More steps required before Shoals gets draft beer

FLORENCE – Four domestic beer taps stand like bowling pins and tease potential beer drinkers who belly up to the bar at Legends Steakhouse in downtown.

Push down on the taps, though, and nothing. No Bud Light, no Coors. But that may soon change and Legends’ preemptive setup may soon flow with beer.

Getting draft beer into the hands of Shoals beer drinkers will still take some time, money and a bit of politics. The Alabama House and Senate passed “915,” the local bill that authorizes Florence to sell draft beer.

City Councilwoman Angie Pickens brought the issue to the city council and started looking into draft beer sales two years ago. “This is how long it’s taken,” she said.

As of day’s end Friday, the measure still required Gov. Bob Riley to sign the bill – his window to veto the bill has passed.

The bill will return to the city council for final authorization, which is a surprise to some on the council.

“We passed a resolution requesting that legislation be offered in the state Legislature. I assumed when it passed down there that would be it,” said city council President Leland Howard. “But if it comes back up here and requires a city ordinance, we would put it on the agenda at the next council meeting, if possible.

“Since the resolution requesting legislation was unanimous, as I recall, I don’t see any problem with the ordinance passing.”

Pickens agreed. “As soon as it’s kicked back, I’m going to ask that there be a vote on it, immediately.

“I don’t see what the big deal is and why it’s taken so long,” Pickens said, “because it’s already sold in bottles and cans.”

For some, kegs are preferable to six-packs.

“Draft beer beats the heck out of bottled beer,” said Richard Nottingham, who played pool Friday evening on newly felted tables at downtown’s Smokehouse Billiards & Grille.

“A draft beer, when it’s served in a cold mug, it goes down smooth,” he said. “A bottle of beer sits for five minutes … it can go flat.”

Serving draft beer won’t be all bubbles and cheers but will require additional storage, supply logistics and equipment upkeep.

“I’m looking into the logistics and the price point of it,” said Smokehouse owner Steven Bustos.

Brandy Andazola, bar manager at Logan’s Roadhouse, said the restaurant was designed to eventually provide draft beer. She said most chain restaurants build their bars in this manner.

“The lines are already run under the floor in the bar,” she said. The lines will run to a refrigerated room that will house the kegs.

Andazola expects Logan’s will have eight to 10 types of beer on tap.

Jason Brinley, owner of Brinley Brothers Downtown Bistro and Mugshots, said he’s planning on having a large selection of draft beer.

“Where most places will have a three- to six-tap setup, we’re looking at 20,” Brinley said. “We’re really going to shine on imports and microbrews.”

But that shine will come with a price, because unlike Logan’s, Brinley’s restaurant did not build with kegs in mind. Despite the cost of installing the necessary equipment, Brinley said he expects to recoup the expense.

“We’re really kind of banking on it,” he said. “We really want to stand apart from everyone else.”

Even before restaurants receive the kegs, beer distributors will face challenges in this new market, such as getting refrigerated trucks and staff trained.

“I have to get the equipment to handle it,” said Marty McCain, sales manager for Supreme Beverage Co. in Muscle Shoals. “I have to get people trained in the knowledge of the draft system.”

McCain said Supreme Beverage has a place to store kegs but will need a refrigerated vehicle to deliver the kegs, which must be kept cold.

In preparation for draft beer sales, two workers at Shoals Distributing, the area’s Anheuser Busch distributor, will attend Anheuser Busch’s “draft school” in St. Louis, Mo., said Cotton Johnson, general manager.

“I hope the city council will give us three months to do this,” Johnson said. “The retailer needs some time, as we do.”

Such retailers include Legends. “The customers are going to be excited, so we’re excited for them,” said Blake Mays, manager at Legends.

Dana Byram, a bartender at Legends, will have to wait for weeks and potentially months before she can pour her first draft beer.

But not everybody is excited about draft beer sales.

“I’m not a beer drinker,” Byram said. “I hate beer.”

Mays added, “I’m a bottle person myself.”

TimesDaily Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.

TimesDaily Staff Reporter Russ Corey contributed to this report.