HUNTSVILLE, AL. - Ever since the Gourmet Beer Bill that allowed higher alcohol content became Alabama law in 2009, a wave of home brewers have emerged from their abodes to start microbreweries.

More importantly, the Rocket City is now housing this concentrated craft-beer revolution, leading the state in microbrews.

So, what prompted the explosion of specialty brews in Alabama’s fourth-largest city?

Well, Huntsville is home to some actual natives, but rather more national and international transplants to this high-tech and military hub. Stuart Carter - president of the grassroots political nonprofit organization Free The Hops - said highly educated, intelligent and motivated people are moving to the area for work and are “discovering this is a beer wasteland.”

“With all of the new opportunities to brew beer after legislation was passed in May 2009, it will be the beer capital of Alabama for quite some time,” Carter said of Huntsville.

“Those who appreciate the good stuff have a massively wider range of choice now” because of the change in alcohol content, he said, “which means we are getting more breweries in the state.”

Olde Towne

The folks who started brewing long before the alcohol content jump and kickstarted the craft-beer trend in Rocket City was Olde Towne Brewing Company. Operations began in 2003 with their flagship beer, Olde Towne Amber Ale. Since then, Olde Towne’s line of brews have grown to also include seasonal beers such as their ever-popular fall special, pumpkin ale. And for the moment, Olde Towne is the only microbrewery in town that bottles their adult beverages.

Straight to Ale

Following behind them was Straight to Ale, housed at the old Lincoln Mill, which released its first concoction in May 2010. Straight to Ale brewer and co-owner Dan Perry said the state’s former 6-percent cap prevented a lot of beer styles they loved to brew.

“We are all about full-flavor beer,” Perry said, “and we figured we we’d make a run of it when the law was passed.”

And they certainly have. Perry said Huntsville is “buying up all of our stuff.”

“Huntsville is set up for this because people come from all over the world here,” he said, “and now you can get all these styles and varieties from all of these breweries. It’s the perfect market.”

Blue Pants Brewery

This month a young married couple debuted their beloved brew baby, Knickerbocker Red, at The Nook. As the owners of the Blue Pants Brewery in Madison, Allison “Blue” Spratley and Mike “Pants” Spratley - both 25 - decided that the goal of the brewery was for it to grow naturally and on its own without allowing the endeavor to affect them financially.

“We both have full-time jobs and we don’t need any revenue from it,” Allison said. “We are letting the brewery reinvest in itself so we can grow as we sell beer.”

The development of Blue Pants Brewery’s headquarters was literally a family affair, Allison said. The duo scraped up supplies, had family members paint and do sheetrock, and Mike wired the control systems.

“It saved us a lot of money,” he said.

But the birth of Knickerbocker Red is solely from “Pants,” who has been perfecting the brew since he began the hobby nearly four years ago. It’s well worth the wait, though.

“The opening at The Nook was great,” Allison said. “We went through four kegs in four hours.”

So, what’s next for the weekend brewers?

“Pinstripe Stout and Corduroy Rye IPA (India Pale Ale),” Mike said.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, all their brews released will be named after some kind of pants. Clever.

Yellowhammer

The new kid on the block is Yellowhammer Brewery on Clinton Avenue. With two brews already released at The Nook and soon to be at Mason’s Pub, brewer and co-owner Keith Yager said they will be focusing on German- and Belgian-style ales with a “really good line of IPAs.”

“Our beer creed is to produce beers with European tradition that are uniquely American,” said Pennsylvania native Yager. “We love good beer and wanted to bring good beer culture to this area.

“Asheville, North Carolina, is the size of this city and they have 12 microbreweries,” he said. “There’s definitely room in the market for us.”

For now, Yager and the gang are focusing on introducing their signature brews to the market while producing the best quality and world class beer from some of their personal recipes.

And the group doesn’t view the other breweries in town as competition.

“It’s more of a collaboration than competition as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

Check it out...

Blue Pants Brewery

When: Officially licensed Oct. 1

What: Knickerbocker Red

Beer style: A moderately hoppy, balanced and strong American Red Ale with a lot of caramel malts and some roasted barley. It's smooth, a little sweet and has a deep-red hue.

What they say: "It's three distinct tastes as you drink it," Mike Spratley said. "Sweet on the front end and a nice hop kick on the back end, but not too much of either."

Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV

Where can you buy: On draft at The Nook and Mason's Pub.

Other brews: Working on Pinstripe Stout and Corduroy Rye IPA.

Information: E-mail pants@bluepantsbrew.com or visit bluepantsbrew.com.

Yellowhammer Brewery

When: Incorporated Fall 2009

What: Yellowhammer White

Beer style: A Belgian white ale brewed with fresh ginger, lime leaves and Amarillo hops.

What they say: "It's unlike other Belgian whites. It gets a citrus character from lime leaves and ginger, which makes it unique. And it's a lower gravity, everyday beer."

Alcohol content: 4.8 percent ABV.

Other brews: Yellowhammer IPA with a 6.8 percent ABV that's brewed with four select malts and a blend of Centennial, Columbus, Amarillo and Simcoe hops. "It's not a sweet IPA. It's a session IPA with a dry finish and a lot of hops flavor. It's our unique American beer."

Where can you buy: On draft at The Nook and soon-to-be at Mason's Pub.

Information: Yellowhammerbrewery.com

Straight to Ale

When: First beer released in May 2010

What: Lily Flagg Milk Stout

Beer style: Named after Huntsville's most famous and prized cow of 1892, Lily Flagg, owned by local plantation owner Samuel B. Moore, is a milk stout that's sweet, creamy and smooth. It's a dark and rich beer with hints of chocolate, coffee and roasted malts.

What they say: "We actually brew it with a lactose in it. It's thicker than a lager and not like an oatmeal stout. It has a roasted flavor and is balanced by the sweetness."

Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV

Other brews: Monkeynaut IPA, Wernher von Brown Ale and Brother Joseph's Belgian Dubbel are regular brews. Occasional brews are Gorillanaut Imperial IPA, Twickenham Mild Ale, Barrel-Aged Unobtanium Ole Ale, Girlfriend Raspberry Wheat and Barrel-Aged Orbiter Strong Ale. Hellfire Belgian Strong Ale as right-to-brew series.

Where can you buy: Draft-only at local bars and restaurants in Huntsville, Providence, Madison, Hampton Cove and The J. Clyde in Birmingham.

Information: Go to straighttoale.com.

Olde Towne Brewing Company

When: Started in 2003

What: Pumpkin Ale, a seasonal treat.

Beer style: A sweet malty ale that uses real pumpkin in the mash. Has a blend of pumpkin spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove.

What they say: "It's always a big hit every fall. People always ask when it will be ready."

Alcohol content: 6.5 percent ABV

Other brews: Olde Towne Amber Ale, Olde Towne Pale Ale, Olde Towne Hefeweizen and Olde Towne Pilsner are offered year round. Seasonal brews include the Pumpkin Ale and Olde Towne Porter.

Where can you buy: Throughout the state at bars, restaurants and stores. Served on draft and sold in bottles.

Information: Call 256-489-8700 or go to oldetownebeer.com.

