Caledonia, MS To Decide On Cold Beer Sales

An issue that was hotly-contested in 1945 and 1982 will be up for debate again Saturday morning at Caledonia Town Hall.

For nearly three decades, Cal-City Grocery was the only place within the city limits where cold beer could be purchased thanks to a grandfather clause following a 1982 ordinance limiting the sale of alcohol.

But since the death of owner Bill Pearrow in September 2010, the future of the store has been uncertain. Cal-City Grocery closed last fall and a potential new owner, Jeff Doty of Aberdeen, is ready to re-open, but because the store was closed for more than 24 hours, the grandfather clause was rendered null and void.

Doty told aldermen Tuesday night that he's waiting to find out if a variance on the 1982 ordinance will be issued; if not, he said, he may not bid on the business.

The board will revisit the issue in a public meeting Saturday at 9 a.m.

Alderman Bill Darnell hasn't decided how he will vote, but he said Cal-City brought in a steady flow of business, generating -- at his best guess -- at least 10 percent of the town's total tax revenue.

Much of that foot traffic came from across county and state lines, Darnell said. According to the state Department of Revenue, 36 of Mississippi's 82 counties are dry for beer and light wine sales, though some municipalities are wet for sales of beer.

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This isn't the first time Caledonia has faced the question of whether or not to allow beer. The first ordinance, prohibiting beer sales within 1,500 feet of a church or school, was written in 1945.

That ordinance was challenged in 1980 when a local store, Killebrew's, began selling beer. The case went all the way to the Mississippi Supreme Court, where Caledonia's beer ordinance was upheld.

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Alderman Mike Savage said he's had several people call him about the possibility of cold beer sales within the city limits again, but he will wait until Saturday's meeting to make a decision about it.

"I think it's a good idea," Mayor George Gerhart said. "It will help the town out as far as revenue coming in."

Read more:http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=15581#ixzz1m2B2OWS0

Beau Rivage and Lazy Magnolia Bring Back "Biloxi Blonde" Beer

Beau Rivage is pleased to announce the launch of Biloxi Blonde beer and is celebrating with a party on February 9. Beer lovers are encouraged to come to Beau Rivage’s Coast nightclub from 8:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. for free beer and entertainment. During the free beer tasting, monetary donations will be accepted for Biloxi’s Back Bay Mission, a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance, supportive housing and outreach services to the homeless, including a current plan to build housing for homeless veterans in Biloxi.

Biloxi Blonde, Beau Rivage’s top selling microbrew beer pre-Hurricane Katrina, will be available to guests once again as a result of a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Mississippi’s Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company.

“We are very excited to collaborate with an outstanding local company so that we may bring Biloxi Blonde back in the bottle and on tap throughout the resort,” said Beau Rivage Executive Director of Food & Beverage Ron E. Hall. “Hurricane Katrina may have taken our collection of copper-clad brew tanks and the popular beers they produced, but it didn’t stop us from wanting to give our customers what they request; thanks to our partnership with Lazy Magnolia, we’ve now come full circle. We can please long-time fans, as well as give new customers a chance to try Biloxi Blonde for the first time.”

Before the August 2005 storm, Biloxi Blonde and six other beers were brewed on site at Beau Rivage’s Coast Brewing Company, Mississippi’s first microbrewery. The brewpub was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and when the resort reopened following a year-long renovation, Coast returned as a nightclub without the brewery.

Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company’s interpretation of Biloxi Blonde is nearly indistinguishable from the original. Biloxi Blonde is a German-style Kolsch beer that features American and European malts for depth of flavor, exceptional drinkability and a refreshing finish. “We had always admired Beau Rivage’s brewmaster Brian Bush and wanted to stay as true to his award-winning recipe as possible with the brewing equipment we use,” said Leslie Henderson, co-founder/brewer of Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company, “the focus remains on quality.”

Biloxi Blonde will be available in the bottle and on tap throughout the resort including in the casino, restaurants, bars, theatre and retail stores. In celebration and support of the classic brand’s post-Katrina rebirth, beloved Gulf Coast wood sculptor Marlin Miller – best known for transforming hurricane-damaged trees into coastal-themed sculptures – carved the Biloxi Blonde beer tap handles out of Katrina oak and etched the beer label artwork into the weathered wood.

The popular craft beer will be available exclusively at Beau Rivage in Biloxi and Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi.

Source: The Full Pint

"Cafe Buffalo" Cask Ale Tasting - Tues @ Scrooges in Jackson

Cafe Buffalo Cask Ale Tasting Scrooge's Restaurant and Pub , Southern Beverage Co and Raise Your Pints are proud to bring you a special firkin of unique craft beer called "Café Buffalo" from our friends at Tallgrass Brewing Co. It's a cask-conditioned beer consisting of the Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat stout flavored with hand roasted coffee beans. We'll tap it out on the patio behind Scrooges. Buying a pint of this craft beer will also include a Raise Your Pints pint glass that you can take home. All proceeds from the sale of Café Buffalo will go to the Raise Your Pints lobbying fund. This is our last fundraiser before the start of the 2012 legislative session, so please come out and support the efforts to bring a better selection of beer to Mississippi and to legalize homebrewing. Raise Your Pints board members will be there to discuss the upcoming session. Tallgrass IPA and Tallgrass Ale will be on tap inside the pub along with other great craft beers. Food will be available from the menu. Where: Scrooge's Restaurant and Pub, 5829 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211 When: Tuesday, December 27, 2011. 6-9 PM