Late breaking Brew News edition, not for a lack of stories, quite the opposite this week I just haven’t had the chance to write them up.

I started the weekend at the Shamrock competition, it was great to see our friends at CARBOY homebrew club. Winners are posted here, it was much different than the old pen and paper judging, I spent much of my time getting used to using a computer to enter the scores. I am sure it’s a more efficient process for the organizers. Compared to when I first started judging homebrewers seem to do a much better job in terms of quality.

Then Sunday featured NC Pint glass day and while a number of news outlets mention the story, just go to the Guild’s press release because it’s what they all used in their coverage.

Yesterday being Tax day reminded me of this recent post by Vinepair on the tax rates put on beer by state with North Carolina 9th highest.

The ban on home distilling pre-dates Prohibition but now it’s been struck down in the courts. Does that mean it is legal, not exactly. It’s funny in Arizona we would get asked at the homebrew shop about every 6 months about home distilling. In North Carolina it was at least twice a month. There are 2 types of home distillers, one that quietly comes in, buy malt and yeast, pay in cash and leave. The other would come in and slap a jar on the counter announcing “come check out my shine!” If any of the former were around when the later arrived they would be quickly out the door. Back to the legal question, in North Carolina the ABC officials are very clear, if something is not explicitly stated in statues as allowed then it’s illegal. It took a number of years and meetings to convince them that sampling to check quality, especially at beer festivals, was necessary and legitimate. So I am going to say no it’s still not legal in North Carolina, not that it will stop people from doing it.

We have news on openings in South Carolina. The South Coast Beer Project will be opening in Myrtle Beach hopefully in May. In addition Ciclops Cyderi and Brewery will be reopening in a new location in Spartanburg, it’s still a few weeks out but the end at one location isn’t stopping them.

Back to NC, we have this nice write up about the NC Ale Trail by Rail program.

Out West we do have an update Black Mountain Brewery Owner John Richardson has decided to run for town council, given all the mess of that story I think it’s a positive turn.

In Charlotte we have from the Business Journal a story of Cabarrus Brewing signing a state wide distribution deal. Since it’s behind a paywall, I have checked both ABC and other sites looking for who exactly they signed with but no success so I’ll follow up on this. Keep and eye out at your local bottle shops for them.

In closing news we have an announcement that Funguys will be shuttering. It wasn’t unexpected with the closing of the taproom.

In the weekend events we have Band, Brews & BBQ out at the coast. Around the Triangle we have Southern Peak celebrating their 10th Anniversary and Carolina Brewery will be hosting a Shrimp Boil in Pittsboro. So plenty to keep you busy.