Want to support HB 660? Come hangout downtown, get some free microbrews and become actively engaged in state politics!

What: Beer Summit: Change is Brewing in Texas

Where/When: Main Plaza (Downtown) - Friday, February 25th, 5:30 p.m.

More Info: Join State Representative Mike Villarreal for a rally to support his legislation to expand the availability of locally brewed beer in Texas.

Enjoy free samples of beer from BlueStar and Freetail from 5:30-7. Stick around for music at 7 p.m. featuring local band, Michael and the Infidels.

I have to work that night (blasted!), but it sure sounds like a great event and a great way to drum up more support!

Texans want more beer!

I should rephrase that... Texans want more GOOD beer! And most brewpub owners in Texas want to give it to us!

San Antonio's Representative Mike Villarreal authored HB 660 with the help of Freetail's Brewing Co.'s Scott Metzger and Blue Star Brewing Co.'s Joey Villarreal to expand where a brewpub's beers can be sold.

I know, every TX Lege session, there's always the same bills trying to get pushed through, e.g. legalizing casinos and allowing breweries to sell beer on-site (which they should be allowed to do). But, this HB#660 might be gaining momentum due to social media. More people are aware of it due to Facebook and Twitter.

After seeing my Friends on Facebook "like" the HB#660, I read more about it and decided to do a story for our 10 p.m. news. I'm not the reporter on the story, but I did push for the story and got all the players to talk to us. :-)

KENS 5 Story:



For more information on HB#660:
1. Scott Metzger's Blog: http://brewednotbattered.wordpress.com/
2. Like it on Facebook
3. Follow it on Twitter
4. Keep track of the process: TX Lege

Brew it Yourself!

{His t-shirt says it all!}

I'm late in getting around to this post, but I promise I had it in the queue for the past month!

Micah and I (I'm here just for the free beer) are part of the Bexar Brewers, the main and might I say the BESTEST (yes, that is correct) homebrew club in San Antonio.

{waiting for the grain to be milled}

While some of the brewers in the BB club have been brewing for decades, there are also some people who have only started brewing in the past few years. To cultivate the homebrewing community, the BB take part in Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day.

Since this was Micah's first time particpating in this event, he teamed up with fellow BB Ben to brew a wheat IPA.

{Micah has a tough job}


{wort bubbling away}

I wrangled up some folks from work who were interested in brewing their own beer and told them to come on down to the Blue Star Brewpub to watch all the action go down!

It could not have been a more perfect day to brew!

According to the BB current President, this was the largest showing for TFHD that they've ever had! YAY!

{people eager to learn and teach!}

It was actually really interesting to see all the different rigs that each brewer used. Everyone brews differently so it was nice to see how everyone else makes their witches brew.

{Larry in the camo shirt and this is his rig}

{L: Ron is making a pumpkin beer, R: Dick is checking his brew}

{Sherry hard at work}

Oscar's wife, Sherry, was a sweetheart and decided to make beer food for everyone that day. Everything she made from the cheese dip to the beef skewers had some type of beer component.

Everyone had a great time and the event was a great success!!

If you're interested in getting into brewing your own beer, check out the Bexar Brewers site and even attend a meeting! We won't bite...