With the hammer coming down on alcoholic energy drinks, like Four Loko, which add synthetic energy blends and lots of pure caffeine to their high-alcohol-content beverages, the Brewers Association will formally petition the US TTB to set rules on alcoholic drinks containing caffeine. [source: BeerAdvocate.com]

The questionable alcoholic energy drinks have received a lot of negative attention because of directly caused health issues, deaths and more. Many states are banning the sale of drinks, like Four Loko, including New York.

According to BeerAdvocate.com, "The petition seeks to disallow synthetic and pure caffeine additions to alcohol beverages, but allow incidental caffeine from ingredients that have a long tradition in brewing, such as coffee, chocolate and tea. The petition seeks to clarify that coffee, chocolate, herbs, spices, seeds and fruit are ingredients that should remain available to brewers to make beers for responsible enjoyment by beer drinkers."

Pictured: Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee Stout

The intention of the Brewers Association’s petition is to provide a clear national standard to assist states in their individual rulemaking, under the 21st Amendment, which would remove the questionable alcoholic energy drinks from shelves, while allowing products brewed from naturally caffeinated ingredients, like coffee, chocolate and tea to remain.

According to Charlie Papazian, Brewers Association President, "Responsible brewers have successfully used coffee, chocolate and tea to add interesting flavor and complexity to their beers for decades. In fact, the Aztecs brewed a corn, honey and chili-based beer that contained cocoa. Many craft brewers build on these traditions today using coffee, tea and chocolate. On the other hand, the addition of artificial caffeine not from a natural ingredient source has no heritage or tradition in brewing. We support a ban on the direct addition of caffeine."

In the interest of honoring longtime natural brewing tradition, I support this petition. How about you?

TAGS [ FOUR LOKO | ALCOHOLIC ENERGY DRINKS | BREWERS ASSOCIATION ]

Don Sessions, a 75 year old brewer from Oklahoma has just received approval to include the Pledge of Allegiance on his beer cans. According to the Toronto Sun, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau initially denied his request because it "violated rules that prohibit the use of statements and images relating to the American flag."

After Sessions modified the label to include a line saying that the beer isn’t endorsed by or affiliated with U.S. government, approval was granted. The beer will be marketed under the same name as his energy drink, Ol’ Glory.

"If you are sitting in a bar and drinking this beer, you’ll think of America and you might think of God." Sessions told an Oklahoman newspaper. Session’s company will donate a portion of all sales to Operation Homefront, an organization that helps people who volunteer with the military.

Interestingly enough, the website and the news article failed to mention anything about the beer itself. My guess? It’s a light pilsner with a strong hint of patriotic marketing gimmick.

I’m as American as the next girl and I don’t mean to sound like a hater, it’s just that in my opinion, a real American beer is one that’s a product of the American dream. Thoughts?

TAGS [ OL' GLORY | OL' GLORY BEER | OL' GLORY ENERGY DRINK | BEER NEWS ]

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