BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Gov. Robert Bentley said he won't be a buzzkill for Alabama breweries seeking to expand their businesses under new legislation awaiting his signature.

Alabama brewery owners were buzzing about their plans for tasting rooms and tours at last weekend's Magic City Brew Fest, but most were concerned that Bentley's deeply held religious beliefs might prevent him from signing the Brewery Modernization Act into law.

But Bentley said he intends to sign the bill because his duties as governor differ from when he was a locally elected official. He previously represented Tuscaloosa in the state House.

"When I represented my local community, I voted against Sunday alcohol sales and things of that nature," Bentley said in an interview. "As governor, it's a little bit different. I don't feel I should impose my views on everybody in the state. The Legislature has had a chance to look at it and passed it. I'm sure I will sign it."

That's welcome news to brewers like Craig Shaw of Avondale Brewing Co., which is set to open in Birmingham's Southside Avondale neighborhood.

Shaw said the timing of the Brewery Modernization Act fits perfectly with the opening of Avondale Brewing Co.

"We're looking at designing a tap room and a bar and will have tours due to the new law," Shaw said. "We're going to be open to the public as soon as we can legally do so."

The new law will, for the first time, allow breweries in the state to have a tap room for visitors to sample beer at the end of a brewery tour -- an important aspect of business for smaller craft breweries that don't have the sales volumes of major companies. The law will make legal tasting rooms, or tap rooms, and allow breweries to have a separate license to open a brewpub on premises.

Mike Sellers, co-owner of Birmingham's Good People Brewing Co., said the company's brewery near Railroad Park will add jobs, a tap room and tours once the legislation is signed into law by the governor.

"We're going to take advantage of everything that's allowed as quickly as possible," Sellers said.

Gadsden's Back Forty Beer Co. is opening new operations in a 26,000-square-foot warehouse. Tripp Collins, director of operations, said the new space opens up possibilities.

"We're excited about what the new bill will enable us to do," Collins said. "We're working on a tap room and you're going to be hearing more about our plans in the near future."

Huntsville's Straight to Ale Brewery also is poised to capitalize on the law.

"A tap room is already in the works," said Dan Perry, one of the founders and brewers of Straight to Ale. "We haven't nailed down the rest of our plans yet."

Mike Spratley, brewer and owner of Huntsville's Blue Pants Brewery, said the new law creates an avenue for growth for upstart breweries like Blue Pants.

"We're putting together a scheme for the next phase of our growth," he said. "Things like tours and a tap room will likely be in the plans going forward. We see that as a great way to grow the business."

Bill 'pretty substantial'



The Free the Hops organization pushed for passage of the Brewery Modernization Act in the current legislative session and, though it made some compromises, is happy with the end result.

"We took some flack from a few of our members over the compromises," said Dan Roberts, vice president of legislative support at Free the Hops. "But the truth is we got a bill that is pretty substantial and is a huge improvement over what existed."

Roberts said Free the Hops has promoted the new law as being more about economic development than beer. He is encouraged by Bentley's willingness to consider the bill on those merits.

"That's what it's all about -- enabling Alabama businesses to grow," he said. "If you go to other states, tap rooms are the most common thing in the world. Tasting rooms and tours are the way small breweries grow their brand. When you're dealing with beer on this level, it's not a commodity like the big beer brands."

Join the conversation by clicking to comment or e-mail Tomberlin at mtomberlin@bhamnews.com.