Registration is open for the 2013 “War of the Wort” homebrew competition, organized by the Golden Triangle Brewers homebrew club in Starkville, Miss.
The War of the Wort deadline is April 26. To register your beers, go to http://warofthewort.
Last year’s inaugural event drew 115 entries and 47 registered participants, judges and stewards.
The Oxford Beer Festival is coming up this weekend — April 20 and 21 — at the Colonel’s Quarters at the Castle Hill Resort in Oxford, Miss.
Unlimited two-ounce samples of over 140 regional and national craft beers and imports will be served. Check out brewery list here.
The inaugural festival takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. on both days. General admission tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the gate. They can be purchased online here.
VIP tickets, which get you access to a special VIP area with food and beer pairing and exclusive beer tastings, are $75 in advance and $85 at the gate.
Live music will be provided by Swampfoot and Silas Reed n’ the Books.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a bill into law this week that allows homebrewing in the state.
The signing of Senate Bill 2183, which authorizes the making of “homemade beer” for personal uses, makes Mississippi the 49th state to allow homebrewing. Only Alabama still prohibits the hobby.
Mississippi grassroots group Raise Your Pints worked with the American Homebrewers Association to lobby for the bill’s approval.
“From our founding fathers to our current President, this country has a long and storied tradition of homebrewing,” said Gary Glass, director of the American Homebrewers Association, in a press release. “We appreciate the support of all of the homebrewers, the dedicated grassroots efforts of Raise Your Pints and the legislators who have worked so diligently to make homebrewing a reality in Mississippi. We are grateful to Senator John Horhn who introduced this bill and to Governor Bryant for his quick action and support.”
The AHA plans to continue working with homebrewers in Alabama to legalize homebrewing.
The Mississippi law gives citizens 21 and older the right to make “homemade beer for personal, family, domestic or household uses … if the beer is made in a county or municipality in which the possession of light wine or beer is lawful.”
In households with one person that is 21 and older, up to 100 gallons of beer can be brewed per year. In homes with two or more people of legal drinking age, up to 200 gallons can be brewed.
The law continues: “A person who makes homemade beer as authorized in this section may remove the beer from the premises of the household where it is made and transport the beer only for the purpose of participating in a bona fide exhibition, contest or competition where homemade beer is being tasted and judged; however, homemade beer may not be sold or offered for sale under any circumstances.”
The AHA estimates that more than 1 million Americans brew beer or make wine at home at least once a year. Mississippi is home to an estimated 2,200 homebrewers who may now enjoy brewing without the restrictions of a state-wide ban.
BREAKING: Governor Phil Bryant has signed the bill to legalize homebrewing in Mississippi!!! hops.me/5he7
— Raise Your Pints (@RaiseYourPints) March 19, 2013
Today was a huge day for homebrewers in the state of Mississippi, as the state’s House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 2183, which authorizes the making of “homemade beer” for personal uses.
The measure was approved by a margin of 73 to 37, and now heads to Gov. Phil Bryant for his signature. The state’s Senate approved the bill on Feb. 7.
Mississippi and Alabama remain the only two U.S. states that still don’t allow residents to make beer in their own homes, but the Magnolia State is poised to shed that distinction.
“Whew! Now I’m thirsty. Who in Jackson wants to go have a celebratory pint after our day jobs this eve?” tweeted Craig Hendry, president of Mississippi grassroots group Raise Your Pints, on Wednesday.
Raise Your Pints, which lobbied successfully last year to raise the alcohol-by-weight limit in beer from 5% to 8%, will claim its second major win in Mississippi with the homebrewing legislation. The American Homebrewers Association joined Raise Your Pints with the lobbying efforts.
The Mississippi law gives citizens 21 and older the right to make “homemade beer for personal, family, domestic or household uses … if the beer is made in a county or municipality in which the possession of light wine or beer is lawful.”
In households with one person that is 21 and older, up to 100 gallons of beer can be brewed per year. In homes with two or more people of legal drinking age, up to 200 gallons can be brewed.
The law continues: “A person who makes homemade beer as authorized in this section may remove the beer from the premises of the household where it is made and transport the beer only for the purpose of participating in a bona fide exhibition, contest or competition where homemade beer is being tasted and judged; however, homemade beer may not be sold or offered for sale under any circumstances.”
Today is a great day for Mississippi! SB 2183 has been approved by the MS Legislature. It goes to @philbryantms for signature. #homebrew
— Raise Your Pints (@RaiseYourPints) March 6, 2013
A blog about homebrewing, craft beer and beer news in Memphis and beyond. More here.
FuzzyBrew was just featured in Pamela Denney's book, Food Lovers' Guide to Memphis:
