Opening Brewery in Ohio

[drumming102]

Do you go to Belmont for your brew ****? I think i might have seen you around after looking at the site.

 

[schweaty]

Perhaps we will see faster results if we all sent Kasich some emails? I would love to see some reform as far as the licensing goes! Great job, brewgineers!

 

[hatfieldenator]

Not to get anyone as stoked as I am but Brewgineers Inc. is sitting down with the Ohio Governor tomorrow to discuss Ohio microbrewery laws and possibly sway him to put a new microbrewery permit because there simply isnt one in Ohio. When we spoke on the phone he sounded very positive about making this change. Will let everyone know the details tomorrow!!!!

Is this the new Gov. Kasich? I would expect Strickland to be open minded about it, but I wouldn't count on much from Kasich...

 

[hatfieldenator]

met with Kasich today and i think it went pretty good. We discussed the possibility of making a microbrewery permit for Ohio and said he will try to have something on paper in the coming weeks

Oh, I should have read the rest of the thread before commenting...Can you tell I'm not a Kasich fan

 

[hatfieldenator]

Man thats awesome! hopefully something comes of it. I've been tossing around the idea of a brewpub down here in cinci.

Me too! I live in Over the Rhine where there used to be dozens of breweries back before prohibition. There are still tons of beautiful old brewery buildings standing that even have hand dug lagering cellars and secret tunnels beneath the buildings.
I would love to someday open a brewery in the neighborhood to help bring back OTRs brewing heritage.
Right now there's nothing in the neighborhood except a Sam Adams factory and a new Christian Morelein factory. No brewpubs at all. The area definitely has a void to fill. The only other microbrewers in the Cincinnati area are Mt. Carmel and Rivertown, both of which are located somewhere out in the suburbs
The Cincinnati brewing community needs to band together and put our city back on the map of being a brewing town.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Brewing licenses are typically authorized by statute so your legislature would have to vote to include a new license. I doubt the governor can administratively create one, but I am unfamiliar with Ohio law and procedure.

Have you also looked at obtaining the TTB permit? You will need both federal and state permits.

 

[remilard]

been homebrewing for a little while now and have just been curious as to the state laws in Ohio about manufacturing and distributing bottled and kegged beer. Have tried to understand the states website but always come up short. Can anyone help me understand the state laws and licensing for microbrewing?

A lawyer can.

A little tough love: if you aren't willing to read and re-read the public info until it makes sense, it is very unlikely you are prepared to put in the effort to open a brewery.

 

[Rivenin]

hatfieldenator- it's cool to see someone close to where i lived for a bit! i lived in northside and went to northside tavern and mayday a ton (nothside tavern mostly 'cuz they had avery on tap) Used to go into findlay market all the time as well.
back to the OPs stuff, Glad to see everything is changing over there (at least i hope!)

 

[brewgineers]

A little tough love: if you aren't willing to read and re-read the public info until it makes sense, it is very unlikely you are prepared to put in the effort to open a brewery.

not sure if youve read the entire thread but I have done my research throughly. Have we met for you to be making judgement calls about what kind of effort I put forth into things?

 

[brewgineers]

Do you go to Belmont for your brew ****? I think i might have seen you around after looking at the site.

Ive actually only been to Belmont a few times for my brewering supplies what I cant get for a good price online i tend to goto main squeeze in yellow springs.

 

[brewgineers]

Have you also looked at obtaining the TTB permit

I actually have all my TTB permit paperwork filled on and just waiting for news on the new permit

 

[drumming102]

DIdn't know yellow springs had a brew shop. Might have to check that out next week.

 

[brewgineers]

yeah its a really nice place. tucked in an alley off the main strip in town. definitely check it out

 

[schweaty]

A lawyer can.

A little tough love: if you aren't willing to read and re-read the public info until it makes sense, it is very unlikely you are prepared to put in the effort to open a brewery.

Wow, and a Merry Christmas to you too! You know, you could have just as easily not posted anything in this thread if all you had to contribute is negative comments. I just don't understand some people.....

 

[brewgineers]

thank you sir. tried to convey the same thing merry christmas

 

[dave5155]

Me too! I live in Over the Rhine where there used to be dozens of breweries back before prohibition. There are still tons of beautiful old brewery buildings standing that even have hand dug lagering cellars and secret tunnels beneath the buildings.
I would love to someday open a brewery in the neighborhood to help bring back OTRs brewing heritage.
Right now there's nothing in the neighborhood except a Sam Adams factory and a new Christian Morelein factory. No brewpubs at all. The area definitely has a void to fill. The only other microbrewers in the Cincinnati area are Mt. Carmel and Rivertown, both of which are located somewhere out in the suburbs
The Cincinnati brewing community needs to band together and put our city back on the map of being a brewing town.[/QUOTE

Yep, that would be great to bring OTR back to it's former glory. Just did the brewery tour a couple months ago. They took us into the tunnels underneath the Guildhouse on Vine Street. It was worth the trip. I live about 15-20 minutes from OTR up I-74. Bockfest really did a number on me last spring

 

[GLWIII]

Yep, that would be great to bring OTR back to it's former glory. Just did the brewery tour a couple months ago. They took us into the tunnels underneath the Guildhouse on Vine Street. It was worth the trip. I live about 15-20 minutes from OTR up I-74. Bockfest really did a number on me last spring

Dave, what tour is this and where can I find some info on it? Thanks in advance.

 

[brewgineers]

Originally Posted by dave5155
Yep, that would be great to bring OTR back to it's former glory. Just did the brewery tour a couple months ago. They took us into the tunnels underneath the Guildhouse on Vine Street. It was worth the trip. I live about 15-20 minutes from OTR up I-74. Bockfest really did a number on me last spring
Dave, what tour is this and where can I find some info on it? Thanks in advance.

sounds like a good time

 

[dave5155]

Try GooglingCincinnati underground tour. If that doesn't get you anywhere let me know. Ill ask my cousin where he found tickets. It was only like $15.

 

[evilhomer]

Dang I didn't know they made SA in Cincy.

 

[hatfieldenator]

The tour he is talking about is the OTR Brewery District Tour sometimes called the "Prohibition Resistance Tour." It usually is offered during our Bockfest weekend here the first weekend of March typically. Here are some links for you if you're interested, the second one has a couple of pics I took at the bottom of the page to see what we're talking about. I've also been on this tour (a couple of times actually) and it is pretty darn cool. Cincinnati has all sorts of historic brewing structures with the lagering tunnels and caverns he mentioned, plus not to mention all the beautiful, old architecture. Plus, Bockfest is a BLAST! So much good beer and food. If you're ever looking for an excuse to spend a couple days in Cincinnati, I highly recommend Bockfest weekend!

http://www.bockfest.otrbrewerydistrict.org/
http://www.otrbrewerydistrict.org/events_tour.php

 

[DubBrew]

Not to dig up an old thread, but I thought some of the conversation above with brewgineers meeting with the Ohio Govenor was interesting. The cost of licensing in OH is a little steep for very small operations and given Kasich's "common sense initiative" around making it easier to operate a business by reducing regulations in Ohio, I was wondering if anyone ever heard back from the govenor? I'm assuming not since my searches turned up nothing....

 

[brewgineers]

Nope havent seen any legislation on it as of yet. Should of known it was all talk.

 

[CHefJohnboyardee]

Ive actually only been to Belmont a few times for my brewering supplies what I cant get for a good price online i tend to goto main squeeze in yellow springs.

not much ever gets done with the first meeting. try contacting him again and wait for a response. if you don't hear anything again, send another, then another and then another until you hear back from him in some form, not just a 'thank you for contacting me' thing.

your state representative may be able to help...

 

[DubBrew]

Yeah that was my initial thought too, did you happen to follow-up with him? Who helped you setup the initial meeting? Your state rep? I agree the rep may be a good additional step...not that you should have to do this by yourself.

 

[jpann]

Brewgineers,

Thanks for starting this interesting thread. Hopefully you are still making progress toward your plan of opening a brewery. How long have you been home-brewing? Do you happen to know the laws in OH about selling home-brew online within and outside of OH?

 

[brewgineers]

jpann it is illegal to sell any brew in ohio unless you are licensed and insured as a brewery. homebrew can not be sold unfortunately.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Any progress on opening up shop bewgineers?

 

[brewgineers]

still progressing one of brewers just got sent into duty and we are attempting to wait for him to return

 

[motleybrews]

Just found and read thru this whole thread. Best of luck.