MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Gourmet beer that aficionados say is often only distributed in larger bottles can now be sold in the state of Alabama.

Gov. Robert Bentley signed a bill today to almost double the size of bottles beer can be sold in. Previously, beer could only be sold in containers up to 16 ounces. Beer can now be sold in bottles up to nearly 26 ounces under the new law.

Proponents say that size allows for the sale of high-end specialty beer, which is typically sold in bottles that are either 22 ounces or 750 milliliters.