Bill Plott
Staff Writer

Alabama's brewpub scene, which had been a bit spare and bleak, is brightening up.

Mr. Jim Cannon's Brewpub in Mobile is on target for opening this summer, after a series of construction delays. Located in the former Mobile Brewing Co. site downtown, the building has undergone extensive renovations, slowing the start-up.

"We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We should be open within five weeks," said Mitch Bain, brewmaster at the parent company, The Cannon Brewpub in Columbus, Ga.

"Mike McGouirk is going to be the general manager. He is already living in Mobile and is interviewing and hiring as we speak. The brewer (Todd Hicks) should have grain delivered next week. The logo was finalized a week ago. We were shooting for the end of July and that is still our goal."

Mr. Jim's Cannon Brewpub will offer the same line of beers currently being served in Columbus. Hicks is veteran brewmaster, having worked at the former Santa Rosa Bay brewery in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., and at Hal & Mal's in Jackson, Miss.

Other good news in Alabama comes from Dothan, where Poplar Head Mule Co. had ceased brewing beer some time ago.  A spokesman there said they hope to start brewing again "in a month or so."  He said the brewmaster is expected to be Rich Wing, a flight instructor at nearby Fort Rucker.

Alabama's other brewpubs -- Montgomery Brewpub and the Olde Auburn Ale House -- both appear to be doing fine.  Dave Molter is brewmaster at Montgomery and Michael Chavez is at Auburn.  *    *     *

Steve Fried, former brewmaster at McGuire's in Pensacola, Fla., is back on the job there after having been doing other things for a couple of years.  He said his summer seasonal is due out in mid-July.

"It will be a white ale, a Belgian wit style like Hoegaarden. It's got orange blossom honey and coriander in it," he said.

Fried announced that the annual Emerald Coast Beer Festival has been set for Sept. 5-6 in Pensacola. There will be a festival on Friday night and a Beer Olympics on the beach on Saturday. For additional information check the web site: www.emeraldcoastfest.tripod.com.

Madison Roane is the brewer at McGuire's Destin location. Fried said he has had to drop his own Emerald Coast Brewing Co. beers, which included Loggerhead Red for Chan's deli, because of the time requirements of his regular duties.

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An Atlanta-area brewpub that had ceased brewing beer several months ago may be pouring again soon.

A spokesman for Peckerhead Brewery in Douglasville said the brewpub, which had remained open as a restaurant during the dry period, hopes to be brewing again "in the fall.