While enjoying my dessert of Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, I ran into this article on USA Today, by Jessica Leving (thanks @tattoodbrew). Seems that more and more states are beginning to loosen up on old ABV constraints, some even up to 16% ABV.

I happen to be enjoying a pint of rather low octane beer right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m not psyched about the movement. I truly appreciate beer—especially craft beer—for everything it has to offer, from the nose and mouthfeel, to the taste, beginning to end. Loosening the law on brewers means more interesting offerings from the brewery, and I’m all for it.

There are, as the article states, those who express concern over higher alcohol levels and abuse, who are determined to make sure that laws don’t change. I, however, agree with Paul Gatza, who was quoted as saying that "consumers of specialty or microbrewed beers, also known as craft beers, ‘don’t drink to get drunk. They drink to appreciate the flavors.’" like myself.

Cheers to change, my friends.

TAGS [ BEER NEWS | BEER LAWS | CRAFT BEER | MICROBREWS ]