Erin Kosnac

Hattiesburg American

July 1, 2012.

It’s not a particularly notable date for Mississippians — unless you’re a fan of craft beer.

On that date, Mississippi's new beer laws took effect, raising the permissible alcohol content in beer. The change allowed Mississippians to enjoy the same brews as beer lovers in other states.

It also led to a bit of a brewery boom in the state.

Today, 13 breweries call Mississippi home. Scattered from the Gulf Coast to Oxford, the breweries are making names for themselves in the Magnolia State and beyond.

Even now, almost four years after the state's laws were updated, the craft beer scene is continuing to grow.

Something is definitely brewing in Mississippi — and we wanted to take a closer look.

In today's Hattiesburg American and The Clarion-Ledger, subscribers will find a special section focused on craft beer in Mississippi. This is subscriber-exclusive content and is not available in single-copy editions. Those wishing to view the content online or on a mobile device will have to log in to do so.

The section looks at everything from the push for on-site sales at breweries to new trends in craft beer. We also asked each of the 13 breweries to tell us a little bit about themselves and their must-try brews.

Even if you aren’t a beer fan, this is an industry to keep an eye on.

In 2014, Mississippi brewers saw $194,836.95 in gross sales, while sales jumped to $289,463.83 in 2015.

Breweries are increasing capacity and workers. Take Southern Prohibition Brewing in Hattiesburg. The brewery opened in April 2013 with three employees. Today, Southern Prohibition has 15 employees and distributes beer throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. It also expects to soon double its capacity and be able to produce between 11,000 and 13,000 barrels a year.

The economic benefits to the state are myriad, including tourism dollars from out-of-staters looking to check out the inner-workings of a brewery during a tour.

We expect this is still just the beginning for Mississippi’s craft beer scene, with more good things to come. More homebrewers who take a chance and turn their hobby into a profession. More brewery-related jobs and a greater economic impact. And more Mississippi-made products hitting shelves and coolers across the country.

Erin Kosnac is the Hattiesburg American's news director. Contact her at ejkosnac@hattiesburgamerican.com or (601) 584-3070.