Public Homebrewing Event

I am trying to get together a homebrewing event for SF Beer Week 2010. I don't want to hold it at a private house, mainly because we don't brew at my house and I don't want to invite the entire bay area to my buddy's. Does anyone know of any permits or laws I need to be aware of to get this done? I have sent an email over to the CA ABC to try to get some information, but figured some of you guys might know something as well.

The first thing I would try is getting in touch with a local beer festival organizer... since they often hold them in hotel convention halls or similar areas, it seems they'd have a great idea of where to start.

Other than that, I'd suggest being proactive and not waiting for the government to "get back to you". This seems like the type of request they would just as soon ignore. I do hope that you're pleasantly surprised instead, though!

Good point. The guys at more beer brew outside their shop most weekends, so I am pretty sure they know at least some of the laws around it. I am trying to get a response from them as well.

I want to keep this updated in case someone else wants to try to set up an event like this. Here is the initial response I got from CA's ABC. I think they are mis-understanding what I am trying to do.

Home beer manufacturers may brew a limited amount of beer for personal or family use per Section 23356.2 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. Here is the full text of that law:

23356.2. (a) No license or permit shall be required for the

manufacture of beer for personal or family use, and not for sale, by

a person over the age of 21 years. The aggregate amount of beer with

respect to any household shall not exceed (1) 200 gallons per

calendar year if there are two or more adults in the household, or

(2) 100 gallons per calendar year if there is only one adult in the

household.

(b) No license or permit shall be required for the manufacture of

wine for personal or family use, and not for sale, by a person over

the age of 21 years. The aggregate amount of wine with respect to any

household shall not exceed (1) 200 gallons per calendar year if

there are two or more adults in the household or (2) 100 gallons per

calendar year if there is only one adult in the household.

(c) Any beer manufactured pursuant to this section may be removed

from the premises where manufactured for use in competition at

organized affairs, exhibitions or competitions, including homemakers'

contests, tastings, or judgings.

(d) Any wine made pursuant to this section may be removed from the

premises where made for personal or family use, including use at

organized affairs, exhibitions or competitions, such as homemaker's

contests, tastings or judging. Wine used under this section shall not

be sold or offered for sale.

(e) Except as provided herein, nothing in this section authorizes

any activity in violation of Section 23300, 23355, or 23399.1.

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For reference, I have also included the text of the statutes referenced above (23300, 23355, and 23399.1), as follows:

23300. No person shall exercise the privilege or perform any act

which a licensee may exercise or perform under the authority of a

license unless the person is authorized to do so by a license issued

pursuant to this division.

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23355. Except as otherwise provided in this division and subject to

the provisions of Section 22 of Article XX of the Constitution, the

licenses provided for in Article 2 of this chapter authorize the

person to whom issued to exercise the rights and privileges specified

in this article and no others at the premises for which issued

during the year for which issued.

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23399.1. No license or permit shall be required for the serving and

otherwise disposing of alcoholic beverages where all of the

following conditions prevail:

1. That there is no sale of an alcoholic beverage.

2. That the premises are not open to the general public during the

time alcoholic beverages are served, consumed or otherwise disposed

of.

3. That the premises are not maintained for the purpose of

keeping, serving, consuming or otherwise disposing of alcoholic

beverages.

Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed

to permit any person to violate any provision of the Alcoholic

Beverage Control Act.

*********************************************************************


Based on the above statutes there is no privilege for a home brewer to do what you have proposed. Furthermore, if you want to exercise the privileges of a small beer manufacturer or an on-sale licensee then you must hold the appropriate ABC license. There is no temporary permit available to you to perform any of the tasks you mentioned.

A brewing exibition should be fine as long as you have permission for the gathering and are covered by some sort of insurance in case someone gets hurt.

It's only making alcohol if you pitch the yeast.

It's a cooking demonstration if you don't pitch yeast since you are just making sugar water seasoned with boiled hops.

You are more likely to get in trouble for violating fire codes, or face a liability suit if somebody gets burned.

mmb...
I dont think the ABC is concerned with the actual making of the wort, but us trying to serve it. I think they think we will be selling the beer, which isn't the case.

Saccharomyces...
Insurance is a primary concern. I have to file a permit with the city to be able to block off the area to do such a thing. I am pretty sure the "sponsoring organization"'s insurance will cover this, in this case the sponsoring organization will be a brewpub.

Awesome, looks like we will be going forward with the event! Who wants to come hangout on the 13th of Feb?