Is kegging legal in Utah?

[jma99]

Yup, I'm looking at a possible job in Utah.

I know I can homebrew, but it looks like they banned all kegs bigger than 2 liters unless you have a permit. Can anyone tell me if this applies to homebrew?

Thanks!

Joel

 

[Beernik]

I know there are people here who do keg, I don't know if the favor any particular size.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who make a run to Evenston to get a keg. I can't imagine anyone hassling you unless you try to sell them or you're rolling it down the street.

Good luck with the job hunt.

 

[hopdawg]

Holy cow! Are hot drinks illegal there two? Or just in 1 quart thermos'. Next they'll be saying government funded medical care is evil. (Oh crap did I really just say that?)

 

[clifwlkr]

Well this is technically the law:

" (iii) if the fermented alcoholic beverage is removed only in the following quantities:
(A) for personal and family use that is unrelated to an organized event where fermented alcoholic beverages are judged as to taste and quality, the quantity that may be possessed at one time is:
(I) one liter of wine for each individual who is 21 years of age or older residing in the household;
(II) 72 ounces of heavy beer for each individual who is 21 years of age or older residing in the household; or "

So technically, you are not supposed to. The reality is that homebrewer's have done this here for quite a while, and I do not know of any instances where it has been prosecuted. The homebrew shops here all sell soda kegs.

If you try and transport them around, though, I am not sure what would happen if you were pulled over carrying a soda keg around. I know it would not be an issue in your house. I do know that they will confiscate and prosecute you if you are carrying a commercial keg from wyoming back into the state.

Seems like there is a grey area around if you had enough people over 21 to all pitch in their portion of the 72 ounces of homebrew. Can everyone's portion be stored all together?

Jim

 

[Drinkster]

Let's look through the seeing stones and see! why couldn't they have picked North Dakota?

 

[WayFrae]

I'm pretty sure the law is just referring to purchasing full kegs. As far as I know it is perfectly legal to keg your homebrew in Utah and you can buy empty kegs at the home brew shops.

EDIT: Just realized the OP was from 4 years ago!

 

[Beernik]

You know, I just double checked the statute (32B-5-304.5.b) and the prohibition on heavy beer being served from a container that exceeds 2L in volume is a retail prohibition.

Homebrewers can keg and serve from kegs at home (because it's not retail) but can't transport a full keg because it's greater than 72oz per person in the household older than 21.

 

[jma99]

Hey, OP here, 4 years later!
Utah did not work out, and after 14 months we escaped!
Minnesota is MUCH more beer friendly, and my neighbors are not scandalized if they see me with a beer in my hand. They will even join me on occasion!

 

[unionrdr]

I can't believe some locals keep such narrow minded, archaic laws on the books. Geez.

 

[Newsman]

I can't believe some locals keep such narrow minded, archaic laws on the books. Geez.

That's mixing religion and politics for you

 

[unionrdr]

Nah, not really. But I understand where that fits in in this situation. Sounds like Utah needs to remember that we have separation of church & state by law? Not to get too political, but it does seem to be behind their reasoning processes. It shouldn't be that big of a deal...

 

[Frige]

Terrible so it looks like it is legal for them to beak down your door with a swat team and measure how many oz of beer you have in the frige? I think I will stay in TX.

 

[Flipadelphia]

Why does anyone live in Utah?

 

[unionrdr]

Purty mountains above their housing developments? Dinosaur bone beds?...

 

[Beernik]

Why does anyone live in Utah?

The scenery is great. From downtown I can drive an hour west and be alone in the desert or drive an hour east and be alone in the mountains.

It's the people that are weird.

Sure, the beer/liquor laws are weird. They are written so they can look like they are being tough on alcohol consumption. But the laws are so poorly written that anyone can easily get around most of them.

A couple of instances:
1) you can't order a pint of greater than 4.0% ABV beer on tap. It has to be served from a bottle. Because being able to order greater than 4.0% beer on tap could lead to binge drinking. However, you can order two 1L bottles (~4 pints) of greater than 4.0% beer and drink them both down.

2) The new "Zion Cutrain" law prohibits draft beer from being poured in front if customers in new restaurants. The thinking is that if children see drinks being mixed or poured then it makes alcohol attractive to them. However, if you order a greater than 4.0% ABV it has to be served in the bottle. They have to open the bottle behind the curtain. Then they bring you your bottle and a glass and you get to pour it in yourself in full view of any children.


It's just a silly game they make us play so they get to look tough and righteous. The only thing I still find annoying is the 20 minute drive to a liquor store.

 

[Beernik]

Hey, OP here, 4 years later!
Utah did not work out, and after 14 months we escaped!
Minnesota is MUCH more beer friendly, and my neighbors are not scandalized if they see me with a beer in my hand. They will even join me on occasion!

Sorry Utah didn't work out. Glad things are working well in Minnesota.

 

[brewbama]

I can't believe some locals keep such narrow minded, archaic laws on the books. Geez.

I didn't know we were talkin about Alabama! LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Flipadelphia]

The scenery is great. From downtown I can drive an hour west and be alone in the desert or drive an hour east and be alone in the mountains.

It's the people that are weird.

Sure, the beer/liquor laws are weird. They are written so they can look like they are being tough on alcohol consumption. But the laws are so poorly written that anyone can easily get around most of them.

A couple of instances:
1) you can't order a pint of greater than 4.0% ABV beer on tap. It has to be served from a bottle. Because being able to order greater than 4.0% beer on tap could lead to binge drinking. However, you can order two 1L bottles (~4 pints) of greater than 4.0% beer and drink them both down.

2) The new "Zion Cutrain" law prohibits draft beer from being poured in front if customers in new restaurants. The thinking is that if children see drinks being mixed or poured then it makes alcohol attractive to them. However, if you order a greater than 4.0% ABV it has to be served in the bottle. They have to open the bottle behind the curtain. Then they bring you your bottle and a glass and you get to pour it in yourself in full view of any children.


It's just a silly game they make us play so they get to look tough and righteous. The only thing I still find annoying is the 20 minute drive to a liquor store.

Wow. No offense at all man and I'm sure your scenery is great, but if my state has those BS laws, I'd be gone. lol, wow

 

[brewbama]

Oops... double post.


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[unionrdr]

Well, it's kinda like here in Ohio. There's no law that says you can brew beer. But you have to be licensed to sell it?!...

 

[brewbama]

I can't believe some locals keep such narrow minded, archaic laws on the books. Geez.

I didn't know we were talkin about Alabama! LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[MindenMan]

Minnesota? Really? Go find Yooper! The short amount of time I spent in SLC was odd. I went into a restaurant to have dinner, ordered a beer, drank the beer, and wondered why my waiter was ignoring me. He informed me Utah law did not not allow servers to ask a customer if they wanted another alcohol drink. Okay, whatever.

 

[Beernik]

That's not true, at least not anymore.

Now, if your server is under 21, they aren't allowed to take your order for or serve an alcoholic drink.

 

[thatjonguy]

Let's look through the seeing stones and see! why couldn't they have picked North Dakota?

What about North Dakota?

 

[balto charlie]

Another crazy law in Utah, apparently they have many, but you can only get 3.2 draft beer in a pub. I was in Moab brewery last fall excited to get my first Moab Brewery beer. I ordered their IPA and was stunned. Tasted terrible. I talked to the waitress and asked for a stronger flavored beer. She said, "to get a real brewery beer you had to order a can", yes a can. I am in the brewery and had to drink a can. Tasted pretty good though.

 

[WayFrae]

Another crazy law in Utah, apparently they have many, but you can only get 3.2 draft beer in a pub. I was in Moab brewery last fall excited to get my first Moab Brewery beer. I ordered their IPA and was stunned. Tasted terrible. I talked to the waitress and asked for a stronger flavored beer. She said, "to get a real brewery beer you had to order a can", yes a can. I am in the brewery and had to drink a can. Tasted pretty good though.

It's 3.2% by weight so it is about 4% abv. Yes to get stronger beers you must order a bottle or can.

 

[Tutsbrew]

My sis and bro in law in Utah brew quite a bit, along with a few of their neighbors. I always like visiting them as we can break out the .50 cals and hit dinner-plate gongs at 500 yds (and glocks at much, much, much less distance) with a homebrew (be it a good amber, IPA or most anything) or three afterwards. Can't imagine peeps in a big part of MN (or CA, IL, NY, etc.) not getting their lefty-shorts in a bind with that... UT rocks for so many reasons that escape many of the west or east coast snob types and unless you've spent time there you only have forum postings or records of silly laws (silly, outdated and non-followed laws that many states/jurisdictions have on the books) or similar sources of "information". Besides, where else can you be somewhere that is largely unspoiled by human masses, even if it's due to the area not being "cool"?

Edit: Utah is boring. No need to go there. Go to NY or CA!

 

[btmag]

Moved to SLC 6 years ago from the midwest. It took some getting used to, but I could live here forever now. There's a ton of great people and beer here, just have to look a little harder sometimes. The city has transformed so much just since I've been here, and you can't beat the geography. The religious crowd are for the most part good people on an individual basis, they just cause trouble with their group-think mentality at times.


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[Billy-Klubb]

What about North Dakota?

I've been saying that exact same thing for decades. bwahahahahaha!!!

 

[Gameface]

I used to host poker games regularly and wondered if for some reason the police showed up and saw my keezer if they'd have an issue with that. I honestly don't think they would, nor would they care about my no-rake, no house advantage low stakes poker tournament.

I returned to Utah after spending 6 years in the Navy and living in Zion, IL and San Diego, CA. I love Utah. Of all the places I've been in the U.S. and all the places I've briefly visited around the world, ultimately there's no place like home.

That said, before I die I'd like to be a part of getting a little sanity in Utah's liquor laws. I don't care if they're a little tighter here than most places, I'd just like the laws to make some kind of sense and be effective at achieving their stated objectives.

One final thing, Utah's counter culture is one of the finest and most determined in the world. Viva la resistance!