MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Last month, Alabama Brewers Guild members from across the state gathered at Common Bond Brewers in Montgomery to create their annual collaboration beer, “Bitter Constituent,” an American-style India Pale Ale. A one-time, special recipe developed by Guild member sand made with five different hop varietals, Bitter Constituent (ABV 7.5 percent) will be available to the public exclusively at Common Bond Brewers beginning on Saturday, Jan. 12. Limited availability at select Alabama craft beer outlets will be announced at a later date. The release party at Common Bond begins at 3 p.m. and will include the opportunity to meet craft brewers from around the state and to win brewery gear in a door prize raffle. The event is free and open to the public, with the Guild collaboration beer available for sale on draft in the taproom and in on-demand, to-go packaging.
Bitter Constituent is the fifth release in the Guild’s Capital Series of annual collaborations designed, in cooperation with the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, to celebrate each one of Alabama’s five historic capitals, culminating with Montgomery in 2019, the 200th anniversary of Alabama’s statehood. Prior collaborations paid tribute to St. Stephens (2015); Huntsville (2016); Old Cahaba (2017); and Tuscaloosa (2018). In addition to cooperation with the Bicentennial Commission, the Guild worked with a number of sponsors to develop Bitter Constituent, including Baker Street Digital, Country Malt Group, Crowler Nation, Resource Label Group, White Labs and Yakima Chief Hops.
This year’s collaboration committee decided to honor Alabama’s craft beer fans and the grassroots efforts of volunteer consumer advocacy groups, including Free the Hops and Right to Brew, a coalition of homebrewers and homebrew clubs across Alabama, for the instrumental leadership they provided in lobbying for the passage of legislation in support of the craft beer industry, including the legalization of craft beer in Alabama (Gourmet Beer Bill, 2009), tasting rooms (2011), large format bottles (2013), and the hobby of home brewing (2013).
Alabama Brewers Guild Executive Director Dan Roberts applauds the collaboration committee’s decision to pay tribute to these volunteer, citizen groups: “Over the last decade, groups like Free the Hops andRight to Brew have pushed for legal changes to make the craft beer industry possible and viable in Alabama. They showed how ordinary people can come together to enact real change.”
Speaking as a brewer and one of the Guild’s newest members, Common Bond president and co-founder Andrew McNally is grateful to have been selected as the location for this year’s collaboration beer and acknowledges his indebtedness to those same advocacy groups that Roberts and the committee identified: “Ten years ago, my dream of bringing craft beer to Montgomery wouldn’t have been possible and, thanks to others paving the way, here I am today, the Alabama Brewers Guild collaboration producer. It’s amazing and humbling.”
McNally is optimistic for the future of craft beer in Alabama and notes that, “I’m excited about the growth opportunities for brewers in this state and hope that Common Bond making the commitment to invest in that future will encourage others to do the same.”
Roberts echoes McNally’s enthusiasm and gratitude for the Alabama craft beer community, stating, “We have the best fans in the world. Not only are they loyal customers and evangelists for craft beer, they are also dedicated advocates. We owe them everything.”
About the Alabama Brewers Guild
The Alabama Brewers Guild (ABG) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association representing the craft brewing industry in Alabama. The ABG’s mission is to promote a favorable legal and market environment for the craft brewing industry in Alabama. www.alabamabrewers.org
About Common Bond Brewers
Located in Montgomery’s revitalized downtown entertainment and business district, Common BondBrewers is proud to serve up craft beer in our open brick-and-beam style taproom. The city’s only production brewery, we believe that great beer can help people connect. Committed to being vital members of the greater-Montgomery community, Common Bond was built with the goal of giving tri-county residents a beer to call their own and a space for the community to gather. So, stop by, linger over a pint and share a Common Bond. www.commonbondbrewers.com