Peticolas Brewing Opens

DALLAS - Peticolas Brewing became the latest operational craft brewery in Texas with their first brew day this last week of 2011.

Located just blocks away from the Meddlesome Moth, Peticolas is the second craft brewery to open in Dallas in the past few months after the city's lack of any production breweries for many years. Beers are expected to show up on local taps soon into the new year.

Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale

SHINER - Spoetzl Brewery has received label approval for their next new beer called Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale.

The pale ale style marks another rare departure from traditional German styles for Spoetzl. There are indications this beer may serve as the 103rd installment in their continued line of special anniversary beers.

Jester King Recalls Beer

AUSTIN - Jester King has issued an official recall of their Commercial Suicide dark mild beers due to uncontrolled bottle conditioning.

In a statement, Jester King has admitted that "the fermentation has continued to a point where bottles may now be showing significant signs of leakage and may gush extensively upon opening." The brewery is asking all retailers and consumers to return any unopened bottles for exchange with one of their other products.

Adelbert's Brewery Opens

AUSTIN - Adelbert's Brewery became the latest craft brewery to open in Texas with their first bottled beers made available for sale just before Christmas.

Based in North Austin and named for the brewer's late brother, Adelbert's plans to focus on bottle-conditioned Belgian styles. No news yet on whether beers will be available on local retail taps.

Dallas Brewers in D Magazine

DALLAS - The three new Dallas-area commercial craft breweries will be featured in the January 2012 issue of
D Magazine.

Brief profiles are included of Peticolas Brewing, Lakewood Brewing and the already operating Deep Ellum Brewing as well as the owners and brewers themselves in an article entitled "Dallas Brews" by David Hopkins.

Jester King Wins Judgment Against TABC

AUSTIN - A federal court ruled Monday in Jester King's favor on several key issues in a suit brought against the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).

Judge Sam Sparks of the US District Court ruled in favor of Jester King, Authentic Beverages Company and Austin's Zax Restaurant & Bar with regard to their First Amendment challenges of restrictive beer labeling laws included in the TABC Code. As a result, breweries will no longer be bound by arbitrary label definitions of "beer," "ale" or "malt liquor," or descriptions of strength or alcohol content that have proved troublesome in the past.

Judge Sparks writes:

Although the Code is free to define "beer" and "ale" as it sees fit, Texas may not compel malt beverage producers to use those terms, and only those terms, in advertising and labeling. Accordingly, all statutes and regulations that compel such speech, including Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Sections 45.77 and 45.90, are declared unconstitutional. Again, nothing prevents Texas or TABC from passing appropriate regulations requiring producers to include accurate statements about the alcohol content of their products in labeling or advertising; absent a constitutionally sound justification, however, Texas may not dictate the exact words producers must use to do so.

The restriction of brewers advertising or promoting retail locations where their products can be purchased was also lifted, with some Texas breweries already preparing their websites to include commercial listings.

However, Judge Sparks ruled that the plaintiffs failed to produce sufficient evidence for overturning the restriction of direct sales from breweries, citing:

Authentic bears the burden of demonstrating there is no reasonably conceivable basis which might support the classifications in the challenged sections of the Code...

The ruling affirmed Texas has the right to regulate businesses in such a way, with changes in this respect necessarily coming through the legislature.

The TABC responded favorably, releasing a statement that said they have no plans to appeal.

Jester King Thrash Metal

AUSTIN - Jester King is set to release their latest beer this week, the Thrash Metal Farmhouse Strong Ale.

Per their blog, the Thrash Metal ale "is an homage to thrash metal music" and a "sibling" to their Black Metal Imperial Stout. It will be a golden ale made with pilsner, wheat and caramunich malts with a strong dose of American hops, and should finish at 9% ABV.

Thrash Metal will not be part of Jester King's regular lineup but an occasional release, "when the mood happens to strike us."

Pedernales Brewing Opens

FREDERICKSBURG - The Pedernales Brewing Company became the latest craft brewery to open in Texas with a grand opening this weekend.

Located in Fredericksburg, Pedernales Brewing held a small opening celebration last Saturday with a crowd of about 300 people. An official company website is still under development.