Top 6 Things Oxford Beer Drinkers Can Be Thankful For

All of these developments are important, of course, but we’re going to do a sort of beer connoisseur countdown here.
If you’ve lived in Oxford for three years or more, you know how much has changed — and if you’re a beer drinker — how much has changed for the better.
6. Beer is now available at restaurants in Oxford on Sundays (March 23, 2014)
That’s the Sunday the new city ordinance went into effect, and now NFL fans will be able to enjoy a cold one as they follow their favorite teams on Sunday — or legally aged, responsible beer drinkers can enjoy a brew with their meal at one of Oxford’s fine establishments that now stays open on Sundays.
5. Oxford Beer Festival (April 19, 2014)
The Oxford Craft Beer Festival and Food Show is back for a second year on April 19 at the Castle Hill resort. A year ago this spring launched the inaugural event, which offered more than 140 craft beers to choose from and unlimited sampling. Participants will experience numerous new beers that were considered illegal in the state less than two years ago. Plus, on this year’s agenda is some of the best food to go with beer you can imagine. Here is the link for a series of videos on the food offerings from the chefs who will prepare them. https://hottytoddy.com/2014/03/24/oxford-craft-beer-festival-food-show-announces-chef-lineup/

4. Senate Bill 2183 (March 18, 2013)
This bill legalized the act of home brewing. The legislation cleared up questions of law and made it clear to all state residents that the home brewing is indeed a legal hobby. Mississippi was the second to the last state to officially OK beer brewing at home, leaving Alabama as the only state that has yet to do so.

3. Sales on Sunday (2011 & September 19, 2013)
Oxford first gained ground in 2011 on the road to Sunday alcohol sales by legalizing restaurant sales of wine and liquor on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, the Sundays that fall on Ole Miss home football games, as well as Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Now the the Oxford Board of Alderman is going a step further by allowing beer to be purchased at retail businesses on all Sundays starting September 19th. No more trips over the county line on Sundays!

2. Senate Bill 2878 (July 1, 2012)
This bill increased the amount of alcohol in beer so that it may contain from 5% alcohol by weight to 8% alcohol by weight. This allowed beer drinkers in Mississippi to access a much larger array of beers, such as craft beers and high gravity beers. According to beeradvocate.com, the 5% alcohol by weight cap eliminated 80% of the top-rated beers in the world and about 33% of the world’s beer styles like barley-wine, Doppelbock, imperial stout and many more. Before its passage in July, Mississippi was the only state to have a ban on high gravity beer.

1. Cold Beer (September 19, 2013)
As if Walker’s County Line Store (Panola County Line) and Betty Davis Grocery (Marshall County Line) weren’t already upset with the legalization of purchasing beer on Sundays in Oxford, the city has now removed the last incentive to travel to those stores — the purchase of cold beer.  For 41 years now, Oxford had declared it illegal for retail businesses to refrigerate their beer for sale. It has been known to outsiders visiting Oxford as one of the most peculiar laws they have ever encountered. The Oxford Board of Alderman has now ousted the outdated law.  Let the celebration begin.

Story contributed by Jordan Driggers, a former Ole Miss Journalism student.