Hello HBT

[treehaus]

New to the forums, gleaned quite a bit already and hope to give back. I've been studying and interning (@Starr Hill) in the brewing business for a few years. Finally built out a small shed with a cool room for my fermenters and my pilot system which is a 1/2bbl Sabco Brew Magic I bought from another local brewery as the were expanding a couple years ago (Wild Wolf Brewing Company). Have an LLC and website for my hopeful startup (www.Treehausbrewery.com www.facebook.com/treehausbrewery, which gets updated much more frequently). Finally started brewing on my system and have been LOVING it. Operating under homebrew law for now but seriously looking at laws/regulations locally to start selling once the brews are where I want them. Won't be making much money on a 1/2 bbl system but excited none the less to finally be getting close to having it as an option. If any of you are in the Charlottesville, VA. area, look me up! Cheers!

 

[Homercidal]

Welcome! Check out Probrewer.com for better info on how to start a nano. Unfortunately, I think that most states require a commercial location for making beer that you sell. You may have to "set up shop" in a new location once you get close to selling.

Selling beer is a long, tedious, frustrating, expensive, process (if my experiences with many new breweries is any indication.) You will likely have to sign up some investors and borrow a lot of money to get started. It usually seems to take a place 1-1.5 years after the expected starting date to actually get licensed and selling (In Michigan, where I live anyway. And it seems to be getting a little better lately.)

 

[treehaus]

Thanks homercidal, will give what probrewer has listed a look. Appreciate the tip. It has been a few years in the making already! The plan was to use the 1/2bbl as a test system if everything went well and upgrade to a 15bbl system. The state laws have been loosening finally, crazy how prohibitive even local laws are on starting up a small business.

 

[Homercidal]

It's for the good of the public. Imagine what the world would be like if they processed brewery paperwork in a fast and efficient manner. There would be businesses starting up all over the place, bring in tax revenue and creating jobs. It would be... Well, wait. I was trying to make a point, but I can't quite remember what it was. Something about how helping breweries get started is a bad thing. Let me think on it some more...

 

[treehaus]

HAHA! Indeed. I even talked to county supervisors about a special use zoning permit in one of the more rural areas citing agriculture (wanted to grow hops on the property) and small business and they basically laughed at me. Super anti small business all while tax revenue goes down the drain.