s economy continues to grow and new industries and entities enter the marketplace, this legislation will serve as an example of how to move forward in a positive and mutually-beneficial way.”    
Throughout the summer and fall of 2016 business leaders from craft breweries and their wholesale partners met to discuss common sense updates to benefit the beer industry in Georgia. “With suggestions championed by both brewers and wholesalers, Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, House Regulated Industries Committee Chairman Howard Maxwell, and Senator Rick Jeffares have provided guidance to create this legislation. Their commitment to supporting the small businesses of Georgia shines through in SB85,” said Nancy Palmer, Executive Director of the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild.  
In the House Regulated Industries Committee under the guidance of Chairman Howard Maxwell, Representative Ron Stephens, and Representative Alan Powell, SB85 was modified to represent the terms of a compromise reached by the Georgia Distillers Association and the Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of Georgia. With the new language added, visitors to breweries and distilleries will be able to sample products by the glass, take up to three 750 ml bottles of spirits or one case of beer to go, and purchase food without the current tour and tasting requirements. Both distilleries and breweries will be subject to an annual sales cap of 500 and 3000 barrels respectively. Furthermore, the bill slightly modifies the brewpub license to reinforce local control on issues of to-go sales from brewpubs. 
According to Palmer the Georgia Beer Wholesalers Association and the Georgia Municipal Association are also due credit, “The wholesalers of Georgia and our allies in cities across this state have been crucial in this process.” 
Having found common ground with his counterparts in the industry, Chris Sywassink of Ghost Coast Distillery and the Georgia Distillers Association added, “We’re grateful to our wholesale and retail partners for the time they have spent working with us in a spirit of cooperation for the last year. And we’re fortunate that leadership within the Georgia legislature has created an environment that encouraged compromise and communication.  The GDA is especially indebted to Speaker David Ralston, Chairman Howard Maxwell and Chairman Ron Stephens for their time, energy, encouragement and tireless efforts over the past 2 years.” 

Having been amended in the House of Representatives, SB85 will now head back to the Senate for consideration. 
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Thursday, March 2, 2017

CraftBeer.com interviews me on their dope site!

One of the top beer websites in the world did a feature on me and I have you to thank.

Cheers Everyone!
Okay, so I am in Utah and California working on some projects, articles, and reviewing the incredible all-new Land Rover Discovery for most of the time. (It is seriously gangster.) Anyway, when staying at one of the most mind-blowing hotels in the world—the Amangiri—I didn’t have any mobile coverage because it is straight up in the mountains away from everything.
Well when I finally get back to civilization, all my emails, texts and social media alerts hit my phone all at once, but seeing this interview with me and talented writer Jay Wood for CraftBeer.com blew my mind straight up. It was so well done. All I did was keep it 100 with Jay, sent them two of my favorite profile photos taken by my homies Christopher Watkins and Natrice Miller (The Cultured Lens), and boom, a gangster piece!
I thank you, the readers of this blog, followers of my social media handles, attendees of my events, beer lovers throughout the world, and my people who have supported me to the point of getting recognition like this. Please read this when you get a sec. I trust you will dig it. You know I did!
Shout out to Jess Baker, the big cheese at CraftBeer.com, too!

Holla!

Ale
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ALE MAX Returns to Fuse Craft Beer & Sneaker Cultures!

Yup! It's that time again! Ale Max Day , the event put on by my boy Craig and I, will be in its second year, and it's going to be an...

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