Governor Signs Alabama Law, Home Brewing Soon to Be Legal in All 50 States
Very soon, for the first time since Prohibition, making your own beer will be legal in all 50 states. On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed HB9, legalizing homebrewing in the Cotton State — it was the last to pass such a law. On Thursday, Governor Bentley signed the bill, making it effective immediately.
Dixieland was the last bastion of the ban on brewing at home. Mississippi passed legalization just this March, but, since the law had a 90-day waiting period, it’s not quite legal there yet. When the grace period is up, Mississippi will be the last state in the U.S. to allow people to express themselves through suds.
Homebrewing is not that hard, but it’s definitely not easy, either. It takes concentration and willingness to be exact and careful with measurements and timing. The results can be fantastic, though, and homebrewers around the world have used their hobby as a jumping off point to launch new craft microbreweries. If you’re interested in trying your hand at it, check out the American Homebrewers Association for tips, tricks, recipes and camaraderie, no matter what state you live in.