Just wondering how it goes down. I mean, it isn't like a pot raid with SWAT guys in body armor knocking down your door, shooting the dogs, etc. Right? Putting your hydrometer in a baggie for later forensics?
Blah. I'm at work and can't see the video. Were they simply brewing or were they distilling? Because that's total BS if they were just brewing. If they were distilling, then they MIGHT have been able to get enough methanol in their brew to hurt someone, but then only if they were REALLY bad with their initial fermentation. I highly doubt it.
Blah. I'm at work and can't see the video. Were they simply brewing or were they distilling? Because that's total BS if they were just brewing. If they were distilling, then they MIGHT have been able to get enough methanol in their brew to hurt someone, but then only if they were REALLY bad with their initial fermentation. I highly doubt it.
the video was 18 yrs old Not many people knew a thing about brewing beer. I bet the pot charges stuck but the "moonshine" allegation was dropped .
I saw keggles. And a couple of cornies. They used the word "still" a lot, but it sure looked like a brewing setup to me.
That's be funny if the pot plants were actually cascades germinating. heh.
last summer my oldest had her B day party,and one of her friend's dad is a cop, and all us guys were out in my garage B.S.'n and I pulled out an oz. of home grown cascades and handed it to him. I said "check this out,would you bust me for this" he just looked at it for a moment,then looked around at the other guys who all know I brew and they were hops. any ways,we all had a good laugh and to this day I bet he still wonders if it was pot or not. and it is still NOT legal here in OK. funny stuff,he smelled it,looked around...then smelled it,then looked around. ...then smelled it. everyone was just trying not to bust out in laughter.
I've been questioned twice by the State police about the "pillar of smoke" (it was during our buzzards and in their defense is was A LOT of steam coming off them) coming from my garage.
They were looking for Meth...they found a chubby guy in slippers making beer.
I gave them brews (which they drank so that on-duty thing is crap) and told me which of my neighbors were the nosy ones.
I figure now they know I brew beer I can fund my brewery dream by making meth...just need to find a good recipe
You have nothing to worry about. The state of Alabama is in a huge money bind right now. Individual counties could seek out brewers, but it's a waste of time compared to seeking out marijuana growers. Even then the extent they search is little unless they have prior knowledge of the situation. As a matter of fact Alabama's attorney general cares more about who controls a special task force on e-gambling and what you do in your bedroom than he does about beer. I think you'll do fine. Not one person I've met in my home state has given me flack or bad vibes from brewing. Everybody is in strong support so I don't feel at risk for the most part.
Im pretty sure there is a homebrew store in Birmingham too. So there it must not be that big of a deal. Brewing could be considered like mushroom spores which aren't illegal until used under certain circumstances. You can legally possess all the ingredients to make beer in AL, but its likely illegal to put them together. However who is going to stop you? These aren't prohibition times and we're in the south. Just don't be flamboyant about it.
Wow, I realize this video is almost 20 years old, but that is pucky, just plain cop ignorance. I live in a very upity neighborhood, and I''m not upity. I do have good relations w/ my neighbors and have had conversations w/ the immediate ones about me brewing beer and I'm not a meth head. Still, last week brew day, middle of the day, TEN, yes TEN cops swarm my house. guns drawn, me, SWMBO, and 3 buddies hit the deck. Needless to say they were all agro, freakin out and yelling. With the track record of P-town area cops lately, I thought I was gonna get a bullet in the head. After some tense moments they cuffed me, stood me up, then started asking questions while cops are picking up all my equipment. They look at my wort chiller and ask "what the hell is this?" they go through my whole garage and house...illegally. I'm trying to explain "it's just beer, sir" I get the "ya right, tell us what you're really doing" I said "look I'll show you, it's time for a hop addition" I grab the bowl of hops, cop grabs me, smells, "that's marijuana" I'm like "no sir, hops" I get "I'm a police officer, I know what marijuana smells like (it was cascade)" Some more tense moments, I explain that I'm within my legal right, they have no real probable cause and that they need to get the hell off my property. They leave in a huff, neighbors are all out checking the scene out....embarressing to say the least! they sat across the street from my house for the next 2 hours spying on us. I have filed a complaint w/ the police department and am not putting up w/ BS.
Scott Oberman, a homebrewer, was contacted by L.A. Times reporter Stephanie Simon about homebrewing in Alabama. He thought this article could give good exposure to the homebrewing cause, and help raise awareness. The article, complete with pictures and full names, detailed homebrewing in Alabama. The article spread across the internet and was seen around the world. Score one for the homebrewers? Not so fast.
The article also caught the attention of the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control board (ABC). Guess who paid Scott Oberman a visit?
...
Now Scott Oberman fears for his life. He stands to lose joint custody of his daughter, and his security clearance job. “At this point, I am very close to the decision to completely give up the best hobby in the world until such time that it is no longer illegal here in AL. This is a decision that I have not taken lightly, but my family has to come first.” says Oberman in a Free the Hops forum . If Alabama wanted to, the state could quickly ruin his life to make an example of him – all because he makes his own beer. He doesn’t want to test the case in court. That was never his intention. He is now facing the reality that he must give up the hobby he loves. Can you believe this is happening in America?
Yeah! Now that is what I'm talking about!
That is some ****. You really, really need to find out which busybody on your street narc'ed, then find a good way to give them some of that same medicine. QUOTE]
It's kinda weird cause my place is pretty secluded and my immediate neighbors seem pretty cool. I've even given some of them my brew, and they thought it was cool and liked it a lot. The town I live in (not from here, moved here bout 3 years ago) is an island of people that are way too rich, way too nosey and way too much time on their hands, most of my neighbors don't work, live off of old money and think their **** doesn't stink. The rest of the Portland Metro area is pretty laid back and chill w/ most things. It's a joke w/ all my friends and family that we live here, SWMBO and I grew up in a cow/logging town of about 5000 people. But mostly we love living here, on the river, never lock our doors and it's beautiful. The cops/court have an attitude of "not in our city" kind of thing. When I went into the station/courthouse the day after this happened, I was civil, intelligent and calmly explained what happened. I met up w/ the police chief later that day and he gave me the "try and see this from our point of view BS" I believe in being morally right and have respected the law as much as possible my whole life, but there is some serious problems w/ stuff like this happening. I got soo pissed at the chief after talking for a bit I just filed my complaint and left. I have noticed increased drive bys of my house, I guess I pissed the chief off. We really do live in a police state and they ultimately can do whatever they want. BS I say
It's kinda weird cause my place is pretty secluded and my immediate neighbors seem pretty cool. I've even given some of them my brew, and they thought it was cool and liked it a lot. The town I live in (not from here, moved here bout 3 years ago) is an island of people that are way too rich, way too nosey and way too much time on their hands, most of my neighbors don't work, live off of old money and think their **** doesn't stink. The rest of the Portland Metro area is pretty laid back and chill w/ most things. It's a joke w/ all my friends and family that we live here, SWMBO and I grew up in a cow/logging town of about 5000 people. But mostly we love living here, on the river, never lock our doors and it's beautiful. The cops/court have an attitude of "not in our city" kind of thing. When I went into the station/courthouse the day after this happened, I was civil, intelligent and calmly explained what happened. I met up w/ the police chief later that day and he gave me the "try and see this from our point of view BS" I believe in being morally right and have respected the law as much as possible my whole life, but there is some serious problems w/ stuff like this happening. I got soo pissed at the chief after talking for a bit I just filed my complaint and left. I have noticed increased drive bys of my house, I guess I pissed the chief off. We really do live in a police state and they ultimately can do whatever they want. BS I say
What is the law you are actually breaking? Because as someone else said until you put the yeast into the wort all you are doing is making sugar water.
my favorite part of the video is the clip with Papazian's book.
I have a bayou classic and 8 gal brew pot. my neighbor always thinks I am frying a turkey... guess he thinks I eat A LOT of turkey...?
and to think it could be meth... who would really cook in an open garage, during the day, on a Saturday(think most people brew on Sat), in an urban area?
Didn't home brewing just pass in Montgomery? Could have sworn they made it legal.
Wow, I realize this video is almost 20 years old, but that is pucky, just plain cop ignorance. I live in a very upity neighborhood, and I''m not upity. I do have good relations w/ my neighbors and have had conversations w/ the immediate ones about me brewing beer and I'm not a meth head. Still, last week brew day, middle of the day, TEN, yes TEN cops swarm my house. guns drawn, me, SWMBO, and 3 buddies hit the deck. Needless to say they were all agro, freakin out and yelling. With the track record of P-town area cops lately, I thought I was gonna get a bullet in the head. After some tense moments they cuffed me, stood me up, then started asking questions while cops are picking up all my equipment. They look at my wort chiller and ask "what the hell is this?" they go through my whole garage and house...illegally. I'm trying to explain "it's just beer, sir" I get the "ya right, tell us what you're really doing" I said "look I'll show you, it's time for a hop addition" I grab the bowl of hops, cop grabs me, smells, "that's marijuana" I'm like "no sir, hops" I get "I'm a police officer, I know what marijuana smells like (it was cascade)" Some more tense moments, I explain that I'm within my legal right, they have no real probable cause and that they need to get the hell off my property. They leave in a huff, neighbors are all out checking the scene out....embarressing to say the least! they sat across the street from my house for the next 2 hours spying on us. I have filed a complaint w/ the police department and am not putting up w/ BS.
Interesting. I'm not an attorney, but you might want to have some dialog with one. If it was me I'd be spitting blood and seeking punitive damages for the distress--notwithstanding their obligation to adhere to the law (civil liberties, etc.) and any cause for concurrent legal address.
I'm all for sticking it to the man, but I think it will be much more trouble than it's worth...maybe I'll drop a sixer off at the police station with a nice "pig porter" label on it. haha
I'm old. I couldn't tell you what meth looks like. I'm a stamp collector.
No it didn't.
The last guy to get busted in Alabama was at least ten years ago. If I remember correctly he was doing a lot of other things and they just found the beer stuff and threw the book at him at that point.
That's right, land of greed, home of the slaves. Nice surname BTW, you're an architect right?
That's right, land of greed, home of the slaves. Nice surname BTW, you're an architect right?
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