E-Malt.com News article: USA, AL: ABC Board blocks Founders Brewing Co. from selling two of their beers in Alabama

The Alabama Beverage Control Board (ABC) has blocked Founders Brewing Company from selling their Dirty Bastard Scotch-style Ale and Backwoods Bastard Bourbon Barrel Aged Ale brands in the state on account of not meeting the ABC's label approval criteria, Examiner.com reported on March, 15.

Since the labels for Dirty Bastard and Backwoods Bastard do not contain any questionable artwork, it is quite obvious that someone at ABC took offense to the word "bastard" in the names of these beers and exercised their power to reject the approval of these labels.

As cited by Free the Hops, "Section 20­X­8­.12(2) of the Alabama Administrative Code states 'No label shall be approved by the ABC Board which would violate the prohibitions listed in 20­X­7­.01 on general advertising of alcoholic beverages.' Section 20X7.01(b) states 'The ABC Board may exercise its discretion to prohibit advertising it considers objectionable'." As far as the Administrative Code goes, sadly they were within their right to make this call.


21 March, 2012