Will some of the board's Texans kindly explain to me why a lager above a certain alcohol content must be sold as an "Ale" in Texas? Ale and Lager are different things, by definition. They are both beer. To be an ale is to be not-a-lager. They are mutually exclusive. That's like saying that a helicopter that can fly a certain speed must be a plane.
I know there are some Texans who hang around here, and I don't mean to disparage you or your state, but this is one of the silliest things I've yet heard of. How about initiating some political action on this?
Will some of the board's Texans kindly explain to me why a lager above a certain alcohol content must be sold as an "Ale" in Texas? Ale and Lager are different things, by definition. They are both beer. To be an ale is to be not-a-lager. They are mutually exclusive. That's like saying that a helicopter that can fly a certain speed must be a plane.
While both being beer, ales and lagers are made with different types of yeasts and ferment at different temperatures...but as far as the Texas labeling laws, no idea. Does seem odd though.
A little searching finds: link
Texas
License to self-distribute: Yes
Alcoholic Beverage Code Title 3, Ch. 12
Brewpubs are not allowed to distribute (self or otherwise) in Texas. Shipping breweries can self-distribute if they manufacture less than 75,000 bbls of beer per year. You need a manufacturer's license in Texas to make "beer" defined as less than 4% ABW. You need a brewer's permit to make "ale" defined as more than 4% ABW. The 75,000 bbls is calculated as total "beer" and "ale". (synopsis provided by brewer)
As to the why... I couldn't find that, maybe you could explain why your state has some of the silly laws it does, and they all do.