The South is home to far fewer breweries than any other region, due in part to strict laws. That may be slowly changing, and Birmingham is leading the charge. Since Alabama relaxed its regulations regarding brewing in 2004, Birmingham has become home to four breweries and two brewpubs. Beer tastings and brewery tours are a trendy new way to celebrate Birmingham’s culture and meet local craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
The newest brewery on the block,Trim Tab Brewing Company, opened in February 2014. Its flagship beers are the citrusy TrimTab IPA and the earthy Pillar to Post Rye Brown. During the summer, TrimTab throws weekly crawfish boils with live bluegrass music. Altogether, the brewery’s tasting gallery and production area can accommodate private gatherings of 250.
Since 2011,Good People Brewing Co.has offered tours and tastings of its award-winning beers. Year-round favorites include pale ale, brown ale, Coffee Oatmeal Stout and Bearded Lady American Wheat Ale. Good People offers event space and tours for groups as large as 15. Just passing through? Good People also has a location at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
Avondale Brewing Company (ABC) opened in late 2011 in a historic building that served in turns as a bank, pub, firehouse and, allegedly, a bordello. The latter chapter of its storied history is commemorated in its Brothel Brown special dark ale, as well as a ghostly lady of the evening who reputedly haunts the premises. ABC fondly draws on other legends of the Avondale neighborhood in the names of its beers and its logo, a famous elephant who lived in Avondale and rumored to enjoy the occasional adult beverage. ABC welcomes groups of 10 for brewery tours and can host as many as 200 for standing receptions.
Groups can also get a smorgasbord experience by enlisting Rare Transportation for a brewery tour. Tour stops can include the city’s four breweries and two brewpubs, or even a Birmingham Barons baseball game at their new ballpark, Regions Field, completed in 2013.
