What's happening in my world…
I will be heading to back to city that inspired “America the Beautiful“.
I will be heading over to Stout Night at Bristol to try out the stout beers of Colorado Springs.
Karen will be joining me for some of this trip which will be sweet! For the times when she not with me in Colorado, we will be working the video chat.
My friends at Free The Hops have their bill introduced in both houses of the Alabama State Legislature. Here is the anouncement from Free The Hops site:
The Gourmet Beer Bill has been introduced to both the Alabama Senate and House. This bill would raise the alcohol by volume limit on beer in Alabama to that of wine, making legal the sale of literally thousands of gourmet and specialty beers already legal in 46 other states and around the world. FTH asks that you contact your Senator and Representative today to ask them to Vote Yes for SB390 and HB530.
Here is the specific part of the Alabama Code that we are trying to change:
BEER, or MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES. Any beer, lager beer, ale, porter, malt or brewed beverage, or similar fermented malt liquor containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume and not in excess of five percent alcohol by weight and six fourteen and nine-tenths percent by volume, by whatever name the same may be called.
Both versions are identical and you can read them here:
House Version: HB530
Senate Version: SB390
Karen and I put in for our first stay within the Disney Vacation Club. We are planning on staying at the Saratoga Springs Resort for the International Food & Wine Festival.
We used the club's new online reservation request system. I hope everything goes smoothly.
We going to be trying out what DVC calls a One-Bedroom Vacation Home. You can see the layout here on the right. I would say that it is like an Embassy Suites Hotel room, but it is a little nice and better equipped.
We are hoping to get some of Karen family to join us on our trip. I hope they can join us.
The level of buzz is starting to rise for the Free The Hops‘ Beer Tasting in Huntsville. This will be the first tasting in Huntsville for the organization.
It is a great opportunity to try beers NOT available within Alabama due to the prohibition era laws. The laws in Alabama define beer as follows:
BEER, or MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES. Any beer, lager beer, ale, porter, malt or brewed beverage, or similar fermented malt liquor containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume and not in excess of five percent alcohol by weight and six percent by volume, by whatever name the same may be called.
Free The Hops wants to change this law to allow speciality beers in this state. Many speciality beer are over 6% in alcohol by volume and we want to raise that limit to 14.9%.
You to can join the cause at Free The Hops. If you join, you will get to help bring great beer to Alabamians and you can join us at our tastings.
Here is a picture from the last tasting which was held in Birmingham.
Karen has made the big leap into the world of video chat. We drop down some cash and ordered her an iSight
If you AIM, you will be able to find us both online. You can find me at BrianAllen.
If you got a video camera and don’t have the software, you can get it here for a PC. Macintosh don’t need to download any software.
I hauled beer back from Colorado Springs to server up at the Free The Hops Beer Tasting which is just around the corner.
As you may or may not know, Alabama does not allow a beer to have more than 6% alcohol by volume and the beer bottle can not be larger than 16 ounces. 
Free The Hops is working to change these laws. Presently, we are seeking a state representative to sponsor the bill. We are planning on making a presentation to the Madison County Caucus of representative which meets the first Monday in February at the City of Huntsville building.
Our tastings require our members to bring a beer that can not be purchased in Alabama. I selected Mojo Indian Pale Ale from the Boulder Beer Company. Mojo IPA has a 6.8% alcohol by volume. Boulder Beer has a number of great beers and you will enjoy their web site which features a Lego bartender serving beer.
Karen and I went to our first tasting in Birmingham before the holidays and it was a blast. We met a lot of new people and saw a hugh selection of beer from all around the country.
I didn't get out much on this trip to Colorado Springs. I had wanted to hit Britol Brewing Company's Tap Room, but I had to work to much. I guess someone has to pay for this trip.
I did get by Il Vicino for one of their great pizzas and beers.
I got the gang to go to the Golden Bee at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
If you are every in Colorado Springs, the Golden Bee is a must do item.
The prices range from $8.50 to $11.95
The menu includes English specialties such as Devonshire cheddar cheese soup; steak, mushroom and potato pie; Ploughmans Lunch, hearty sandwiches, truffle desserts and more!
The hours are 11:30 am to 1:30 am daily
Come as you are and have a blast singing along with a whole gang.
Finally, we are having beer tasting in Huntsville. About every other month, the Free The Hops organization has a beer tasting for its members.
The idea is to bring a friend to find out about the organization and bring a beer that you can't get in Alabama due to the laws.
I am hanging
out in Colorado Springs for a week. I hope to hit Bristol Brewing and try out some of their seasonal beers. If you are ever in Colorado Springs, I suggest that you stop by Bristol's Tap Room.
The real queston is do I hang out here for two week?