Before I begin this post in earnest, I just want to say that it’s great to be back… officially… sort of. For the past few weeks, I’ve had limited internet access and no time to make any posts of worth. Now that my computer is fixed (I hope; not trying to jinx it), I can get back to the blog. Provided that the computer gods don’t strike me down again, I should be alright.

Now that that’s out of the way, we can get on to the beery goodness. I came across this article about a new boycott in Alabama that’s directed at Anheuser-Busch. I know some of you are growing weary of my tirades regarding the Big Three (Two.. or is it One by now?), but I really want to highlight the efforts of Free the Hops more than anything else here.

It’s easy to bash industrial brewers, but I enjoy covering the news surrounding them, and have less ire for them than you might imagine. When you think about it, I’m living in a rather beer-privileged area compared to other parts of the country. We don’t have restrictive abv caps in Virginia, and we have access to some of the greatest beer from around both the country and the world. So really, A-B has less of an impact on my day-to-day beer consumption since I have so many options at hand. But ask West Virginians how they feel about their ability to get a variety of quality beers above 6%. Ask Alabamians how many of their stores carry Rochefort 10, or sell anything above a pint in size. I doubt you’ll get a whole lot of positive responses.

Granted, this boycott move by Free the Hops may not put much of a dent in A-B’s profits, but it could send a strong message. In their press release, the organization points out the irony that the Bud boys launched the Here’s To Beer campaign, but aren’t doing more to cast off legal restrictions aimed directly at beer.

I’m not quite sure if directing their efforts at Anheuser-Busch is wholly warranted, but it reminds me of a scene from Grapes of Wrath, where Muley stands in front of bulldozers that have come to level his house and kick him off his land. Brandishing a shotgun, Muley threatens to shoot the driver, who in turn reminds him that he’d go to jail for the crime, and that there’s a lot of bureaucracy calling the shots, not the driver himself.

Muley responds, “Well, then, who can I shoot?”