How would you price your homebrew? market value.

[brewgirl11]

If you had to place a market value on your homebrew, how much? If you were to sell it or purchase it, what would the value be, in your best opinion. By the gallon or by the bottle, finished product. Just trying have some input in a debate. Thanks

 

[bluemoose]

I would never sell it because it is illegal, but for the sake of debate...

I think you would need to take a look at the cost of making the beer. First the materials, second the depreciation of the equipment you use to make it. Third your labor. It is a labor of love only if you and your friends are drinking it. You can't give away your labor. You would also need to look at marketing, and cost of doing business. I assume you would have to get the proper permits to sell your brew. There are costs there as well as in marketing and distribution of said beer. Breaking these down will give you an idea of how much you have to sell your beer for.
The other thing you need to consider is geography. Some areas are flooded with good micros. If you are in that type of place you will need to price competatively with the market. Other places are starved for good micros and have more leeway with the price.

All that being said, I would have to price my at about $25 for a 12oz bottle. I guess that's why it doesn't make sense for me to sell my beer. I could never produce the volume I would need to be competative.

 

[birvine]

My current Hobgoblin would be $3 to $4 per 500 ml. If I were to get paid for the work/time I put in, probably about $20 per 500 ml!!

B

 

[JoePro]

I have had people routinely tell me they would buy a sixer of my beer for 15 bucks "in the store".

 

[Gameface]

$4/12oz beer.

And if you told me I needed to brew enough to make enough money to live on I would quit on the spot.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I can see friends telling you that, until it hit the shelf. I figure most micros cost between $8-$10 from the store. That's what I could expect to sell for. Depending on rather or not I could then make a profit with that price would determine if it was a viable venture.

 

[Phunhog]

Well I would never sell it but.....a fair price would be a buck a beer for friends.

 

[Mongrel]

$4-5/bomber would be pretty reasonable. Now I just need to be able to produce much, much larger batches, so a 10 bbl system, fermentors, bright tanks, a bottling line, a lawyer, an accountant, lackeys, a location, and more beers I'm proud of.

 

[Jaimez]

Can everyone honestly say they never sold one of their homebrews before? Or can you just not admit to it on this site without being banned?
I have RENTED out a 22oz bottle for $5 each that included a $1 deposit. Its been a few years, but friends loved my bottles.

 

[FatherJack]

I have a feeling this thread's heading for the ol' lockdown

 

[Dhruv6911]

0$, i like to promote homebrewing.

 

[Airborneguy]

Can everyone honestly say they never sold one of their homebrews before? Or can you just not admit to it on this site without being banned?
I have RENTED out a 22oz bottle for $5 each that included a $1 deposit. Its been a few years, but friends loved my bottles.

Yeah, I can, along with the vast majority of the members of this forum.

PS.. good luck explaining your "rental" agreement to authorities if you ever have to.

 

[EdWort]

I've never sold it, but I have given away bombers, growlers, 2L pop bottles, and kegs full of my effort and work.

The best reward is the smile on their face, the various kudos, and most of all, a lace laden empty glass with the request for more. That's pretty much priceless in my book.

 

[FatherJack]

I've never sold it, but I have given away bombers, growlers, 2L pop bottles, and kegs full of my effort and work.

The best reward is the smile on their face, the various kudos, and most of all, a lace laden empty glass with the request for more. That's pretty much priceless in my book.

AGREED! I love it when I give it to people and they say IT WAS PERFECT and they're not really big beer drinkers.

Also, I love it when I give it to people and they return the favor by giving me delicious homemade breads or other foods.

 

[Homercidal]

I tell people I can make my beer for about 1/3 the price that I can buy a similar beer in the store. Their eyes light up. Then after factoring in time, equipment, and other things, it comes out about even.

Once I'm doing it for others, it's much less about being a hobby that I do for the enjoyment.

And I'm talking craft beer here, not the light lager stuff that is already very cheap.

 

[davefleck]

Two ways to set it's value. Cost value and market value. For costs: time, equipment, space, ingredients, utilities etc. For market based, its easy. 0$ as there is no retail market for homebrew. Otherwise, compare with local micros.

 

[Revvy]

Can everyone honestly say they never sold one of their homebrews before? Or can you just not admit to it on this site without being banned?
I have RENTED out a 22oz bottle for $5 each that included a $1 deposit. Its been a few years, but friends loved my bottles.

Yes, I can honestly say that I have never sold, or rented, or traded my homebrew. I know enough about the precarious legal history of our HOBBY. Like the fact that homebrewing period is still illegal in at least one state, and that it wasn't federally legalized until FORTY YEARS after prohibition was repealed.

Maybe having a little understanding of that, would make you show some respect both for the law, and for the hobby.

There are no loopholes to this. Any form of EXCHANGE for homebrew is considered illegal under the 1978 repeal of the ban on homebrewing, H.R. 1337...unless of course you become licensed to do so, and pay taxes.

That's the bottom line, folks.

Whenever a thread like this, or someone trying to make money off homebrew for whatever reason, charity or otherwise, all these "armchair lawyers," come up with all the ways they think could be "get arounds" the law. Sorry kids, you can hypothesize all you want, but do you notice ever any actually attorneys with knowledge of the law ever coming up with some of this stuff? No.

Whether we agree with the laws or not. You can't loophole your way through this. The laws are pretty specific in regards to homebrewing- any medium of exchange, be it money or barter involving homebrew is illegal.

If you want to do this, contact the local liquor control commission, find out the laws, and follow the legal process and do it. Plenty of people have. All it It takes time and money.....

Quit thinking you can run around the law....if you really want to help, then try to change the laws....Write your congress people, better yet become a congressperson. But quit thinking you can scheme your way through this.


I think folks who try to loophole around this law should be, as an ex member was fond of saying, be cockpunched.

 

[davefleck]

Yes, I have never sold it. And if I ever do it will be in line with the law. If you don't like the law, work to change it. Nothing is set in stone.

I have gifted it for special occasions like a friends house warming party

 

[Homercidal]

I wonder if the OP's wager was on how many posts it would take to devolve this into a legality flame war...

 

[bwomp313]

So then is it illegal to do a swap then?

 

[Phunhog]

So then is it illegal to do a swap then?

I wonder about this too!! If I can't legally trade my beer for cash and/or anything else of value how can I legally trade my homebrew for your homebrew?

 

[qbst]

I wonder about this too!! If I can't legally trade my beer for cash and/or anything else of value how can I legally trade my homebrew for your homebrew?

It likely depends on the laws in your state. In some states, it could be considered illegal.

And if you're doing interstate brew swaps, check the federal laws as well, as those may kick in when you start crossing state lines.

 

[Airborneguy]

Remember, technically you and your family are the only ones who can even drink your homebrew, and only at your home. Obviously, that is never enforced though.

 

[Revvy]

It likely depends on the laws in your state. In some states, it could be considered illegal.

And if you're doing interstate brew swaps, check the federal laws as well, as those may kick in when you start crossing state lines.

In some states you can't even have beer tastings or bring it to meetings.

I tried to find some info either way about swaps for "educational purposes." But can't seem to find any specifics, especially federally.

 

[makomachine]

How about in some states its illegal to home brew period. My two LHBS get a kick out of this when getting permits from the city for brew outdoor gatherings. Sell homebrew? Wouldn't even consider it for numerous reasons previously stated...

 

[qbst]

Florida has a pretty good homebrewing statute. Section 562.154(4) says:

Wine and beer made under the provisions of this section may be removed from the premises where made for personal or family use, including use at organized affairs, exhibitions, or competitions, such as homemakers’ contests, tastings, or judgings. Wine or beer used under this subsection shall not be sold or offered for sale.

-----

Looks like Florida's law mirrors the federal law. (25 CFR 205-207). I imagine what constitutes personal or family use, and what constitutes organized affairs, etc, would be something to discuss with an attorney practiced in the area of homebrewing law, to see what might fall under each term.

 

[passedpawn]

Common sense to me says that the law couldn't care less what you do as long as you are not attempting to make a profit (and avoid taxation).

Trading, minor bartering, and even payment for the cost of brewing materials might be illegal, but probably never pursued. (for the record, I trade homebrews with other brewers but never accept any money... bad brewing karma there)

Please don't cockpunch me Revvy.

 

[doctorRobert]

Can everyone honestly say they never sold one of their homebrews before? Or can you just not admit to it on this site without being banned?
I have RENTED out a 22oz bottle for $5 each that included a $1 deposit. Its been a few years, but friends loved my bottles.

I think most have not sold homebrew, for a few reasons.

Most people enjoy this hobby, they do it for fun, and they love sharing it with people and drinking it themselves. If my friends wanted some, I'd share it with them. If they wanted even more, I'd make them help brew and pitch in on brew day (which could even include helping pay for the grains).

Also, most of us are frugal, but we're not so cheap that we need to sell a few bombs to try to make 15 bucks. At the end of the day, its just tacky and rude to your friends. You're not making enough to make a material profit, why even bother? Is the $20 really worth it?

 

[IrregularPulse]

I've never taken any payment or trades for beer. I've given plenty away however when friends come over. They know the taps are free. My one buddy's wife always gives him crap for drinking my beer without giving me anything. I've never even thought to expect anything in return. There is plenty on tap and I think of it grabbing a water from my sink. Granted he's not over nightly drinking a case!

I've taken kegs to multiple events and it's a free for all to all my friends and a few select strangers.

 

[Joker]

I have never sold, rented, or charged in anyway for my homebrew. I have had friends offer to buy from me and I have also told them no.