Good People have broken new ground in the state by providing a high-quality, local craft beer made in downtown Birmingham.

There’s a big warehouse in downtown Birmingham.

You might be thinking, “Yeah so what else is new JFL?”

This one makes beer,  great beer. Good People Brewery sits on 14th Street South in Birmingham, but it wears it’s rustic urban surroundings like a badge of honor. It’s cans sport beautiful art all with faux weathering and art that seems to celebrate the downtown area it comes from. In many ways though it’s beat up design celebrates Birmingham and the knocks it’s taken over the years.

More than Jefferson County however Jason and Micheal seek to credit there amazing brews to the entire state. “We just wanna strive to be  good community stewards and bring our product to the rest of the country. We want to present something else Alabama can take pride in.” It’s clear by talking to Micheal how much he loves his home state. He and Jason have been rolling out legal beer since July 4th, 2008. Good People has been popular on tap but when cans hit the shelves last year sales went through the roof. Their numbers have stayed so consistent they released a new very popular offering, Snake Handler Double IPA.

A heavily hopped style Snake Handler manages to maintain a balance that a lot of it’s competition does not. It still retains the bite and brightness one expects, and I imagine as warmer weather this this beer will rest in many a grillside ice chests. It is also rather historic as it’s the first high gravity beer brewed and packaged in Alabama. Snake Handler’s bright citrus bite really goes great with barbecue, spicy food, and hard cheeses. Snake Handler also adds to an already popular list of brews including an IPA and a delicious Brown Ale for those who like abit more mellow smoothness. As a breeder of real snakes I had to drop by the release party and taste some of the first cans myself.

People of all ages and stripes dropped by, the majority agreeing that Snake Handler was the king of the cans. The band played while all types of friendly folk chatted and played table tennis in the midst of the brewery/tap room. The tap room itself is open from Wednesday to Saturday for varying hours and their website and Facebook is a great source of updates and information.

Free the Hops has been a major key to their success. The craft beer bill being the first step, followed by last year’s bill that allowed their tap rooms and tours to be possible. The additions of Railroad Park and the future baseball park only make the future seem brighter for this growing Alabama icon.  

 They want to keep up the pace if the future is willing. Expanding across the state and the south is a major goal. So is developing the tap room and increasing the brewery’s footprint. Good People might also see the release of a fourth canned offering from Alabama’s brewmasters. Personally, I’m hoping for one of their tasty stouts.

So here I sit on a rather nice night on an old loading dock with a grassy field below me. Tonight’s event reminds me how creative our citizens all over the state can be. Next time you reach for a six pack, pass on that beer brewed halfway across the country and reach for some of Alabama’s own. They truly are good people brewing for a great state.

Joey Schmidt, or ‘JFL,’ is a Certified Sommelier, Bar Menu Consultant, and local Culinary Graduate. He is also the Head Mixologist for 100.5 FM’s Richard Dixon Show and Rated R Cocktails. Listen for him Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and visit his website atRatedrcocktails.com