It's time for a limited
release. This time it's the Alfred Brown Ale, an English
brown ale weighing in at 5.5% alcohol by volume and 25
IBU's.
This beer is named after the
brewery's great great grandfather, Alfred Brown Peticolas.
A.B. Peticolas was born in
Richmond, Virginia, on May 27, 1838. As a young man, he
studied law and taught school. He began his practice in Virginia,
but ultimately moved west to Victoria, Texas. In 1859, he
opened up a law practice with Samuel A. White. A.B. Peticolas may
be best remembered today for his published Civil War journals and
detailed pencil sketches, having served during the Sibley Campaign
in New Mexico with Co. C., 4th Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers.
After his discharge in 1865, he returned to Victoria to
practice law. In 1894, A.B. Peticolas authored an index-digest to
all civil cases contained in the Texas Report. This catalog
became standard text of the Texas Bar Association for years. In his
later years, A.B. Peticolas was known simply as the “Judge.”
Anti-craft beer bill 639 takes
away rights of Texas craft beer brewers.
Specifically, the
proposed bill prohibits a brewer from selling its territorial
distribution rights.
Currently, Texas
brewers have the right to self-distribute their beer.
A brewer willing to
sell its self-distribution rights and a wholesaler willing to buy
those rights can enter into an agreement whereby the wholesaler
purchases the brewer's right to distribute beer in a specified
territory.
Proposed anti-craft
beer bill 639 renders such practice illegal.
In essence,
anti-craft beer bill 639 is a legal constraint on the freedom of
willing buyers and sellers to exercise their rights in the free
market.
While anti-craft beer bill 639 prohibits a brewer from selling its
own distribution rights, it does not prohibit a wholesaler from
selling those same rights to another wholesaler.
In other words, a
brewer could not sell its territorial rights, but a distributor
holding such rights could freely sell them to another distributor.
Further, once a
brewer signs with a wholesaler, it arguably cannot break the
distribution agreement without compensating such wholesaler for the
fair market value of the brewer's distribution rights.
So under anti-craft
beer bill 639, a brewer cannot receive payment from a wholesaler
for the brewer's distribution rights, a wholesaler can receive
payment from another wholesaler for a brewer's distribution rights,
and a brewer may actually have to pay a wholesaler to buy back its
own distribution rights.
The free market
exists for wholesalers under anti-craft beer bill 639, but not
brewers.
We are against anti-craft beer
bill 639.
Texas is notorious
for its antiquated beer laws.
At a time when
consumers are requesting more favorable beer legislation,
anti-craft beer bill 639 pushes us in the opposite direction.
Are we headed down a
slippery slope?
There is no
guarantee that proposed 2015 legislation won't seek to go further
and void additional brewer rights.
We cannot support
any legislation that seeks to take away rights currently enjoyed by
any brewer in Texas.
How did anti-craft beer bill
639 come into being?
Approximately one
year ago, Texas Senator Carona created working groups to debate and
draft potential craft beer legislation.
Upon completion, the
working groups submitted craft beer bills 515-518.
Without any prior
discussion of anti-craft beer bill 639, Senator Carona sponsored
639 as craft beer bills 515-518 were submitted to the Business and
Commerce committee.
Last Monday, the
newest revision of anti-craft beer bill 639 included language
expressly incorporating it as part of the remaining package of
craft beers bills (515-518).
We now find ourselves in an awkward position.
Craft beer bills
515-518 become law only if anti-craft beer bill 639 is also
enacted.
Literally lose
rights in exchange for other rights. Support or fight the entire
package.
We are discussing the
issues, educating ourselves and weighing options.
We'll eventually
come down on one side or the other, but we remain focused on
analyzing the scenario created for us just 6 days ago.
Unfortunately, the Texas
legislature has not passed any favorable craft beer legislation in
the last 20 years.
Texas craft brewers'
only recent statutory victories resulted from claims asserted in
federal court.
Should anti-craft
beer bill 639 become law, we hope to join with other similarly
situated brewers to challenge the legality of this legislation.
Law over beer once again...dang
it!
Alfred Brown
Peticolas would be pleased.
Does Austin want new beer?
The Chicago House will be the first and only Austin location
to tap our beer.
Friday, the 22nd at 6:00 pm.
Velvet Hammer, Royal Scandal, Golden Opportunity, Great Scot!
Michael Peticolas is making the trip down there.
Come one, come all Austinites.
Chicago House Facebook
Great Scot! is the second beer we
brewed and now it's back for a limited time.
Jack Mac's Swill & Grill - Mini Vertical - Thursday,
February 7.
2012 Great Scot! and first keg of 2013 Great Scot!
Craft & Growler- Growler fills - Friday, February 8.
5 kegs of Great Scot! ready for your growlers.
Get it before the rest of D/FW gets theirs.
