FuzzyBrew

The Mobile Press-Register had a nice story last week on Lucky Town Brewing Company, which is in the midst of a Kickstarter project to raise funds to become a commercial brewery.

Lucky Town, based in Jackson, Miss., would be the state’s second craft brewery. Through its Kickstarter project, Lucky Town is asking for $20,000 but has a higher goal of $40,000 for start-up funds.

For now, Lucky Town Brewing Company is a “very well put-together concept,” says Lucas Simmons, brewmaster for the yet-to-be brewery. He’s been homebrewing for nearly nine years, but it wasn’t until he took home awards for stout and overall high gravity beer at the 2010 Outlaw Homebrew Competition in Hattiesburg that an old college friend from Mississippi State suggested he pursue it as a career.

That friend, Chip Jones, is now distribution and sales manager for Lucky Town. Special Events Coordinator Angela Blackburn and R&D Manager Brandon Blacklidge fill out the four-person team, who are all in their late 20s or early 30s and “who kind of merged into something more [than friends],” according to Simmons. “It’s kind of been fortuitous that we’re friends, but that on top of that, we’re all hard-working and very motivated and contribute different things.”

Read the full story at al.com. And check out the video below from the folks at Lucky Town.

Lucky Town Brewing Company launched a Kickstarter project last night to raise $20,000 to start brewing at a commercial level. The money will cover license fees, insurance costs, keg expenses and ingredients. The deadline is March 12. You can support Lucky Town at various levels; $25 gets you a couple bumper stickers and can koozies.

“Mississippi suffers from some of the strictest beer legislation in the country, which is one reason why there is only one production brewery located in Mississippi currently. Since the laws do not allow for many to bring their beer to Mississippi, we at Lucky Town intend to give the local craft beer enthusiasts a broader choice, “Co-founder Chip Jones said in a email.

Check out their beers, and give ‘em some love. Or, get to know the brewers during their Be Bold Beer Run next Saturday in Jackson.

Find Lucky Town on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

Tickets are on sale for the third annual Tennessee Cigar and Brew Festival, which will feature craft beer, homebrew and cigars next month in Jackson.

The festival will be at the Jackson Fairgrounds on October 29 from noon to 4 p.m.

Beer from Memphis’ Ghost River Brewing and Nashville’s Yazoo Brewing Company will be served alongside beer from Stone Brewing Co., Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Dogfish Head, Victory Brewing Company and others.

Homebrew will be on tap as well, with beers from Memphis’ homebrew club, the Bluff City Brewers & Connoisseurs, and Belgian beers from Hack’s Whacked Homebrew.

Tickets can be purchased online now for $20.

More than 150 beers from around the world will be poured at the second annual Top of the Hops Beer Festival in Jackson, Miss.

The festival, which drew more than 2,500 people last year, will be held at the Jackson Convention Complex, 105 E. Pascagoula St., and will help close Mississippi Craft Beer Week.

Patrons will receive a commemorative sampling mug and have access to unlimited, two-ounce samples.

Tickets can be purchased online. General admission tickets are $35 in advance; VIP tickets are $60.

For the latest news, follow the festival on Twitter or check out the festival’s Facebook page.

Who made it last year, and how was it? Leave a comment below.