Anyone know about state brewing permits?

[Stinky]

I'm from New Jersey, and state law, (from what I understand) is if you want to produce any kind of alcohol for personal consumption you need a state issued permit, which consist of paying a $3 fee and being 21 years of age or older.The permit is valid for one year, and you can produce up to 200 gallons of practically anything containing alcohol regardless of ABV and no taxes apply, seems reasonable to me. I haven't looked into the laws of other states, but I'd guess there's a lot of states with similar laws. Anyone have experience with one of these permits? Getting caught without one? Doesn't seem to be a major concern of anyone on these forums.

I realize there are other types of permits/licenses for commercial situations, I'm more so looking for anecdotes about homebrew permits, but I'm sure comparisons would be interesting.

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

Here in Cali, no permit is needed until you get to the 200 gallon mark. But no one is checking unless your trying to sell it. Personally I wouldn't bother with the permit, you'll just draw attention to yourself, and who knows how much BS is surrounding it.

 

[Shonuff]

I would totally by a permit. Frame it and hang it up.

$3 a year would be worth it.

 

[Eves]

If your state requires it and you are aware of it then I think it would be best to get the permit. Especially if the cost is so minimal. Sure odds are nothing would happen if you didn't get a permit. But in the off chance that you did get busted you probably wouldn't like the penality no matter what it is.

 

[olllllo]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/nj-home-brewing-permit-44762/

 

[olllllo]

Sorry for the circuituitous links.

On a side note, my reference to stirring grain and taking mash temps refers to the fact that I dropped in on Bobby_M's brewout.... without a permit!

 

[Bobby_M]

I have to wonder how old the info is that you found being that I know it was $20 two years ago. If it were only $3, I'd buy two. Seriously, unless you're brewing in the police station parking lot, I'd skip it.

 

[user 19629]

I just dl'd the permit application and it's $15.
What's kind of funny is it says you can only consume at the address where it's brewed. Also when I was at a brew on premises place I heard them ask some one if they were a NJ resident, if not they didn't need the permit.
You can see get it here
http://www.nj.gov/oag/abc/downloads/hbp.pdf

 

[Bob]

You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.

That is Mr Dumb sailing away on the HMS Fail. I can see NJ from my window at this moment across the Delaware, and thank God I'm in Pennsylvania. I thought our liquor laws were stoopid!

Yeesh.

Bob

 

[Skins_Brew]

agreed, i thought my Montgomery County, MD was lame.

 

[eriktlupus]

mchigan is like 650 per bar area+350 for the brewpub license(brew and sell on site only, no distribution)