Not a good idea!! But depending on your state's laws you could do a brew-on-premise (BOP) operation. In California they actually call it remote location homebrewing. You would charge for all the ingredients, equipment use, and your time. The caveat is that the customer has to "help". That certainly seems up to interpretation....is it pitching the yeast, bottling, adding hops?? Often thought about this myself....If a friend wants to buy some of my beer for his party obviously I can't sell it to him. However, at least in CA, it seems that as long as he "helps" I can charge him for my time, supplies, etc..... This can be done without a license.....AFAIK there is no BOP license required by either TTB or CA ABC. I don't know how IL is but maybe something you can look into?
Brewing/Liquor License
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Not a good idea!! But depending on your state's laws you could do a brew-on-premise (BOP) operation. In California they actually call it remote location homebrewing. You would charge for all the ingredients, equipment use, and your time. The caveat is that the customer has to "help". That certainly seems up to interpretation....is it pitching the yeast, bottling, adding hops?? Often thought about this myself....If a friend wants to buy some of my beer for his party obviously I can't sell it to him. However, at least in CA, it seems that as long as he "helps" I can charge him for my time, supplies, etc..... This can be done without a license.....AFAIK there is no BOP license required by either TTB or CA ABC. I don't know how IL is but maybe something you can look into?
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
You can't stop me from trolling you back.
Nonsense. All you need is a good cap printer. Then you just clone something stupid and resell it back into circulation via 1st generation immigrants running a liquor store. If you are looking for glory, do what I do and sell your beer out of your trunk at the local mobile home camp.
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
Just because there isn't a brewing license for it doesn't mean it doesn't run afoul other statutes, regulations, or local ordinances.
This may be my new quote...
I am NOT quoting this to pick sides, I have way more respect for the BOTH of you than this entire thread deserves.
![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
HaveADrinkOnMe
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From what I have looked into, it would be nothing short of a cluster F to begin the process in IL. Guess I will put this ambitious dream on the back burner and just enjoy some homebrew with my friends and family for the time being.
We are NOT going to talk about illegal behavior. Or even joke about it. It's not appropriate, and it's specifically spelled out in our forum rules.
If you can't abide by the simple rules, then there may be other forums that may be more appealing to you than our little forum here.
True. I have found this though regarding the TTB. http://www.ttb.gov/beer/faqs.shtml#b1
There are a few BOP's in CA so obviously they are legal. I have searched but can't find anything regarding state regulations pertaining to them.
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
I would imagine that since they produce a food/beverage they are probably regulated generally through the state and local health and safety code/regulations/ordinances. I wouldn't be surprised if some BOPs run without requisite health and safety permits and licenses but that doesn't mean it's legal to do so.
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
Touche.
I'm not really familiar with people would actually take what I wrote seriously. It's not about me wanting to talk about things that don't fit a ruleset. It's more about me being obviously funny (or at least if not funny, trying to be). If you don't understand that then yes that would not be a good match for me.
I understand. But we are in the "technical" brewing area, where we talk about beer, brewing, etc, and any off topic chatter or off-the-point posts are not allowed. If joking and talking off topic are important, there is the "general chit chat" and/or "drunken mumblings" area.
We expect the beer discussion forum area to be a place for technical advice, helpful information, and sharing of brewing experience. If you have questions about this, please revisit the Rules: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_faq#faq_rules_regulations
Ah, ah! I shall redouble my effort to bookmark the elusive drunken mumblings area ..
Which while drunken has proved a challenge to find and while sober not absolutely necessary.
Calichusetts
Well-Known Member
As someone pointed out...contract brewing (or whatever they call it in your state.) You won't get rich but don't have to be to start either. There is a brewery in Westport that specializes in this in Mass. Several very nicely done beers come out of there regularly. I think you need to bring the ingredients, brew it, and bottle. They take care of fermentation.
You still need to make yourself a legitimate business with the proper licenses to sell it in stores.
You still need to make yourself a legitimate business with the proper licenses to sell it in stores.
There is a homebrewer in my area that is doing this. His beer is brewed by a contract brewery and he just get his labels put on. Of course you still need to be licensed but in CA it is just a wholesalers license which is pretty easy to get. I did "offend" him though when I said that his beers are contract brewed....he hates the term. Good beer though.
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
What does he prefer to call it?
He's not really a "homebrewer" or a "brewer" at that point, really only a "middle-man." Didn't know you could sell like that with a wholesalers license in CA, though. It amazes me how lax some of the laws here are considering how ridiculous others are.
He still calls himself the brewer though. I guess because they are his recipes and he does get to help out on brew day at the contract brewery. The contract brewery handles all the paperwork, taxes, etc. As far as the government is concerned the beer is really the contract brewery's. They then just sell it to the beer wholesaler. I think there are quite a few breweries who do this...most people would never know unless they look at the label closely. I guess the important thing though is that "his" beer is pretty good.
I just read this entire post and i won't lie it brought tears to my eyes... I've had many dreams of owning a brewery and have made batches in Dominican Republic and thought why not also make something here and even though i may not become a billionaire at least i can finally have a job that i would love and still be able to feed my family . But its so hard to read that it we are so monopolized that it would be a shot in the dark to make it... wow... 
HaveADrinkOnMe
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I just read this entire post and i won't lie it brought tears to my eyes... I've had many dreams of owning a brewery and have made batches in Dominican Republic and thought why not also make something here and even though i may not become a billionaire at least i can finally have a job that i would love and still be able to feed my family . But its so hard to read that it we are so monopolized that it would be a shot in the dark to make it... wow...
I had the same thoughts originally, but I look at it this way now, if by some miracle I am able to make a living off brewing beer then I will gladly accept the opportunity, if not I will always have one of the best hobbies, in my opinion, that a person can have and I will enjoy it for the rest of my life. Plus the more I think about it when you start doing something you love for a living then it usually doesn't become your "love" anymore and more of a job.
I think both of you are right...any time you take a hobby and turn it into a job there is the chance it will take the fun out of it. But why can't brewing (as a hobby) be more like being a musician(as a hobby)? I know plenty of people who play music as side/weekend/hobby gig. They aren't quitting, nor do they want to quit, their day job. I see brewing as potentially being the same way. I get asked all the time to brew beer for friend's private parties. I love doing it but it can get expensive. The solution? Taking a cue from friends in local bands....sell merchandise!! I sell t-shirts, glasses, and stickers with my brewery logo at the party. People love the beer and usually will buy something.. (especially after a few pints....
) I get the best of both worlds.....having a "brewery" but also keeping it a hobby.Question and i know i may get blasted for doing this but lets say that since we aren't allowed to sell our product,we give it away but charge for the glass or cup or whatever you may call it .... is it still illegal? I mean i won't be selling the brew but i will be renting the drinkware and last i checked glasswear isn't illegal.... just a thought ......
This has been brought up many, many times. It is ILLEGAL!! However giving away beer and having brewery merchandise for sale is completely legal as long as it isn't a "this for that" transaction. In other words you can't "sell" stickers and get free beer with every purchase.
Here is different you just need an alcohol licence(which is simple to get for non destilled alcohol) and to get a permission to start a small business. So as long as you dont hire more than one person you can brew and sell from home, all the paperwork to start is less than 100 dollars... I am really tempted to make a webpage and sell a 10 or 15 gallons a month.
Mairoa
Member
Because the US is silly and insane when you bring alcohol into it. I personally recoup my losses by having a tip jar for people who come a-drinking as well as asking buddies I drink with a lot to cover the occasional grain bill as a favor. They're not buying beer, cups, or stamps. They're providing fertilizer cash for my wet grain addiction.
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