Donation jar

[MaxStout]

I don't let guests help themselves to my fridge. I offer beer and we drink. I'm happy to share. I'm never in a position where someone "sucks down my beer."

 

[CJ-3]

Part of being a good host is having the grace not to request reimbursement for trivial things.

Well said.

 

[jrcrilly]

Can we just offer our opinions here without playing lawyer?


Rev.

I'm all for that. We just need to recognize that the people who are "playing lawyer" are the non-attorneys who are offering advice on how to break the law. Such advice had better be countered by valid comments that such things ARE unlawful. Does the HBT community want someone to get into a bind because he believed and acted on bad advice found on HBT?

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Devil's advocate here. I'm wondering what kind of colorful comments I would make if I were to show up to a friends house who had a 'donation' jar next to his tap. I'm no economist, but I think that jar would be lighter by the time I left.

 

[passedpawn]

I'm all for that. We just need to recognize that the people who are "playing lawyer" are the non-attorneys who are offering advice on how to break the law. Such advice had better be countered by valid comments that such things ARE unlawful. Does the HBT community want someone to get into a bind because he believed and acted on bad advice found on HBT?

omfg. Come on. Cut it out youguys. Tip jar on keezer will not get you time in the bighouse. As much as I think it's a punk idea, it's not an issue with the law.

 

[jschein]

Here is mine

 

[cyberbrew]

Sharing is the only way I can keep it moving fast enough for my desire to brew...

 

[masskrug]

So if my wife lives with me I can legally brew 200 gallons a year?

 

[jrcrilly]

So if my wife lives with me I can legally brew 200 gallons a year?

As far as the Feds are concerned, yes (for personl consumption). Some states have tighter restrictions. I dunno what Florida says.

 

[Rev2010]

omfg. Come on. Cut it out youguys. Tip jar on keezer will not get you time in the bighouse. As much as I think it's a punk idea, its not an issue with the law.

Sorry, I just had to! Please don't be mad at me guys, just being silly

 

[wilson42203]

I actually enjoy making beer more than drinking it....I know that's crazy, but it is what it is.

Got a buddy that loves my beer...he buys the stuff and I make it. We are both happy.

I'm the same way. Cider is a different story.

 

[Grandmaster]

Interesting topic.

I always bring beer to friends houses when I go over and leave what isn't drank. A lot of times when friends come over to my house they don't bring beer because they know I will have plenty. If they have money to donate towards future batches then great. If not no biggie.

 

[harleybug88]

I'm 100% happy to have friends, family, and co-workers drink my beer. I think, unless you have someone who's constantly over-consuming your beer, that asking for money is lame and honestly embarrassing. If the cost is an issue then you should limit the amount someone can have.

That said, one thing I have changed is that I no longer give beer to be drank elsewhere. What I mean primarily by that is these days my father-in-law wants me to pour him a beer and leave it on the hallway ledge (he lives in the attic, don't ask lol) so he can squirrel it away and have it with dinner or whatever. I've grown tired of that as HE is the one that is being anti-social and refusing to stick around and partake in family activities. So whenever he asks for beer that way I give him whatever bottle of beer I have laying around in the fridge that I bought and didn't like.

Seriously, I don't think it's that hard to sit and enjoy the beer with the person that made it and the rest of your family. So if you can't drink it in our company F YOU you ain't getting my beer!!


Rev.

I think I might know you. Is your name Doug? Are you married to Carrie? Is you're father-in-law named Arthur?

Never mind... :smack: The Arthur I knew lived in the basement.

 

[Firewalker11]

Funny how these things always go the route of legal discussion. Many things people do frequently in their lives are technically illegal (jaywalking for example), but I doubt the government is going to break down his door for a donation jar. Can we just offer our opinions here without playing lawyer?


Rev.

The world is actually bigger than home brewers and those of us that work at wineries and breweries have to follow the law. No, they wont break down the door or cuff us, they just pull our licenses and we close the doors.

:smack:

 

[Dog House Brew]

I look at it as a compliment. Now that I'm making good beer that I enjoy, I need them to enjoy. My kegerator only holds so much. I need them to drink it fit freshness. Better get back to kegging 4 brews for my friends.

 

[BeavStu]

Being that I am beginner Brewer, I have been giving a lot of my beer away. Mainly because I want honest feedback from as many people as possible. All I have been asking for in return is that people save and give me bottles. There's no bottle deposit in NC, so it doesn't cost them anything.

My wife on the other hand is a lawyer. She tends to frown whenever I want to do something 'illegal' per say. Haha

 

[David_Trucks]

I make more than I drink and I gladly offer those that come over any beer that I make. Nobody goes crazy with over-drinking and I think they really enjoy it, which is really part of the reason I brew in the first place. I would never ask for money from my friends for what they drink. That being said, I definitely appreciate when someone brings over some beers for me to try, even if they are commercially brewed.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

The only time I ask for anyone to pitch in is my brother in law, because he lives with me and drinks as much as I do lol but I don't make a big deal about it. I enjoy brewing, and if I had to drink it all myself I would either be in rehab right now or dead I mean, in the past 3 months I've brewed approx. 75 gallons of beer. When I finally set up a bar area in my house I might put up a list of ingredients that I need for future brews and if someone happens to show up with some grains, hops or yeast, well... RDWHAHB

 

[soot]

Sounds like you got yourself a brewer's assistant.

Either that, or convince them to brew too so you can share bulk grain costs and beers!

 

[Rhumbline]

I'm all for that. We just need to recognize that the people who are "playing lawyer" are the non-attorneys who are offering advice on how to break the law. Such advice had better be countered by valid comments that such things ARE unlawful. Does the HBT community want someone to get into a bind because he believed and acted on bad advice found on HBT?

I think anyone who get his legal advice from a beer forum is setting himself up for trouble. I have never once known a real lawyer who would offer some blanket legal advice without having all of the specifics. Just to play the devil's advocate, how do any of us know that your legal advice is any more valid than another's?

As for the money jar thing, I'd never do that but I will and have said something like "I'm supplying the beer, you guys can pitch in and order some pizza's".

When I used to hunt, I would barbeque a hog and tell everyone that I'm supplying the pig, they can bring the beer and whatnot.

 

[Rhumbline]

That's all fun and games until your buddy pisses on your dog.

Do we know each other?

 

[Ike]

If I had a dollar for every time a fraternity back in college tried to get away with using a "donation" as a way to get around the ABC laws to pay for a kegger, well... I'd have a donation jar full of dollar bills.

"It's not paying for beer, it's paying for the band!"
"It's not paying for beer, it's a donation!"
"It's not paying for beer, it's paying for this pencil you buy, and the people get the beer for free when they show the pencil to the brother standing by the keg!"

None of it ever worked. Dammit.

Personal side note: I'm at the point in my brewing career where I feel I should be paying THEM to drink my swill, rather than pay me. Maybe, SOMEday, this will be an issue. Probably, sometime just around when the seas run dry.

 

[jekeane]

I am seriously considering a growler filling adapter just so I can give more beer away. I enjoy brewing as much as if not more than drinking and I always have more than I can consume.

You could have 1lb bags of grains or 1oz hop packets in a bin that your friends could buy and then give to you.

 

[jrcrilly]

I think anyone who get his legal advice from a beer forum is setting himself up for trouble. I have never once known a real lawyer who would offer some blanket legal advice without having all of the specifics. Just to play the devil's advocate, how do any of us know that your legal advice is any more valid than another's?

I doubt there are many who are confused as to whether or not it is legal to sell homebrew (or any other brew) without a license or permit. The fact that folks wish to conceal or transform this activity by calling it something else is a clear indication that they know it is unlawful. The bad advice comes when folks say that disguising a sale as a donation magically makes it OK.

I don't need to hear any details before advising a client that a specifically unlawful act is unlawful. Of course, they don't ask ahead of time so I don't get to give that advice. I meet them later, when they are trying to minimize the consequences from an act they have already committed - and that they knew (or should have known) was unlawful.

 

[alphaomega]

Personally, I wouldn't either (put out a dontation jar that is).
But, I do find it interesting that it seems that a donation jar would be illegal. Here in Sweden (and we do have very restrictive alcohol laws), I believe it would not be illegal. As long as a 'donation' is not required for you to have the beer then it would be ok.
Even if I personally wouldn't, I don't have a problem with it either, especially if you are group of ppl enjoying the hospitality.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

Sounds like you got yourself a brewer's assistant.

Either that, or convince them to brew too so you can share bulk grain costs and beers!

He's not interested in brewing lol just drinking... He zones me out the second I mention him helping me with the brew.

 

[MaxStout]

Encourage those friends to bring some craft brew to try. Tell them it's a beer potluck. That would help make up--at least somewhat--for them guzzling your homebrew.

 

[Rev2010]

I doubt there are many who are confused as to whether or not it is legal to sell homebrew (or any other brew) without a license or permit.

I think you're taking a thread about a dude asking if others put a donation jar by the kegerator or not waaay too seriously. No one asked about selling homebrew illegally, someone asked about a donation jar. You can call it disguising or use whatever terms you want, but in the end it's a dude asking if we all think it's kosher to leave the option for friends to pitch in for the cost. No one is tax evading or commiting some major crime. Can't we just let the guy ask his question and get his responses?, which currently seem to already be an overwhelming "NO that's lame!"


Rev.

 

[hifidelity]

Put a donation jar next to the toilet. I did this at a party once (long before I started brewing) and I ended up with enough to pay the neighbor's kids to clean up the yard and take out the trash.

 

[treacheroustexan]

I gladly pour any over a pint or a couple. If I didn't want you to have any, I wouldn't offer it, and if i do offer it I certainly wouldn't charge for it.