26 replies to this topic

[denny]

And we thank you and everyone else involved. One of the state reps was a HBer too? I thought this had been legislated already. I didn't read everything about this, however I thought the whole mess started with an inquiry to the state regarding homebrewing, comps, and expanding from household consumption to competition entries. I guess let sleeping dogs lie, or be proactive and get things fixed before they wake up.

Yeah, it started with Deschutes asking if a club that met at their brewery could have homebrew there, or something very much like that. But I'd rather have had that happen and get things clarified than to have let it ride until more or larger problems came up. The sponsor of our bill, State Sen. Floyd Prozanski, is a homebrewer. He's been great and easy to work with, and the OLCC supports the changes we're asking for. They have enough on their plate that they'd rather not deal with homebrew anyway. Our bill contains a couple really ground breaking things that should serve as a model for other states' homebrew legislation. Once the bill actually gets introduced (hopefully in the nest week or so), we'll publicize it so OR homebrewers can contact their reps in support of it.

[japh]

Yeah, it started with Deschutes asking if a club that met at their brewery could have homebrew there, or something very much like that. But I'd rather have had that happen and get things clarified than to have let it ride until more or larger problems came up. The sponsor of our bill, State Sen. Floyd Prozanski, is a homebrewer. He's been great and easy to work with, and the OLCC supports the changes we're asking for. They have enough on their plate that they'd rather not deal with homebrew anyway. Our bill contains a couple really ground breaking things that should serve as a model for other states' homebrew legislation. Once the bill actually gets introduced (hopefully in the nest week or so), we'll publicize it so OR homebrewers can contact their reps in support of it.

Awesome news!

[chefmiller]

Here in my neck of the woods we have a special license that is just for art galleries and exhibits. It allows for complementary wine and/or beer to be served a few times a year only on the premises of the gallery, and is a lot cheaper and easier to get than the other licenses. I don't know if GA has the same thing, but it would be worth looking into...

[christo]

I appreciate what you are saying. Once my friend gets back to me, he may be able to point me in the right direction, and depending on cost, I may go the route you are speaking of. If it costs me too much, and the non-profit won't cover it, this will most likely be the end of me being able to supply them with beer. I liked doing it, but definitely not enough for the risk of getting into legal trouble.

Not to rain on your parade further, but do be aware in GA that you can only brew 50 gallons of beer per year (and only if you are the head of household) and it can only be served within the confines of the house it was made. Again, this is grey-area stuff and typically GDoR is not going to go after every homebrewer for being a gallon over or imbibing elsewhere - what's the fun of brewing if you can't take it to someone else's party?. But, if you are providing it at business functions, then you are really out on the limb due to the need for a serving license, let alone homebrew or microbrew laws. I don't believe there are any special exceptions for art galleries serving wine/beer, but I'm just a GA homebrewer not lawyer, as has been suggested. What I've seen is that they just do it and basically hope they don't get caught or are unaware that they can't do it without a license.Maybe we will be able to piggy-back on the Oregon legislation to help the poor Ga homebrewer out in the future.

[CaptRon]

Not to rain on your parade further, but do be aware in GA that you can only brew 50 gallons of beer per year (and only if you are the head of household) and it can only be served within the confines of the house it was made. Again, this is grey-area stuff and typically GDoR is not going to go after every homebrewer for being a gallon over or imbibing elsewhere - what's the fun of brewing if you can't take it to someone else's party?. But, if you are providing it at business functions, then you are really out on the limb due to the need for a serving license, let alone homebrew or microbrew laws. I don't believe there are any special exceptions for art galleries serving wine/beer, but I'm just a GA homebrewer not lawyer, as has been suggested. What I've seen is that they just do it and basically hope they don't get caught or are unaware that they can't do it without a license.Maybe we will be able to piggy-back on the Oregon legislation to help the poor Ga homebrewer out in the future.

Whats funny about the whole 50 gallon thing is you just need to say "This is my first batch this year!" :cheers:edit: I have NEVER heard of anyone getting questioned about the yearly limits.

Edited by badogg, 13 January 2011 - 03:35 PM.

[Sidney Porter]

Not to rain on your parade further, but do be aware in GA that you can only brew 50 gallons of beer per year (and only if you are the head of household) and it can only be served within the confines of the house it was made. Again, this is grey-area stuff and typically GDoR is not going to go after every homebrewer for being a gallon over or imbibing elsewhere - what's the fun of brewing if you can't take it to someone else's party?.

Is this why you had to stop having your meetings at moon river?

[realbeerguy]

We still meet at Moon River, but cannot bring homebrew or outside commercial examples in due to the taxation laws. Someone dropped a dime on us a few years back. We cannot jepordize MR's license.