For those of you who enjoy the occasional frosty brew, I’d like to encourage you to check out the following site: http://www.freethehops.org.

This site is dedicated to expanding the variety of beer allowed within the great state of Alabama. It is promoting the sale and import of gourmet beers. I, for one, would love for such an expansion as it may allow for me to readily purchase my favorite beer, Fat Tire.

As it stands, Alabama does not allow beer to sold in containers over a certain size: pints, I believe. Nor does it allow for beers containing more than 6% alcohol content.

I am not advocating the drinking of highly potent brew, just for the sake of it being more potent. This restriction is limiting the availability of a wider selection of gourmet beer. Let’s face it, all beer does not taste the same… and quite frankly, a good bit of it tastes horrid. The good ol’ fashioned brews just can’t hold a candle to beverages lovingly made by microbreweries located around the country.

I encourage you to at least read over what they have to say at FreeTheHops.org. If you agree, then support them by contacting your representatives in Montgomery.

Last night I had the pleasure of watching Mel Brooks’ film adaptation of his Broadway musical “The Producers.” I will start by saying that I have not see the original film starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, nor the Broadway play, so I cannot make the proper correlations.

As this particular film stands, I enjoyed it. It reminded me of movie musicals that used to be so very popular long ago. As such, it felt has though they took a broadway musical and captured it on film, which is a double-edged sword. They appeared to stay true to the musical; however, it may not be the best translation to film.

Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane did a fantastic job in their roles as the producers of “Springtime for Hitler.” However, Will Ferrell stole the show as the playwright Libskind. Absolutely hysterical.

Clocking in at a little over 2 hours, the movie started to feel a little long-winded. It was entertaining through and through.

I’d give this movie a 7/10 stars.