I am about 1000% sure that it also illegal in the USA, freezing a fermented beverage, then removing the ice is, technically distilling, and is illegal. That is, if you were considering doing the same at home.
Not to rain on the parade or anything.....
Actually this is a really gray area. Members have contacted state and local governments as well as federal agencies to find out how legal this would be. If I remember, ATF's standpoint was "A lawyer might be able to convince someone you are distilling alcohol, but to us it looks like you are just making a different style beer at home. And if you do this AT HOME, for personal use, there is no way anyone would know anyway, so don't worry about it."
Obviously that is not an actual quote, just what I remember from what another member posted. The general consensus in other threads is that freeze distillation is a somewhat inaccurate term, and freeze concentration is more appropriate.
From what I have read and heard it is actually considered concentrating and not distilling...It is totally legal...Im sorry but I cannot recall the website, but the law is quoted on a Basic Brewing podcast sometime ago in the past...
Actually this is a really gray area. Members have contacted state and local governments as well as federal agencies to find out how legal this would be. If I remember, ATF's standpoint was "A lawyer might be able to convince someone you are distilling alcohol, but to us it looks like you are just making a different style beer at home. And if you do this AT HOME, for personal use, there is no way anyone would know anyway, so don't worry about it."
The general consensus in other threads is that freeze distillation is a somewhat inaccurate term, and freeze concentration is more appropriate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby_M
If it were that cut and dry, it would be illegal to send Eisbock to any brewing competition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Recusit8m
From what I have read and heard it is actually considered concentrating and not distilling...It is totally legal...Im sorry but I cannot recall the website, but the law is quoted on a Basic Brewing podcast sometime ago in the past...
Good to know, guess I'm behind the times Obviously I am not 1000% sure anymore...
You can go to your grocery and pick up a few beers that use the same principal...bud ice, nasty ice, keystone ice and so on. I don't remember the exact specifics but I believe there is some regulation on how much ice/water can be removed, at least in the usa.
The process I'm aware of is super cooled metal rods are inserted into the finished beer and the water forms ice crystals on the rods and then the rods are removed and you have a higher alc content brew by taking out some water/ice.
I've actually done this years ago to see what would happen, let's just say it's somewhat a pain to do on the small scale...you are better off just using more fermentables if you want a higher alc brew, or buy some whiskey.
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............Alright Brain, you don't like me, and I don't like you. But lets just do this, and I can get back to killing you with beer......~Homer
You can go to your grocery and pick up a few beers that use the same principal...bud ice, nasty ice, keystone ice and so on. I don't remember the exact specifics but I believe there is some regulation on how much ice/water can be removed, at least in the usa.
The following ATF ruling applies to the commercial sale of "ice beers":
ATF Ruling 94-3:
The definition of "beer concentrate" in 27 CFR 25.11 does not include a beer whose volume has been reduced as long as there is not more than a 0.5 percent by volume reduction in the beer, and the resultant product retains its character as beer.
Obviously I am not 1000% sure anymore... 
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