(Birmingham, AL) – A grassroots non-profit organization lobbying for legislation that will help craft breweries in Alabama is drawing both support and criticism today for its introduction of a boycott of over fifteen breweries.

Free the Hops has been working on two bills that it feels will greatly improve the craft beer scene in Alabama: 1) a bill that will allow the sale of beer on-premise like a brewpub “and/or to wholesalers” and 2) a bill that will allow for the sale of beer in bottles greater than 16 ounces.

Today, the group made allegations that Anheuser–Busch has stepped up lobbying efforts to prevent passage of the Free the Hops bills. With those allegations comes an announced boycott of Alabama AB wholesalers, including Huntsville-based Turner Beverage and Birmingham Bud, and all brands carried by the AB wholesalers.

That list includes the brands of at least ten craft breweries.

Local beer drinkers have been largely supportive of the group’s mission and today’s announced boycott says Free the Hops VP of Legislative Support, Dan Roberts.

Further away, the reaction has been mixed, especially in Colorado where a number of the listed craft breweries operate.

Free the Hops VP of Media Relations, Stuart Carter, clarified that the organization supports the craft breweries named in the boycott. “Our gripe is with the wholesalers that are working against the bill that are profiting from these craft breweries.”

Roberts said that this is mainly about the brewery modernization act (part 1 above). That bill recently passed in the Senate but is currently sitting in committee in the House while Free the Hops works with those opposing specific points of the bill. He expressed frustration in a new blog post about negotiations with local wholesalers.

One of the breweries named in the boycott, Great Divide Brewing, has spent much of the day defending itself on Twitter. The brewery claims to have not been contacted prior to the boycott.

Free the Hops President, Gabe Harris, said that there was an attempt to contact all breweries mentioned on the list and that connections were made in most cases.

Great Divide is one of a handful of brands that is represented by an Alabama-based agency called Craft Corner Consulting. Companies like CCC are generally referred to as “brokers” among those in the industry. They work as a liaison between breweries and wholesalers within a given region, ensuring that the brand is supported where it may not have a local dedicated sales representative.

Harris said that he talked to CCC President, Alexander Bustamante, last week about the possibility of a boycott and asked him to get support of the legislation from the breweries he represents. Harris said that FTH was trying to get Bustamante’s help in putting pressure on opposing wholesalers but that he didn’t provide a timeline.

Bustamante acknowledged the conversation but said he was unaware that negotiations were at a point where a boycott would actually take place.

Earlier today, he said, “We’re a few hours into this and just trying to figure out what happened.”

Bustamante noted that the companies he works with support both bills that Free the Hops is working on and that they will be issuing a joint statement clarifying their stance on the matter.

Turner Beverage Sales Manager, George Burgess, deferred official comment over to Vice President, Tod Taylor, who was away at a charity fundraiser. Burgess did say, “We have absolutely nothing against Free the Hops. I wish everyone would read the actual legislation over for themselves before jumping to any conclusions off of just sound bytes.”

Management at Budweiser-Busch could not be reached for comment.

Free the Hops continues to update its blog with additional comments and clarifications on the boycott.