brewtus_

Recipes 

According to California Senate Bill 39, there is a new law that starts January 1, 2012 that states "... the import, production, manufacture, distribution, or sale of beer to which caffeine has been directly added as a separate ingredient at retail locations within the state" is prohibited.

Does this mean that beers infused with coffee will no longer be able to be brewed or bought/sold in California? To me, no (not yet), since the caffeine is not being added directly as caffeine, but only as an adjunct from the coffee itself. Is this the case or is any beer containing caffeine now going to be banned?

The problem that I think will be pressing (as with every other stupid law that gets enacted) is when the courts start determining what the phrase"... to which caffeine has been directly added as a separate ingredient..." means. How about chocolate in beer?

When do the legislators then start determining maximum limits of caffeine in beer? Is it 100 ppm, 500 ppm, 1000 ppm or some other arbitrary amount? Slippery slope starting right here.

__________________
The earlier you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

cl330b

Recipes 

I hope that only means they will have to stop selling those caffeinated malt liquor beverages. They shouldn't be able to take away our delicious stout! WTF CA!!

Phunhog

Recipes 

I live in CA and the way it was explained to me is that it only affects beverages that directly add caffeine. It does not include coffee or even chocolate that do contain caffeine but are used as an adjunct. We all know that the reason for this law is the stupid FourLoko drinks.

__________________
Check out my nanobrewery!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Two-Trees-Brewing-Co/102323289804018

BrewKnurd

Recipes 

Yeah, that's my understanding as well. This came up on a recent brewing network broadcast, I think maybe with 21st amendment? Someone that did an espresso stout, anyways, and they said they would be able to keep making it because the law didn't apply to beverages where the caffeine was an inherent part of the production process, as opposed to a standalone additive.

__________________
Fake it til you make it.

duckmanco

Recipes 

Major shocker something like would come from California.... but seriously, good news for the coffee stouts in the end.

rico567

Recipes 

....while I don't find it shocking in the least.

"The natural end of all government is where everything not prohibited is compulsory, and everything not compulsory is prohibited."

- Anarchist Proverb

__________________
“Malt does more than Milton can / To justify God’s ways to man”

-A. E. Housman (1859–1936). A Shropshire Lad , 1896.

CannibalAJ

Recipes 

Well like anything fun, just don't get caught!

__________________

TrainSafe

Recipes 

Thanks big government for protecting us from ourselves. Now, who will protect all the mindless sheep?

Was caffeine really a problem in beer?

Andrewtherooster

Recipes 

Honestly, after brewing my own coffee stout, it's the only one I really want to drink.

__________________
Primitive Brewing.

Cambone

Recipes 

O my god yes!!!! Have you not seen the horrendous effects of caffeine enraged psycho-maniacs attacking school children with a Founder's Breakfast Stout in hand?