While nothing appears imminent, these beer aficionados are waiting for Mississippi to join a growing number of states that have allowed higher alcohol content in beer.
“Raising the permissible alcohol content would move Mississippi more in line with the rest of the country, that’s all,” said Bailey, an Oak Grove resident. “We really believe that it’s inevitable. It’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of when.”
Currently, the alcohol content for beer in Mississippi is capped at 6 percent by volume. It would take a vote of the Legislature to alter the cap.
Rep. Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he hasn’t heard of looming legislation.
“I’m not aware of anybody proposing a bill or there being a major push for increasing it,” Watson said. “I don’t know how much of a demand there is for a change, but that doesn’t mean that it’s something that wouldn’t be addressed.”
Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, said senators from the Gulf Coast counties had brought up the possibility in the past years.
“I’d seen a couple of bills about brewpubs and designer-type beers, but none of them have ever gotten through the whole (legislative) process,” Fillingane said. “I just don’t know if there’s enough political will to pass a bill that would up the alcohol content in all beers, where you could just walk down to your local pick-a-pack and buy it.”
Fillingane said he could see a version that would limit high-alcohol beer to casinos or resort areas being more palatable to legislators.
“Even in more upper-scale restaurants, that type of thing,” Fillingane said.
A recent story in USA Today said Alabama and West Virginia had boosted the alcohol cap on beer earlier this year from 6 percent to as high as 13.9 percent. Vermont raised the cap to 16 percent and Montana to 14 percent last year. Since 2002, Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina all approved higher-alcohol “specialty” or “craft” beers.
Quinby Chunn, who is moving ahead with plans for a microbrewery and restaurant in downtown Hattiesburg, said he would love to have the option of brewing a higher-end beer.
via sunherald.com
