user971: The state of Beer SE has been on my mind for quite a while now, and after another user suggested that the site expand our scope, we've decided it's time to shake things up.
In its current state, Beer is averaging 0.4 questions per day. While we have two active moderators who are keeping the site clean, we don't have many users asking or answering questions, or participating in review.
Community engagement is critical to keeping a site running.
The Plan
The site's current scope is too narrow. We'd like to widen its purview to all alcoholic beverages, including but not limited to:

Beer
Wine
Cider
Rum
Vodka
Other spirits

As you can see, the new site scope will be broader than its current form. We want the community to be revitalized and open to these areas.
Why the change, now?
I'll admit that I was hesitant to change scope, but after looking it over, I decided that a lot of work (800+ days in beta) has been put in and it would be a shame to throw that away by combining the site with Homebrewing. There is no guarantee that a change in scope will breathe new life in the site but in my opinion, it's worth the effort.
The change will allow the site to encompass the current proposals of Wine, and Cider. We're hoping it will get interest from users of the now closed Alcoholic Beverages proposals (1, 2)  to join the site and participate.
We want the community to succeed and if broadening the scope is needed, then let's go for it.
What's Next?
The community will need to flesh out the new scope of the site.  What will be on-topic?  We will also need to come up with a new site name. "Beer" is too limiting, so what should it be named?
Once these are decided, then we will get the highball rolling and have some fun with alcohol.

user37: I like Monica's suggestion for the new name, The Open Bar.   Here are a couple of other options to consider:

Libations 


I'm particularly partial to this one, though it may be to esoteric

Drinks


While not specific to alcoholic beverages, it's used enough as a synonym ("we're going out for drinks") that I think it could work. 

Happy Hour


No comment needed.  


Any of these could have a matching URL, but in any case I would probably (like Andrew commented on Monica's answer) like to find something a bit less sterile than "alcohol" for the name and URL.  

user43: Site Name
Based on the scope described in this answer, which so far has some support and no opposition, we need a name and URL that cover the broad range of alcoholic drinks.  While Alcohol is an obvious candidate here, I'm going to propose that we follow in the footsteps of sites like Seasoned Advice (cooking) and Ask Different (apple).  A catchier name might draw more attention from users we want to engage.  I don't actually claim to be good at this, so I hope other people will offer competing answers.
Proposed name: The Open Bar
Proposed URL: alcohol.stackexchange.com (see alternate URL proposal in comments)
Favicon: You know how Aviation has that little airplane and a couple other sites have graphemes instead of text in their beta logos?  Is there one of those for a beer mug?

user43: Scope
The on-topic help currently says the following:

Topics include, but are not limited to:

Specific beers
Breweries
Beer & brewing history
Beer styles & ingredients
Cultural and geographic questions specifically related to beer
Questions about other fermented drinks including:
  
  
Cider
Mead
Rice Wine


One specific topic that is not on-topic is home-brewing, and associated technical brewing questions which should be directed to Homebrewing Stack Exchange.

If we want to preserve the distinction between product and production -- that is, if we want questions about vintning, distilling, etc to be off-topic just as questions about home-brewing are now -- then we could generalize that list as follows:


Specific beers, wines, liquors, ciders, or other alcoholic drinks
Breweries, wineries, and distilleries
Alcohol & production history
Styles & ingredients
Cultural and geographic questions specifically related to alcohol


(And then a note about brewing/vintning/etc, TBD.)
I think that captures the spirit of the proposal here.  Is that what we want?

971: <p>The <a href="https://alcohol.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/104/beer-sos-the-state-of-the-site">state of Beer SE</a> has been on my mind for quite a while now, and after another user suggested that <a href="https://alcohol.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/118/should-we-broaden-our-scope">the site expand our scope</a>, we've decided it's time to shake things up.</p>
<p>In its current state, <a href="http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/48905/beer">Beer</a> is averaging 0.4 questions per day. While we have two active moderators who are keeping the site clean, we don't have many users asking or answering questions, or participating in review.</p>
<p>Community engagement is critical to keeping a site running.</p>
<h3>The Plan</h3>
<p><a href="https://alcohol.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic">The site's current scope</a> is too narrow. We'd like to widen its purview to all alcoholic beverages, including but not limited to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Beer</li>
<li><a href="http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/95694/wine">Wine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/97236/cider">Cider</a></li>
<li>Rum</li>
<li>Vodka</li>
<li>Other spirits</li>
</ul>
<p>As you can see, the new site scope will be broader than its current form. We want the community to be revitalized and open to these areas.</p>
<h2>Why the change, now?</h2>
<p>I'll admit that <a href="https://alcohol.meta.stackexchange.com/a/120/971">I was hesitant to change scope</a>, but after looking it over, I decided that a lot of work (800+ days in beta) has been put in and it would be a shame to throw that away by combining the site with Homebrewing. <strong>There is no guarantee that a change in scope will breathe new life in the site but in my opinion, it's worth the effort.</strong></p>
<p>The change will allow the site to encompass the current proposals of Wine, and Cider. We're hoping it will get interest from users of the now closed Alcoholic Beverages proposals <sup>(<a href="http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/49291/alcoholic-beverages">1</a>, <a href="http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/72735/alcoholic-beverages">2</a>)</sup>  to join the site and participate.</p>
<p>We want the community to succeed and if broadening the scope is needed, then let's go for it.</p>
<h3>What's Next?</h3>
<p>The community will need to flesh out the new scope of the site.  What will be on-topic?  We will also need to come up with a new site name. &quot;Beer&quot; is too limiting, so <a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/207404/standardizing-simplifying-se-site-names">what should it be named</a>?</p>
<p>Once these are decided, then we will get the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highball" rel="nofollow noreferrer">highball</a> rolling and have some fun with alcohol.</p>
 37: <p>I like <a href="https://alcohol.meta.stackexchange.com/a/125/37">Monica's suggestion</a> for the new name, The Open Bar.   Here are a couple of other options to consider:</p>

<ul>
<li>Libations 

<ul>
<li>I'm particularly partial to this one, though it may be to esoteric</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Drinks

<ul>
<li>While not specific to alcoholic beverages, it's used enough as a synonym ("we're going out for drinks") that I think it could work. </li>
</ul></li>
<li>Happy Hour

<ul>
<li>No comment needed.  </li>
</ul></li>
</ul>

<p>Any of these could have a matching URL, but in any case I would probably (like <a href="https://alcohol.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/123/shaken-not-stirred-lets-expand-the-site#comment168_125">Andrew commented</a> on Monica's answer) like to find something a bit less sterile than "alcohol" for the name and URL.  </p>
 43: <h2>Site Name</h2>

<p>Based on the scope described in <a href="https://alcohol.meta.stackexchange.com/a/124/43">this answer</a>, which so far has some support and no opposition, we need a name and URL that cover the broad range of alcoholic drinks.  While <strong>Alcohol</strong> is an obvious candidate here, I'm going to propose that we follow in the footsteps of sites like <strong>Seasoned Advice</strong> (cooking) and <strong>Ask Different</strong> (apple).  A catchier name might draw more attention from users we want to engage.  I don't actually claim to be good at this, so I hope other people will offer competing answers.</p>

<p>Proposed name: <strong>The Open Bar</strong></p>

<p>Proposed URL: alcohol.stackexchange.com (see <a href="https://alcohol.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/123/shaken-not-stirred-lets-expand-the-site#comment173_125">alternate URL proposal in comments</a>)</p>

<p>Favicon: You know how Aviation has that little airplane and a couple other sites have graphemes instead of text in their beta logos?  Is there one of those for a beer mug?</p>
 43: <h2>Scope</h2>

<p>The on-topic help currently says the following:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Topics include, but are not limited to:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Specific beers</li>
  <li>Breweries</li>
  <li>Beer &amp; brewing history</li>
  <li>Beer styles &amp; ingredients</li>
  <li>Cultural and geographic questions specifically related to beer</li>
  <li>Questions about other fermented drinks including:
  
  <ul>
  <li>Cider</li>
  <li>Mead</li>
  <li>Rice Wine</li>
  </ul></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>One specific topic that is not on-topic is home-brewing, and associated technical brewing questions which should be directed to Homebrewing Stack Exchange.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If we want to preserve the distinction between <em>product</em> and <em>production</em> -- that is, if we want questions about vintning, distilling, etc to be off-topic just as questions about home-brewing are now -- then we could generalize that list as follows:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>Specific beers, wines, liquors, ciders, or other alcoholic drinks</li>
  <li>Breweries, wineries, and distilleries</li>
  <li>Alcohol &amp; production history</li>
  <li>Styles &amp; ingredients</li>
  <li>Cultural and geographic questions specifically related to alcohol</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>(And then a note about brewing/vintning/etc, TBD.)</p>

<p>I think that captures the spirit of the proposal here.  Is that what we want?</p>
