Need some HBT advice

[SliverXZennon]

I need some advice/direction from folks that maybe have experienced this.

I have someone whom works for me part time,who is hosting a large business convention, they want to have a beer at the convention to "call their own" and he is asking me if I would be up to the task of brewing it.

I told him that I would. He is interested in an Amber, 2, 1/2 barrel kegs full.

Here lies the problem. I have a 10 gallon system currently (getting ready to switch to electric).

I am thinking there is only 1 option. Tell me if I am way off base however.

Step 1. - Buy 2, 15 gallon conicals.
Step 2. - Brew 3 straight batches of the same beer for a total of 30 gallons. Hope to god you hit all the same numbers.
Step 3. - Split it 50/50 in conicals.
Step 4. - Pitch the same yeast in each conical.
Step 5. - Wait.
Step 6. - Keg/Carbonate.
Step 7. - Pray.

Also, this beer is going across the country. They have a semi that they use to take all of their marketing materials and it would just be palletized with the other stuff. They want to keep the kegs cold, so maybe cold blankets and dry ice?

Any help or advice would be awesome. Or just call me crazy, that works too.

 

[m1batt1]

I have no experience with this but I'll offer my opinions. So take it with a grain of salt. Why couldn't you use your 10 gallon setup and brew up three batches like planned. Then ferment in smaller containers and then blend all together prior to kegging? Same concept as what you're doing but I'm sure its cheaper to buy some extra plastic fermenters as opposed to the two Conicals? And either way wouldn't blending make for consistent taste across the whole product even if the numbers were off a little between the three starting batches?

Oh yeah and you're crazy lol

 

[Jmarsh544]

Do you drink/ give enough away to keep those conicals full after this experiment is over?


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[itchygomey]

I agree with the first reply. Just get some more fermenters and start brewing. As far as keeping it cold, it's early in the year so I personally wouldn't worry about it. Just put it in the truck and go.

 

[BeachCoffee]

Is it legal to ship it across state lines?

 

[TonyG]

I would definitely have him look into all the legalities of this, as I am assuming they will be crossing state lines, and probably holding the convention in hotel ball rooms, convention centers, etc that may have their own license's to serve alcohol. I believe that some states have a general rule of no untaxed/unlicensed alcohol on any licensed premises.

 

[SliverXZennon]

I have no experience with this but I'll offer my opinions. So take it with a grain of salt. Why couldn't you use your 10 gallon setup and brew up three batches like planned. Then ferment in smaller containers and then blend all together prior to kegging? Same concept as what you're doing but I'm sure its cheaper to buy some extra plastic fermenters as opposed to the two Conicals? And either way wouldn't blending make for consistent taste across the whole product even if the numbers were off a little between the three starting batches?

Oh yeah and you're crazy lol

That's a good thought. I already have 7 carboys and was planning on a plastic conical down the road anyway.

Do you drink/ give enough away to keep those conicals full after this experiment is over?


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

Absolutely. We are starting to really get going with brewing so I could justify it. Plus he is willing to pay "commercial retail" prices for the kegs. So that could help with investing in equipment!

I agree with the first reply. Just get some more fermenters and start brewing. As far as keeping it cold, it's early in the year so I personally wouldn't worry about it. Just put it in the truck and go.

The convention is in August, in a hot western state, that's the biggest worry.

Is it legal to ship it across state lines?

See reply below..

I would definitely have him look into all the legalities of this, as I am assuming they will be crossing state lines, and probably holding the convention in hotel ball rooms, convention centers, etc that may have their own license's to serve alcohol. I believe that some states have a general rule of no untaxed/unlicensed alcohol on any licensed premises.

I'm not overly worried with this aspect due to the following: They have gone to the convention 10+ years and each time distributed a beer. Not once has the convention center asked for anything. Also, each time the beer was either coming from Ohio, or they would pick it up in another state on the way and never gave it a second thought.

 

[Doctor_M]

That's a good thought. I already have 7 carboys and was planning on a plastic conical down the road anyway.

Absolutely. We are starting to really get going with brewing so I could justify it. Plus he is willing to pay "commercial retail" prices for the kegs. So that could help with investing in equipment!

The convention is in August, in a hot western state, that's the biggest worry.

See reply below..

I'm not overly worried with this aspect due to the following: They have gone to the convention 10+ years and each time distributed a beer. Not once has the convention center asked for anything. Also, each time the beer was either coming from Ohio, or they would pick it up in another state on the way and never gave it a second thought.

The part in bold makes what your planning on doing illegal. You probably already know this though.

I'm with the other poster in ferment in multiple containers then blend before kegging.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Checking on the alcohol laws is a good thing. I ran into this problem last fall when I was looking for a wedding venue. One wasn't legally allowed to serve my homebrew, no matter who did the serving, because of their liquor license. So we booked a place that didn't have a liquor license.

Anyway, back to your ACTUAL question. I would buy the conicals! What kind of kegs are you putting this into? Actual half barrel kegs? This is a rad project. I have a wedding coming up in 4 months and a couple days. I am getting set to start brewing for that. I have a 1/2bbl brewhouse but ferment in better bottles for now and keg into ball locks. There will be variations but not too much.

Unless you REALLY want 2 conicals then consider a brewhemoth with a chiller coil. You could put a keg/bucket of cold water in the kegerator and a pond pump with stc1k to control the pump. It can recirculate cold water to keep the brew cold during ferment. You could put (1) 10 gallon batches in the first round, pull the yeast cake and re-pitch the appropriate slurry for 20 gallons on the second round of ferment. It would ferment all on the same yeast to help make them taste the same.

Just a few ideas. Are you going to let us know what you choose?!

 

[m1batt1]

The part in bold makes what your planning on doing illegal. You probably already know this though.

Is it illegal though if the guy pays him for the equipment and ingredients? That would be a technicality but if a bill of sale was written up for grain, equipment, and empty kegs then it would be legal right?

 

[Doctor_M]

Is it illegal though if the guy pays him for the equipment and ingredients? That would be a technicality but if a bill of sale was written up for grain, equipment, and empty kegs then it would be legal right?

Still illegal. He would be contract brewing and would be being reimbursed for his services with equipment. Short of giving your beer away for free there's no way around it. And then there's the issue of going across state lines.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

The legal thing isn't worth arguing about loopholes. If you get money and give homebrew it is illegal. No way around it. What the OP does in his personal time is of no importance of me. Why do we need to talk about it? the flow of money to and from people should be talked about on HBT or anywhere on the interwebs unless it is a classfied sale of brewing equipment or group buys of brewing ingredients.

So let's drop the legality of how to pay for homebrew. Take it to PM if you REALLY need to chit chat about such things.

 

[m1batt1]

Fair enough. Wasn't looking at it that way.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Just be certain that the beer is well cleared prior to kegging...I have found it best to transfer to a clean keg prior to taking a keg on the road....a typical batch of keg conditioned homebrew has yeast at the keg bottom that will get disturbed in transit and take a long time to settle.

 

[Yooper]

I need some advice/direction from folks that maybe have experienced this.

I have someone whom works for me part time,who is hosting a large business convention, they want to have a beer at the convention to "call their own" and he is asking me if I would be up to the task of brewing it.

I told him that I would. He is interested in an Amber, 2, 1/2 barrel kegs full.

Here lies the problem. I have a 10 gallon system currently (getting ready to switch to electric).

I am thinking there is only 1 option. Tell me if I am way off base however.

Step 1. - Buy 2, 15 gallon conicals.
Step 2. - Brew 3 straight batches of the same beer for a total of 30 gallons. Hope to god you hit all the same numbers.
Step 3. - Split it 50/50 in conicals.
Step 4. - Pitch the same yeast in each conical.
Step 5. - Wait.
Step 6. - Keg/Carbonate.
Step 7. - Pray.

Also, this beer is going across the country. They have a semi that they use to take all of their marketing materials and it would just be palletized with the other stuff. They want to keep the kegs cold, so maybe cold blankets and dry ice?

Any help or advice would be awesome. Or just call me crazy, that works too.

I can't speak to the logistics, but the legality is the main thing right now. Nothing about this is legal.

Serving homebrew to a crowd is illegal in most states (in some states, you can't take "home"brew out of the 'home') and going across state lines with it makes it a federal offense.

If you're still willing to do it, knowing that getting caught is unlikely, unless someone says, "I love this beer- can I buy this locally?" and you get into trouble- go ahead and do it.

But please do NOT use this forum as a vehicle to get advice or tips, as we cannot possibly condone illegal activity or ways around it.