I am much more excited about the Senate bill than Sierra Nevada possible coming here. Freeing Tennessee brewers to make high gravity beers and changing some antiquated laws is long overdue. I can always get SN beers whether they build in TN or not but they are the motivation for the change. [:)]

quote: Originally posted by MarkFraghert You are aware that Alcoa is not the top place on Sierra Nevada's list (Blacksburg, Virginia is supposedly the top choice, a place they were rumoured to be setting up shop in back in 2006). Also keep in mind, as Bill stated in the Press Release yesterday, there is no guarantee that they will even build an Eastern facility. They went through this process in in 2006, identifying 2 cities (both in Virginia as Ken has family there) and nothing resulted of it. I would hate to see people disappointed if nothing happens again.

Now that the reading has passed through committee and set to be voted on Thursday, May 19, Alcoa, TN now may the front runner. Our Southern conservative Senators wouldn't be jumping through hoops unless they thought Sierra Nevada was coming to Tennessee.

quote: Originally posted by bluesandbarbq I will CELEBRATE something very important to ALL beer drinkers in Tennessee and abroad that just happened within the last hour.... TENNESSEE Senate Ways and Means committee passed a proposal that would allow ALL brewers in TN to brew High Gravity beers WITHOUT obtaining a distillers license, which they've had to do in the past. Yazoo got their license last year, but that's besides the point. WHEN (hopefully not IF) this bill passes the Tennessee Senate (the committee voted 10 - 0) then it will become law. The reason behind this rapid movement is to insure that Sierra Nevada moves to East Tennessee, thirty miles from me in a little town in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Alcoa. THAT is why this bill was moved forward; $$$$s. Now Sierra Nevada will/can build their East Coast facility in my freaking back yard! I am STOKED! (but the bill still has to pass.....) Tennessee today hopefully removed the antiquated laws restricting brewers. Today is a good day for beer. You heard it here first.

Excellent! That's awesome news. Good luck To Tennessee ;0

[url="http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/may/17/alcoa-short-list-sierra-nevada-brewing-plant/"]Alcoa on short list for Sierra Nevada Brewery[/url]

Even better story and link: [url="http://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/may/17/alcoa-short-list-sierra-nevada-brewing-company-sit/"]Alcoa courts Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.[/url]

quote: quote: Originally posted by bluesandbarbq I am much more excited about the Senate bill than Sierra Nevada possible coming here. Freeing Tennessee brewers to make high gravity beers and changing some antiquated laws is long overdue. I can always get SN beers whether they build in TN or not but they are the motivation for the change. [:)]

Even if SN does not come, it's nothing but a good thing. Iowa got rid of their draconian ABV law last year. Lots of new big beers have been released by the brewpubs and bottlers. It frees up the brewers to do a lot more styles. At the same time, the higher abv beers that come from other places are no longer taxed like liquor with extra red tape, so the selection at beer stores has been steadily improving. Maybe Tennessee can get to where high abv beers are sold in the regular beer stores?

quote: Originally posted by MarkFraghert You are aware that Alcoa is not the top place on Sierra Nevada's list (Blacksburg, Virginia is supposedly the top choice, a place they were rumoured to be setting up shop in back in 2006). Also keep in mind, as Bill stated in the Press Release yesterday, there is no guarantee that they will even build an Eastern facility. They went through this process in in 2006, identifying 2 cities (both in Virginia as Ken has family there) and nothing resulted of it. I would hate to see people disappointed if nothing happens again.

[url="http://blogs.metropulse.com/the_daily_pulse/2011/05/sierra-nevada-really-really-in.html?cid=Facebook#"]Sierra Nevada Really REALLY Interested in Tennessee[/url] "As it stands now, the Maryville/Alcoa location is at the top of our list as a possible site for a new brewery. We were quite taken with the location before this most recent legislation, but as I mentioned above, it would have been impossible for us to consider the site seriously without the ability to do what we do best!" [:D][:p][^] Optimistic. Hopeful. But changing the beer and brewing laws in Tennessee is the BIGGEST victory here.

Sierra Nevada update: [url="http://blogs.metropulse.com/the_daily_pulse/2011/06/sierra-nevadas-owner-family-ch.html"]Sierra Nevada's Owner & Family Checking Out Tennessee[/url]

More rumor mill SN-to-TN news: [url="http://www.knoxviews.com/node/16589"]Sierra Nevada: Tennessee Land Bought?[/url]

[url="http://blogs.knoxnews.com/flory/2011/08/sierra-nevada-blount-co-site-s.html"]Sierra Nevada: Blount Co., TN site still first choice[/url]