At the start of 2014, the team behind Big Orange announced plans to open a brewery, and then were able to make it happen before the end of the year. Officially opened the weekend before Christmas, here are a few things to know before you visit Lost Forty Brewing, a Q&A with the head brewer, and a photo tour of the facility. (Oh, and also this year, Big Orange — along with liquor stores around the state — began filling growlers.)
Diamond Bear Brewing Co. moved it's headquarters from Little Rock to North Little Rock this year (and now they offer food!). Also new to DB in 2014? Southern Blonde in can form.
We held our first-ever Sync Craft Beer Tournament, narrowing a field of 32 regional beers down to 16, eight, four and then finally a winner. (Here's a recap of how we picked which beers to include, in case you're wondering.)
In April, there was noise of new brews making their way to Arkansas shelves. Local distillery Rock Town had similar news as its rum hit local shelves shortly after. This year also saw the ABC working to catch up with the boom of craft breweries in the state in terms of regulation.
Two independent brewers — Matt Foster and Josiah Moody — kept us up-to-date on what their recent endeavors in the world of brewing, and nanobrewery Stone's Throw Brewing celebrated its anniversary with news of expansion.
It was actually late last year that Joel Antunes hinted about big changes at Ashley's, and this year saw those changes come to life in the form of One Eleven at the Capital. Updates worth getting excited about: a predictably still-delicious menu and a new wine program.
In the fall, more breweries: news of a River Market brewery. One of Blue Canoe's brewers, Laura Berryhill, is one of the few females currently behind craft-beer production in the state.
Speaking of the River Market, Boscos closed, and soon after, Damgoode Pies announced plans to fill the space with an eatery and its first brewery. Plus, Raimondo Family Winery announced that it'd be moving its production facility and tasting room to downtown Little Rock.
Along Main Street, Maduro owner Michael Peace closed his cigar bar and reopened the spot as a speakeasy called 109 & Co. And lastly, down the street, Samantha's Tap Room — set to open in early 2015 — released a first look at its menu.
Plus, it's worth noting that in November, voters elected to make alcohol sales legal in Saline County.
What a year, right?
Bonus: Take our quiz on where to drink in the metro.
Former Red Bank police chief Larry Sneed rents residential property from a real estate company owned by Red Bank Mayor Joe Glasscock's family, according to records from the Hamilton County Trustee's Office.
Glasscock said he stepped down as Glasscock Developments' chief executive officer in 2000 and surrendered the company to his sons, Brian and Barry.
"I sign no papers, I sign no contracts, I collect no rent," Joe Glasscock said. "I receive not a penny from that company."
Sneed has rented Glasscock property at 942 Gorge View Lane in Chattanooga since 2006.
"I didn't even find that out from Larry," Joe Glasscock said. "I know from a conversation with one of my sons."
The mayor called a news conference hours after Sneed was fired from the Red Bank Police Department on July 2. He said he never was told about the termination and accused other commissioners of influencing City Manager Chris Dorsey to fire Sneed for political reasons.
Dorsey denied those charges, and City Attorney Arnold Stulce wrote that "a significant amount of turmoil" in the police department led to Sneed's firing.
The mayor encouraged Sneed to fight back, which he did in a July 13 lawsuit that named the city and some of its officials and asked for $1.5 million in damages.
Glasscock and Commissioner Ruth Jeno are vocal Sneed supporters among the city's political leaders. The other three commissioners are named in the lawsuit, which accuses them of political conspiracy.
Barry Glasscock described Sneed as an "awesome tenant," and said, "I signed the lease for Larry, not Dad."
His father called the Sneeds "nice people" who "pay the rent."
"We have no reason not to rent to them. It's nobody's business, I think," Joe Glasscock said.
Barry Glasscock said his father comes into the family business once or twice a week, returning phone messages from Red Bank residents who think they're calling the mayor's home.
Both Glasscocks said the company also rents property to a Red Bank fireman.
Joe Glasscock said the rental connection is immaterial, and he believes Red Bank is recovering from the controversy surrounding Sneed's dismissal.
"I think it's bringing the city together," he said. "He turned that police department into a lean, mean, fighting machine."