Home brewing in Mississippi

[oceanselv]

I am in the process of determining if I want to move to Jackson, Mississippi for a job relocation. I know home brewing is not technically legal in Mississippi. Do the police actually hassle people for home brewing? Do you buy all of your supplies on line since there are no home brew stores in the state?

 

[day_trippr]

Imo, if you even have to ask such questions, you should already be giving multiple second thoughts about the proposition...

Cheers!

 

[BrotherGrim]

We are the underground. I have not heard of anybody getting hassled about it, but I sure don't pass out homebrews at the local PD. I get all my supplies shipped in without any trouble. There are many homebrewers around, just not having big meetings or competitions.

Just outlawed kettles.

 

[oceanselv]

Brother Grim,

Is there any movement to legalize home brewing within the state?

 

[BrotherGrim]

I am unsure of that right now oceansely. I actually thought it was going to legalize this summer, but all they passed was the high ABV law. It has improved our commercial selection but no joy for the homebrewer.

 

[JeepDiver]

Look up Raise Your Pints, they are the group trying to get it passes. The higher ABV and allowing breweries to have tasting rooms was a big deal this year. I am sure they are going to push hard to get the hombrew Bill passed next year and with the people who supported things this year they may have a chance

 

[lawnboy881]

MS homebrewer here. If you are on twitter I can point you in the direction of several homebrew clubs in the state ( that I know of). HBAMM is one for central MS that covers the Jackson area and holds regular meetings and competitions. In fact, a fall festival Jacktoberfest will hold its 2nd annual homebrew competition within the festival! It is (by the accounts of ABC agents) an un-policed area as they focus on more actual "problems" like underage drinking. There was an article a few weeks ago about Raise Your Pints (the local grassroots organization who changed the restrictive beer laws) primary objective for the next legistlative session being legalizing homebrewing. It was the 2ndary objective this year and did not make it out of comittee.

There are 2 LHBS opening up in the state soon that I am aware of (one near Starkville and the other in my town, Greenville). There is a Golden triangle homebrewers association (which is the starkville/columbus area) as well as a Delta Homebrewers org which bases itself out of Vicksburg. I am sure there is one for south MS as Hattiesburg and the coast are the area where Lazy Magnolia is based out of.

Things are on the up for MS!

 

[Curtis2010]

I'm originally from Mississippi, and I used to live in Jackson. Relatively cosmopolitan place for MS -- I suspect there are plenty of home brewers there. Also, I originally got into home brewing in MS -- never any problems with shipping in gear or ingredients (Unlike Belize where I had a shipment confiscated). Given that home brewing is legal under Federal law I expect a local law prohibiting it might be a bit questionable, but then again there are "dry" counties in MS where any form of alcohol is illegal, and who wants to become a test case. Also some of the strangest "blue laws" in the country -- I used to live in one area where you could buy beer on Sunday before noon, but not milk -- which you could only buy after noon...huh?

I suspect that as long as you don't make a spectacle of yourself there will no issues -- especially not in Jackson (oddly it is legal to brew wine in MS, but not beer). A local judge used to drink my home brew, but then again he was a childhood friend.

 

[oceanselv]

Thanks for the information. I truly appreciate it. Lawnboy, I am not on twitter. However, if I do make the move to Jackson, I will PM you for the info.

Thanks.

 

[quadmx08]

Does anyone listen to basic brewing radio? He talks about this on many episodes. His last episode on new hops, talks about legalization movement updates in the intro. Also he has spoken about their competitions.

 

[lawnboy881]

Look up Raise Your Pints, they are the group trying to get it passes. The higher ABV and allowing breweries to have tasting rooms was a big deal this year. I am sure they are going to push hard to get the hombrew Bill passed next year and with the people who supported things this year they may have a chance

Both of the above mentioned changes are HUGE for MS. The tasting room bill as well as allowing Lazy Magnolia to contract brew above our state cap was huge for them. They have a large capacity and have been contract brewing for new AL breweries like Back Forty as well as LA breweries Bayou Teche. Those are 2 that I know of. And the tasting room thing, when I explained it to my out of state friends was the most ridiculous thing possible. Imagine going on their old brewery tours...these are our facilities, this is how we make beer, oh you like our products, TOO BAD! We can't let you taste it or buy it here. You have to go somewhere else to do that.

Things are definitely on the upswing for beer lovers in our state.

 

[ghack]

There has been some effort going on in Mississippi. It has not been successful, but I think it will be in a year or two. Persistence...As for harassment, I don't live in the state, but Mississippi has a few homebrew clubs. http://hbamm.org/ is in central MS. There is another on the coast, the Back Bay Brew Krewe. I've met a number of the members at festivals around the region, there does not seem to be much of a problem. Also http://www.msbrew.com/ is a good blog on beer in Mississippi

And I would point out that New Orleans is a three hour drive away and has an excellent home brew shop. A new one opened recently in Abita Springs (home of Abita beer), which is even closer to Jackson.

 

[wickdawg]

There are 2 LHBS opening up in the state soon that I am aware of (one near Starkville and the other in my town, Greenville). There is a Golden triangle homebrewers association (which is the starkville/columbus area) as well as a Delta Homebrewers org which bases itself out of Vicksburg. I am sure there is one for south MS as Hattiesburg and the coast are the area where Lazy Magnolia is based out of.

Things are on the up for MS!

How near Starkville is a LHBS opening? I live in Starkville and I'm the president of the Golden Triangle Brewers and I had no clue about a LHBS opening in our area. The only one I know of opening is Brewhaha Homebrew Supply (http://www.facebook.com/BrewhahaSupply) in Jackson. The guy opening the shop in Jackson is a member of HBAMM (http://hbamm.org). You can find them on Twitter, Facebook, or the website I addressed.

On the legality of homebrewing. ABC has declared it is illegal in a current Clarion Ledger article, but they do not enforce because of the lack of manpower. So I would say as long as you aren't selling it to random people, you should be fine. But, don't be over zealous and flaunting it about. We don't hide in the woods with it or anything. Our club has served at a local church function with no issues, even had some local government asking us questions about the whole legality of it.

If you have any questions about Mississippi homebrewing, please do not hesitate to ask. I'll do my best to help in anyway!

Cheers!

 

[lawnboy881]

Hey Jeremy! Shows my reading comprehension isn't the best. I thought brewhaha was opening somewhere in your neck f the woods but had only seen it mentioned once and just was going of memory recall! Thanks for clearing up my mis-information.

Jonathan (jhardenpharmd on twitter)