Alabama Homebrew Legislation 2013

[CGVT]

Seems to be a lot of trash talking going on after the fact...

I'm just glad that we are all legal now

 

[alestateyall]

Seems to be a lot of trash talking going on after the fact...

I'm just glad that we are all legal now

I wonder if any of y'all have beers entered in the Golden Triangle Brewers War of the Wort. If so, we will be finishing judging on May 18 and will have an after party and awards ceremony starting at 5:30pm. A local distributor is providing a Tall Grass firkin. Come out and celebrate with us.

 

[Starderup]

Welcome to the 21st Century! 13 years late, but welcome!

 

[Orthobrewsky]

Yeah, Jethro Clampett went there, remember?

And where did Forrest Gump go?

Our distinguished holder of the Jethro Clampett Professorship didn't think of that comeback, so I knew I had to help him out.

Just for the record, I did not attend the school from which Forrest graduated, but I did go there for Boy's State; I was a pretend Representative. When someone wanted to allow some exotic foods to enter the state, I said "What's wrong with the chitlins we got? They et purty good don't they?"

 

[Accidic]

Hey now... Cut Alvin some slack. He extracted his proverbial head and gave us support this year. Sure he dropped some foolish comments this year too but I can't speak bad of the man.

 

[alestateyall]

Just for the record, I did not attend the school from which Forrest graduated

You taught him math right?

I never could get Jethro to sign up for any if my classes.

 

[homebrewdad]

I am so freaking happy about this. The 15 gallon limit stinks, but it's a far cry from zero.

 

[aubiecat]

I wonder if big box stores in Alabama might start carrying brewing gear and/or supplies?

 

[wailingguitar]

I wonder if big box stores in Alabama might start carrying brewing gear and/or supplies?

You could buy Mr Beer kits in Sears, Walmart, Beds, Bath and Beyond and several other places here for a while. Not sure if they didn't know or didn't care that it was illegal

 

[CGVT]

I wonder if any of y'all have beers entered in the Golden Triangle Brewers War of the Wort. If so, we will be finishing judging on May 18 and will have an after party and awards ceremony starting at 5:30pm. A local distributor is providing a Tall Grass firkin. Come out and celebrate with us.

I'd love to drive up and meet you all, but it's quite a drive from Spanish Fort.

Maybe for the Monster Mash...

 

[LAHammer]

Just got an email reply back from Rep. Mac McCutcheon and I don't think he would mind me sharing this with you. Goes to show there are some quality folks involved in our legislature - even if they don't get to the microphone very much.

"Thank you very much I have made many new friends and I have been honored to defend the integrity of our homebrewers. I have learned so much about the art of homebrewing!!!!
Serving you,
Rep. Mac McCutcheon"

 

[aubiecat]

It's a miracle! The Governor signed the bill last night and 15 gallons of beer magically appeared in my closet this morning.

 

[alestateyall]

These Right to Brew glasses are gonna be collectors items. Better get one while they are still around.

 

[kjc0011]

Cheers fellow bamers. I'll be brewing on my front porch tomorrow in celebration!

 

[wailingguitar]

My first 'official' brew is tomorrow as well...

 

[FTG-05]

I am so freaking happy about this. The 15 gallon limit stinks, but it's a far cry from zero.

Wait what???? There's a 15 gallon limit??????????? Crap, back to being a felon again! Well that didn't take long.

 

[Accidic]

You're not a felon. You're just guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

 

[aubiecat]

Wonder what the fine will be for being over the limit?

 

[Orthobrewsky]

Hey now... Cut Alvin some slack. He extracted his proverbial head and gave us support this year. Sure he dropped some foolish comments this year too but I can't speak bad of the man.

Hear, hear! I love Alvin. Haven't you heard, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

 

[Orthobrewsky]

It's a miracle! The Governor signed the bill last night and 15 gallons of beer magically appeared in my closet this morning.

Hey, this reminds me of the caption for my newest Facebook photo album, "Home Brewery":

"It was just legalized yesterday evening (Alabama was last again), but somehow I already have all this equipment. What's this? My Oktoberfest lager is past primary fermentation? It's a miracle! There's no other explanation!"

 

[Orthobrewsky]

Wonder what the fine will be for being over the limit?

We may be waiting a long time to find out the answer to that question. When was the last homebrewer prosecuted for felony homebrewing?

 

[isleofman]

http://law.onecle.com/alabama/criminal-code/13A-5-12.html
http://law.onecle.com/alabama/criminal-code/13A-5-7.html

(2) For a Class B misdemeanor, not more than $3,000;
(2) For a Class B misdemeanor, not more than six months.

Still pretty severe, though not a felony.

 

[dfc]

I'll be brewing in honor of your accomplishments. Sunday I'll brew an "Alabama APA".

 

[Accidic]

I can't imagine you getting 6 months unless you're WAY over as Federal law allows for significantly more. The fine they might try to levy the max just because it's free money.

 

[Orthobrewsky]

I can't imagine you getting 6 months unless you're WAY over as Federal law allows for significantly more. The fine they might try to levy the max just because it's free money.

Makes sense. For example, the max penalty for your first DUI is a year in jail. I haven't heard of that happening, but maybe if you crash through the wall of the courthouse...

Assuming someone shows up to search your house, they won't know if you are just a bit over unless they pour out all your beer into their own graduated containers. That might just qualify as unreasonable search and seizure.

 

[alestateyall]

I can't imagine you getting 6 months unless you're WAY over as Federal law allows for significantly more. The fine they might try to levy the max just because it's free money.

The guy recently prosecuted for home brewing in Blount County had his charge reduced to class c misdemeanor from felony. Most likely violators of the new law could also plea bargain to a reduced charge. The big expense would be lawyer fees and potential loss of professional licensure (not likely since this is not a crime of moral turpitude).

 

[Orthobrewsky]

The guy recently prosecuted for home brewing in Blount County had his charge reduced to class c misdemeanor from felony. Most likely violators of the new law could also plea bargain to a reduced charge. The big expense would be lawyer fees and potential loss of professional licensure (not likely since this is not a crime of moral turpitude).

Actually, they never planned to prosecute him for homebrewing, but for distilling. It seems that when they realized they didn't actually have evidence for any distilling, they reduced it to possession of a prohibited beverage in a dry county. One article said that they decided to search his home because he'd been caught with marijuana, but I think I read somewhere else that a neighbor called thinking he might have a meth lab.

 

[4nabas]

I can't imagine that the 15 gal limit law will really be enforced. How would they know if a person is brewing?

 

[Huff360]

Actually, they never planned to prosecute him for homebrewing, but for distilling. It seems that when they realized they didn't actually have evidence for any distilling, they reduced it to possession of a prohibited beverage in a dry county. One article said that they decided to search his home because he'd been caught with marijuana, but I think I read somewhere else that a neighbor called thinking he might have a meth lab.

If you're ever down in Montgomery, stop in at Railyard Brewing, have a few beers and chat with him. Kade is the brewer there and he's a good guy.

They are very homebrewer friendly.

 

[Huff360]

These Right to Brew glasses are gonna be collectors items. Better get one while they are still around.

When I passed out the cases that I passed out, I told them "We want you to serve in these to help get the word out. DON'T give them away please! That keeps the message from being seen by more people. Once we are legal, or the session is over, feel free to give them away."

Visit your favorite watering hole, buy a few pints, and ask if you can keep the glass. (Might be a good idea to throw a $5 in the tip jar first.)