Distilling Legally? opinion, thoughts or ideas.

[Jako]

So i was talking about Distilling at work this afternoon not in a serious way. But then i started to think. So i started to dig around looking a federal law and local to my state in Utah. yes i could probably buy equipment and hide away in my basement, but i like to do things by the book.

I ended up sending a long email to the state asking if someone could distill on a hobby level. In my state its all in or nothing. For me i don't find that very fair (hah i know life is not fair) maybe i will get a reply but i highly doubt it.

What are others doing? can we even talk about this or should i code this thread... Just kidding.

 

[day_trippr]

There is a distilling forum on HBT https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/forums/distilling.281/
I don't know what participants are up to over there but it should be in your ball park I expect...

Cheers!

 

[Jako]

There is a distilling forum on HBT https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/forums/distilling.281/
I don't know what participants are up to over there but it should be in your ball park I expect...

Cheers!

Thank you, i was hoping to talk about it as a whole community. As i am sure a lot of brewers are interested as i am but never look into it any more due to Legal reasons. Also the general section has a LOT more traffic.

 

[day_trippr]

Sure, there's a lot more traffic - it's "General"
But when there's a specific forum for a topic, it seems to me that's the best place to conduct bidness, rather than clogging up the General forum with discussions that frankly few are interested in (I think you're seriously overestimating interest there).

But that's me. Vaya con Dios...

Cheers!

 

[Jako]

Sure, there's a lot more traffic - it's "General"
But when there's a specific forum for a topic, it seems to me that's the best place to conduct bidness, rather than clogging up the General forum with discussions that frankly few are interested in (I think you're seriously overestimating interest there).

But that's me. Vaya con Dios...

Cheers!

I will do that. Thank you for the advise.

Could i have a mod remove this thread.

wooo! thank you very much.

 

[Beerswimmer]

It's either fully licensed and 100% legal....or it's not. You can decide the path that you want to go down.

You may have put your name on a list with your email....

 

[lump42]

So i was talking about Distilling at work this afternoon not in a serious way. But then i started to think. So i started to dig around looking a federal law and local to my state in Utah. yes i could probably buy equipment and hide away in my basement, but i like to do things by the book.

I ended up sending a long email to the state asking if someone could distill on a hobby level. In my state its all in or nothing. For me i don't find that very fair (hah i know life is not fair) maybe i will get a reply but i highly doubt it.

What are others doing? can we even talk about this or should i code this thread... Just kidding.

Federal law supersedes any state or local laws. States and localities may be more strict, but not less. Federal law provides no exemptions for the production of distilled spirits for personal or family use.

These may provide additional info:
https://www.clawhammersupply.com/blogs/moonshine-still-blog/7155304-is-making-moonshine-legal
https://www.whiskeystillpro.com/blo...h-about-us-law-and-distilling-alcohol-at-home

There is also a Hobby Distiller's Association that has a state-by-state break down of home distilling laws. This groups is working to get personal use exemptions for hobby distilling.
https://hobbydistillersassociation.org/

 

[Jako]

It's either fully licensed and 100% legal....or it's not. You can decide the path that you want to go down.

You may have put your name on a list with your email....

hah great point! should have used a fake email.

 

[Jako]

Federal law supersedes any state or local laws. States and localities may be more strict, but not less. Federal law provides no exemptions for the production of distilled spirits for personal or family use.

These may provide additional info:
https://www.clawhammersupply.com/blogs/moonshine-still-blog/7155304-is-making-moonshine-legal
https://www.whiskeystillpro.com/blo...h-about-us-law-and-distilling-alcohol-at-home

There is also a Hobby Distiller's Association that has a state-by-state break down of home distilling laws. This groups is working to get personal use exemptions for hobby distilling.
https://hobbydistillersassociation.org/

Thanks for the information! Greatly appreciated! I will differently take a look.

 

[bracconiere]

until recently, even homebrewing beer was illegal in utah.....it's illegal to distill, it's illegal to even freeze concentrate.....it's stupid, but it's the law...

edit: but i've heard there's a way to get a license from the ATF to distill for fuel....

 

[Jako]

until recently, even homebrewing beer was illegal in utah.....it's illegal to distill, it's illegal to even freeze concentrate.....it's stupid, but it's the law...

edit: but i've heard there's a way to get a license from the ATF to distill for fuel....

Yeah no kidding. Thanks for the tip I might look into. If it's not expensive then I might be a good direction to go.

 

[bpgreen]

until recently, even homebrewing beer was illegal in utah.....it's illegal to distill, it's illegal to even freeze concentrate.....it's stupid, but it's the law..

Depends on what you mean by recently. If I remember correctly, home brewing became legal in spring of 2009.

The biggest brewing supply store in Utah was around before that. It was perfectly legal to buy, sell, own, etc things like yeast, barley, hops because they have many other uses (I've heard that bakeries buy more of the bulk extract than brewers do).

Freeze concentration is different from distillation and the legality is much fuzzier. It's actually allowed to a point (the legal phrase is de minimus).

 

[bracconiere]

legal in spring of 2009.

that's a long time ago for me....

 

[RevA]

it should be legal to distill fuel with the necessary permits. Just don't tell too many people if you use the fuel to fuel the body.

That said in South Africa we have a weird way of dealing with it. It is legal to distill any alcohol if you either do it on a hobby level and register your still, or join the historic distilling society and apply for a permit. Also you can buy Mapmoer (unaged, unoaked fruit brandy) in most liquor stores.

 

[madscientist451]

I ended up sending a long email to the state asking if someone could distill on a hobby level. In my state its all in or nothing. For me i don't find that very fair (hah i know life is not fair) maybe i will get a reply but i highly doubt it.

What are others doing? can we even talk about this or should i code this thread... Just kidding.

Fairness regarding alcohol? That's pretty funny. Here in PA, the state agency that deals with alcohol is called the Liquor Control Board. But what they really want to control is the citizens, obviously you can't be trusted. The powers that be have always sought to control who wins and who loses in the alcohol business. Be thankful that you can make your own beer wine and cider without the tax man coming around.
Not too long ago, the HBT admins would delete posts if you mentioned distilling with heat but allowed discussion of freeze distilling. That restriction was relaxed so now we're permitted to talk about it.
I'm not going to recommend violating state and Federal laws, but if you're not selling home made liquor, who is going to know about it?
I make my own beer, wine and cider partly because I think my product is better than what I can buy commercially and partly because I think $12 for a six pack of low alcohol IPA/Lager is a ridiculous price. I have excess apple and pear juice that I'd like to try to make brandy with, but the additional equipment I'd need and the time involved just don't add up for me, its not worth it.
So if you have the time and the cash for the equipment , go for it and don't talk about it and you'll be fine.

 

[bracconiere]

but if you're not selling home made liquor, who is going to know about it?

not necessarily true....a few years back, here in tucson, the news did a piece where the police were doing a wellfare check, smelled what they thought could be a meth lab. naturally went in, and the guy got busted for distilling....the cops had no idea what to do with him, so called in the ATF....

 

[madscientist451]

Well Ok, if you're running a still, don't have kids around that could generate a welfare check; it would be best if you throw everyone out and just stay home and make booze.

 

[Jaybird]

It is my understanding that distilling at home for consumption is illegal in every country on the planet except New Zealand. The old saying is true. 3 people can keep a secret if 2 are dead.

Cheers
Jay

 

[thunderwagn]

Being tight lipped on home distilling is easy for me. Are there concerns about ordering distilling equipment?

 

[Jaybird]

Being tight lipped on home distilling is easy for me. Are there concerns about ordering distilling equipment?

No not these days. With the rise in the POT industry and tincture extraction at home, I think your safe. But that's just my opinion.

Cheers
Jay

 

[Bubbles2]

Here is the thing with buying a built Still. The store is required to keep records if selling distilling equipment. Those records are produced on demand, no warrant needed. The ATF or some other 3 letter faction can then "if they have the resources" Knock on your door and ask to see your Still and look around for jars of ??? Chances of that happening are very slim, thus far. They still have pot smokers to beat up and steal their possessions. So you can order A Still and be in the records...Just as there was a time when One ordered a grow light, you would 'blip' on the radar. There are gives and takes. I have an electric one gallon that is for "ahemm" distilling water. You know how much brewers need clean water or if you are venturing into holistic health and wanting to create herbal extracts.
I think if one of those 'so called' friends were to want to make trouble for you, that would be more of an issue than buying a Still online from a myriad of retailers, catching you in the middle of it. I know a deputy and a C.O who both have Stills. Just because friends of them "spill the beans" or mention it because I brew and it seems to come up in conversation at times. FWIW Order one send it to your GF's address, just don't tell your wife....LOL

 

[bracconiere]

Are there concerns about ordering distilling equipment?

i got my 7 gallon 6ft reflux still no problem.....

that was back in 2008

 

[greywolf]

They may have list of what you bought, where's their list of what you sold? You had that yardsale last summer, right? I don't know or care what you may do in your "shed". Don't tell, don't sell, and stay off the radar. I get mine from a guy that knows a guy who was passing thru.

 

[bracconiere]

stay off the radar

unfortunately, i learned most of what i know from homedistiller.org.....a public forum, like this one.....

 

[Jaybird]

unfortunately, i learned most of what i know from homedistiller.org.....a public forum, like this one.....

Great spot to learn for sure.

Cheers
Jay

 

[bracconiere]

Great spot to learn for sure.

Cheers
Jay

it is, but i ended up getting cussed out there too... apparently this drugs stuff is serious to mere mortals. lol

 

[RevA]

At this stage if you distill and you are caught just explain you are making alcohol based hand sanitizer.

 

[bernardsmith]

At this stage if you distill and you are caught just explain you are making alcohol based hand sanitizer.

CDC says 65% ABV is what's good.

 

[Willee]

Distill for fuel ... the highest proof is best to add to gasoline for the lawnmower.
Water is not a good thing to add to gasoline.
A fuel distilling permit is free.
It is way easier to get caught distilling alcohol that it is to get caught drinking it.
Get the federal permit!

 

[Willee]

They may have list of what you bought, where's their list of what you sold? You had that yardsale last summer, right? I don't know or care what you may do in your "shed". Don't tell, don't sell, and stay off the radar. I get mine from a guy that knows a guy who was passing thru.

The fact you bought it can bring some snoopy federal agent around to see what you are doing with it.
If he looks thru the window or over the fence and sees your still being heated you are busted!
Get the free permit for distilling fuel and avoid all that.