A local brewery is appealing state ABC officials' decision to ban its product from convenient stores.

Kings Mountain-based Stout Brewery opened its doors last fall, thanks to economic incentives, promising 65 jobs for the area.

Stout has been testing "Stout 21," a 3 ounce malt beverage that comes in various flavors.

Late last month, state ABC officials denied Stout's application to sell the drinks in convenient stores, citing packaging that was "contrary to the public interest."

"I didn't think we would ever be in this position, because I felt that we went through the proper measures to educate the customers," said Stout CEO Cody Sommer.

Sommer said Stout has launched educational campaigns about drinking responsibly, and includes similar messages on packaging.

But critics say the "shooter" style drink encourages binge drinking.

"It just makes it real easy to consume alcohol quickly," said Kim Matone with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Drug Free Alliance.

Matone said drinks like Stout 21 often draw in underage drinkers because of the sugary flavorings.

"This is really marketed towards our teens, our youth," Matone said.

Sommer denied those claims, telling Channel 9 Stout 21 has similar alcohol content to other malt beverages like Four Loko, which are sold in much larger servings and are less expensive to purchase.

"The smaller container is, generally, the more responsible way to go...you have to buy five Stout 21s to have the same effect as [that other] product," Sommer said.

Local convenient store owners said they are anxious to sell the drink, which they believe will be in high demand among drinkers of a legal age.

"It's only dangerous in the sense that anything in an excessive amount is always dangerous," said convenient store owner Henry Patel.

Sommer will present his case to a three-member panel at the state ABC Commission in Raleigh at 10 a.m. Wednesday.