Philly Beer Bar Raided....

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I can't see why any bar would want to do this. If they gave these away as comp drinks, it would save them whatever they would have given away. But then if a customer orders another, they either have to give them a second free drink (not the point of comping a drink) or tell them "no, you can't have what you want because I cannot sell it to you and we can only give away one drink per person."

i was giving them it for free, they were going to sell it... and i dont mind losing the keg and beer, i mind a) getting the bar in trouble and b) getting in trouble more then just losing a keg.
 
If you don't realize by now that government "law enforcement" agencies are merely for-profit tax collection agencies, then you are truly blind. (not directed at anyone in particular)

They could give a crap less about serving and protecting the public. They are a tool to keep you in line and pay your dues. Like it was said, murder, rape, and steal all you want, but if you don't pay your taxes, you will be hunted down like a dog.

THIS!

Does this mean I need to move to Alaska? :confused:
 
i was giving them it for free, they were going to sell it... and i dont mind losing the keg and beer, i mind a) getting the bar in trouble and b) getting in trouble more then just losing a keg.

Guaran-damn-tee it that this is completely illegal in the Commonwealth of Socialist Pennsylvania. They miss out a tax step here because you're not paying them a sin tax for producing the beer.

Make sure that your door is unlocked so that the booze police walk in instead of breaking it down--cheaper that way.

Now, if that free gift to the tavern doesn't work out, I'll happily stock a corny or two in my keezer-my son and his (over 21 btw) buddies blew out my kegs last weekend, and it'll be a good 2 weeks before my next batch is racked and carbed.
 
If I had a bar I wouldn't sell beer a home brewer gave me. Not because of quality but because of the production taxes as mentioned there's federal and state licensing requirements. The only way I could see it working is if you gifted the beer and they gifted the beer to customers as mentioned earlier. Selling it would be a big no no, but at the same time free and free is probably illegal our state too.
 
oh i was sure it wasnt legal, it was only a one time thing to see how well it moved, and then i would go through the entire process, but it'll just make me go through the process earlier and delay the tapping

Now, if that free gift to the tavern doesn't work out, I'll happily stock a corny or two in my keezer-my son and his (over 21 btw) buddies blew out my kegs last weekend, and it'll be a good 2 weeks before my next batch is racked and carbed.

ha, i never have any "extra" but do have a bunch on tap that local people are welcome to come help me get rid of, SWMBO doesn't help me as much as i anticipted
 
3. $7200 for 61 gallons of beer? That an average price of $11 per 12 oz bottle. I'm guilty of drinking some expensive ****, but what the hell are they serving? That ain't the average micro brew or Orval.

Local 44 only serves one bottle: Orval, but the Memphis Taproom has a ridiculous cellar with some rare ****. Not all of it is in the menu either.
 
Local 44 only serves one bottle: Orval, but the Memphis Taproom has a ridiculous cellar with some rare ****. Not all of it is in the menu either.


"had some rare ****" ;)

Either way, it sounds like hearings on the registered brands issue and the raids are being scheduled in the House and Senate comities.
 
"had some rare ****" ;)

Either way, it sounds like hearings on the registered brands issue and the raids are being scheduled in the House and Senate comities.

Can you point to an article for that? I'd like to read about it and contact my reps.

Also, in case anyone is wondering, I contacted both my senator and my representative last night and got this response back from Senator Mike Folmer:

Senator Folmer considers alcohol to be a drug and is concerned about how it is distributed. The Senator is especially concerned with its
availability to minors. If expanded, there will be more opportunity for
minors to obtain beer illegally. Senator Folmer prefers maintaining the
current restrictions.
 
Senator Folmer considers alcohol to be a drug and is concerned about how it is distributed. The Senator is especially concerned with its
availability to minors. If expanded, there will be more opportunity for
minors to obtain beer illegally. Senator Folmer prefers maintaining the
current restrictions.

I'm speechless. We are officially being ruled by the dumbest members of society. By that logic, he should support nothing short of prohibition.
 
I'm speechless. We are officially being ruled by the dumbest members of society. By that logic, he should support nothing short of prohibition.

He would have lost my vote on just that alone if it were not for the fact that he is for the elimination of property taxes in PA (a major issue).

So the way I see it, if property taxes are not repealed by the next election, he isn't doing his job and therefore doesn't get my vote.
 
Can you point to an article for that? I'd like to read about it and contact my reps.

Also, in case anyone is wondering, I contacted both my senator and my representative last night and got this response back from Senator Mike Folmer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/87198127.html

I contacted my state reps as well and Marguerite Quinn responded with some interesting information including the petition for hearings on the matter. I'd definitely have to register my disagreement with Folmer if he was representing me.
 
Seems like Senator Folmer needs to be reminded that he works for the people who elected him. If the majority of his constituents want less regulation of beer then his personal opinions on the issue do not matter. He wasn't elected to make decisions based on his views solely but the views of you who voted him into office. I would kindly reply back to his staffer since Folmer will never even see the original email you sent that Folmer just lost your vote and many other votes for supporting such an archaic system full of flawed logic. A vowed vote to someone else might wake the man up, especially if he gets enough of them.

Second point. IF they were really concerned about underage drinking instead of this horse **** about beer registration they could start with stings at their very own state ran liquor stores. They could probably nab plenty of people buying booze for younger friends and handing it off in the parking lot. Not that I support those sort of tactics but there are easier targets for them and the underage drinking excuse is a moot point. Plenty of other states have the same problem probably with in the margin of statistical error when it comes to underage drinking.

I think that often times in order to "serve" in public office you must go in for a common sense altering brain surgery. If they all had common sense there would be no reason for them to be full time "public servants" (in "" because many think we're their servants). When you throw a lack of common sense in the mix then you have hours upon hours of senseless debate causing budgets to go 3+ months past due.
 
Seems like Senator Folmer needs to be reminded that he works for the people who elected him. If the majority of his constituents want less regulation of beer then his personal opinions on the issue do not matter. He wasn't elected to make decisions based on his views solely but the views of you who voted him into office. I would kindly reply back to his staffer since Folmer will never even see the original email you sent that Folmer just lost your vote and many other votes for supporting such an archaic system full of flawed logic. A vowed vote to someone else might wake the man up, especially if he gets enough of them.

Second point. IF they were really concerned about underage drinking instead of this horse **** about beer registration they could start with stings at their very own state ran liquor stores. They could probably nab plenty of people buying booze for younger friends and handing it off in the parking lot. Not that I support those sort of tactics but there are easier targets for them and the underage drinking excuse is a moot point. Plenty of other states have the same problem probably with in the margin of statistical error when it comes to underage drinking.

I think that often times in order to "serve" in public office you must go in for a common sense altering brain surgery. If they all had common sense there would be no reason for them to be full time "public servants" (in "" because many think we're their servants). When you throw a lack of common sense in the mix then you have hours upon hours of senseless debate causing budgets to go 3+ months past due.

Yeah, back when I was drinking underage I always went for the $12 bottles of craft beer. This guy should be rediculed into resignation, or at the very least, fire the staffer who sent an off topic auto-response that makes him look like a complete fool.
 
No it's not that we need protection from homebrewers. We're too stupid to make sound decisions as consumers so the PLCB needs to make them for us. I'm so glad they exist because between wiping drool off my chin and talking to my imaginary friend I don't know how I'd ever be able to buy beer from reputable brewers.
 
I really wish I knew how all of this worked. Here is the so-called "approved" list.

http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/registered_brands.asp

But I clearly don't see Iron Hill Brewery (or their parent company Chesapeake & Delaware Brewing Company LLC) listed, and they're one of the biggest brewpubs selling their beer! Is this list only for people selling outside of their own pubs?

I'm sure plenty of the PA folks on here could find more glaring omissions. This past Fall I picked up Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin Ale at my distributor and it's not on the list either. This whole thing is ridiculous, and I'm glad to see this raid may have the opposite effect of its intentions.
 
According to that list every beer from Terrapin that I've actually drank, from a tap or bought a case of, is unregistered. Troegs has themselves covered with all beers old and new along with the "scratch listing" which covers them for the one offs. A bunch of Lancaster Brewing is not on there from their bottled list. Of course they're listed as Lion Brewery LLC not Lancaster Brewing. Just goes to show how accurate it is even with beers brewed in the state.
 
I really wish I knew how all of this worked. Here is the so-called "approved" list.

http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/registered_brands.asp

But I clearly don't see Iron Hill Brewery (or their parent company Chesapeake & Delaware Brewing Company LLC) listed, and they're one of the biggest brewpubs selling their beer! Is this list only for people selling outside of their own pubs?

I'm sure plenty of the PA folks on here could find more glaring omissions. This past Fall I picked up Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin Ale at my distributor and it's not on the list either. This whole thing is ridiculous, and I'm glad to see this raid may have the opposite effect of its intentions.

Yes..IIRC, beers produced and sold on premise by brew pubs are not covered by the registered brands code. However, if IHB were to distribute their beers in the state, they would need to register the brands and all that fun. It's all about beers distributed for sale & it is the responsibility of the brewery or it's franchise in-state to register.

There's a crap ton of beers that you will not find on the list since it's an on-going annual registration. Many breweries will not continually register brands that a not being produced on an on-going basis so lots of stuff falls off the list as well. Some brewers register a brand under a more generic name and then use that an an umbrella registration for variants. Talk about a clusterf*ck.
 
This state is so jacked up, I really have to get out of here. Also, Rick Nichols is a ****** for suggesting that home brewers are illegitimate backyard beer brewing ghouls. I guess we shouldn't eat a freshly baked cake from our wives either because it might not be legit.
 
You can eat it all you want... I don't want it served to me at a restaurant though.

Sounds like when they raided a local church in my area last year. The Church has been holding a "pot luck" supper for over 25 years, and suddenly someone rats them out to the health inspectors and it cost the Church tons of money to get proper licensing...and the end result was still no more "pot luck" style suppers. Out. Of. Control.
 
I'm sure you've ate a restaurant not owned by a corporate chain.... right?

Yes, and I am positive that I can check the public health records of each of them.
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Most home kitchens I've eaten at have been cleaner than every restaraunt I've ever worked at.
Most home brewed beer I've had has been more meticulously produced and is of a higher caliber than 90% of what you find on store shelves.
Government protection is an illusion, but some people need that illusory comfort blanket to sleep at night.
 
I'm not... I am, however, not in favor of eating food from Jane Doe's kitchen when in a restaurant
shrug.gif

Mom and pop shops are the best places to eat man, regardless of government bureaucracy. Everyone loves fish fries and bake sales!

Anyway, I don't always bang on the drum of "less government" like others with certain political views but this whole issue is absurd. I expect nothing less from the great state of PA.
 
I'm not... I am, however, not in favor of eating food from Jane Doe's kitchen when in a restaurant
shrug.gif

Not only does this not relate in any way to the topic at hand, but your logic is absurd. I could go on and on about how health inspections are a joke, but I don't want to drive you to a forced state of paranoid anorexia.

To bring this back to the topic:
This was not done to protect consumers from drinking dangerous products, it was done to enforce a government revenue source. It's not about keeping you safe, it's about keeping your money.
 
P.S. what makes you think Rick Nichols has any ill-will towards homebrewers?

Because of this statement:
Harrisburg enforcement officials say the reason is to protect consumers. How else to know whether the beer is from Victory (legit) or a backyard home-brewer (not)?

Implying that home brewed beer is something you need to be protected from.
 
Because of this statement:


Implying that home brewed beer is something you need to be protected from.

Exactly. That's putting down homebrewers as well as brewpubs. Apparently if it isn't commercialized people should automatically be weary of it. It's indirectly enforcing the stereotype that homebrewers are moonshine makers who brew in meth labs.
 
Not only does this not relate in any way to the topic at hand, but your logic is absurd. I could go on and on about how health inspections are a joke, but I don't want to drive you to a forced state of paranoid anorexia.


I was replying to post 105

But hey, thanks for the iDiagnosis. Sometimes it bleeds when I wipe, can you help with that too?

To bring this back to the topic:
This was not done to protect consumers from drinking dangerous products, it was done to enforce a government revenue source. It's not about keeping you safe, it's about keeping your money.

I thought it was done out of spite from an anonymous tipster? ;)
 
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