NanoBrewery build

Here are a couple of pics from the beer event.

I'm 6'1" so it's not often I have to look up to talk to someone. This guy was BIG.


My table setup.

 

simply awesome. congrats.

 

Looks like Hoss meets Paul Bunyan in that photo. How many gallons did he drink? It sure looked good, congrats. How many gallons bier are in storage now it must be getting rather large?

 

Hey Hoss. Awesome looking tasting!

 

Subscribed.

Just read this entire thread. Awesome work man! I wish you the best!

 

Thank you, I appreciate it.

 

So, you've had your first tasting does that mean you are you fully approved for your retail tastings? I'm still waiting to hear that you're adding onto your building to make room for your big equipment in storage to keep up with demand.

 

I'm just waiting on state confirmation. Should be any day now.

 

subscribed!

 

So here's a legal-ish question that you may be able to answer. As homebrewers, what I do with my brew is pretty much my business, as long as I don't give it to minors or charge any money for it whatsoever.

A commercial brewery can not, I understand, under any circumstances give away any brew. Test batches would seem to be an assumed expense. A homebrewer could make test batches on his own equipment, treat it as homebrew and then apply the recipe for his commercial nanobrewery. But, if test batches were made through the commercial nanobrewery, then they would be a business expense that should be tax deductible. Great. We made a test batch, and got to save a little dough that would have gone to Uncle Sam. But who gets to drink the test batch? You can't legally give it away for free, right? Do you need to hire test drinkers? That seems ludicrous, but this is the law we're talking about, so the more ridiculous the necessary course of action, the more likely it is to comply with the law. Anyone have any answer for this one?

 

I have never heard that commercial breweries can't give away beer. In fact, I know of several in the area that routinely give it away at tours, tastings, parties, etc.. Perhaps there's a state law in Ohio that prohibits it? Definitely no such law in North Carolina.

 

I think it's a state/local law that may prohibit giving away samples. I know some breweries charge a tasting fee, just as wineries do.

 

I give sample bottles away as a way to get business. If I had to charge a bar to taste my beer they would never buy it. If a customer comes into the shop I have to charge for tasters. Even if I only charge $.10, it's still a charge.
If I have a bad batch I still have to log it as a business brew but I also get to write it off as dumped. Any beer that leaves my brewery to be sold or as sold, gets taxed. I also have to list beer that is used for employee use.

 

You can't legally cross the street unless it's a dedicated crosswalk. You can't legally urinate on public property. You can't legally kick some guys ass for slapping your lady on the ass. You can't legally consume marijuana for recreational purposes. You can't legally drive 5 miles over the speed limit.

See where I'm going with this?

 

Sweetness! Right on Main Street.

 

Your CA Type 23 License allows you to give samples out for free on the brewery premises, like a tasting room and you can provide samples to people who hold liquor licenses for the purpose of resale (ie. bar owners, etc). Beyond that, though, the only time giving beer to an actual consumer is permitted is at festivals, etc. and that's generally only because the attendees have paid an admission fee.

 

Thanks, that makes sense. At the Tasting I did, the customers paid $25 at the door for a glass to go around to each beer vendor and sample their beer. They also got food too. I wasn't paid for the beer except in advertising.

 

This is such bull sh!t! Now I'm being told that I owe $3.00 for some reason. If this is what has been holding things up then why wasn't I told this a long time ago? What total wankers!!!!

EDIT: Here's the message I got from the ABC: "There is a note in the system stating you owe $3.00. Please send a check
for $3.00."

Doesn't tell me who to send it to, where to send it or why I wasn't told about it.

 

After sending them the $3 check. They'll wait six months to tell you that they applied a check processing fee of $5 to your $3 check, so they have been awaiting your additional payment before processing your application.

 

Wouldn't surprise me.

 

Hoss, great thread. Any updated pics of the brewery?

 

Nothing's changed in the brewery, other than adding a 20 cf keezer to store kegs in. The next pics will be of my sales space once I get it decorated.

 

Looking forward to seeing them. Good luck!

 

I was talking to a wine master friend today that works for a large winery in Livermore Calif. he's also a home brewer and knows how the Feds look down on bier breweries as second class people vs wineries. Wineries go to the top of the list with applications to serve alcohol. Rather sad wine snobs vs bier brewers, the tensions there.

 

PROST to this thread and Hoss!

 

Ja ja, I got to get to bed.

 

It's everywhere too. My brother, the winer, was with me at the beer tasting and he even said it was quite a different crowd there vs. a wine tasting. At the beer tasting it was a younger crowd, more laid back and not as snobby as at the wine tasting. I'll take laid back over snobbish any day, thank you very much.

 

WOOHOO!!! My state license is now active.
Now I need to decorate and get open for business.

 

congratulations man, get with it!

 

Thanks. I got some vintage posters that I need to frame then hang on the walls. I also got some replica leg irons and handcuffs for decoration also. Just in case someone gets unruly.

 

Awesome!

 

Sweet! That's Great News!

 

Gratz!!! GL!!!

 

too cool. may the fun begin!

 

Absolutely fantastic news! Congratulations Mr. Brewer.

 

Well, it's about damn time, dontcha think?

Good on ya, Hoss! You knew it was simply a matter of time! Celebrate!

glenn514

 

Awesome, congrats! Livin' the dream!

 

I swung by to come taste your beer last weekend but didn't see anything on the sign relating to beer. I guess you didn't have you license yet. In any case the place was closed up at about 6pm (IIRC). Oh well, the wife and I tried Savory's down the street and had a great dinner. Next time.