Small Batch Commercial Brewing

[Prez]

Cheers, gents!

The right time never comes without a little pushing, so I'm going to start moving into making beer for money. Not having capital be damned! But I'm not stupid. I can't do this for free. And I don't particularly want to break the law.
I need a commercial kitchen that has an on-site production permit in Los Angeles.

Now, I'm not so smart to think that I'm the first person to have this brilliant idea. I'd love to hear from anyone else that has had experience of this sort.

To give you an idea of where I'm at, it looks like I currently have a wholesale per bottle cost of $6. Yes, I know that's steep and you wouldn't pay for it. Projected commercial kitchen rental time is murdering my cost structure. $20 per hour for the first 20 hours, $25 per after.

Remember, there's a way to do everything.

 

[Phunhog]

Search for "nano brewing"!! You will become obsessed!! Lots of good threads here on HBT!!

 

[chefmike]

probrewer.com

and you still need to file with the TTB unless you are contracting with another brewer to brew your beer. Oh and then you still need to file with the TTB.

 

[20000Barrels]

How much can you make in a kitchen? If you are going to bootleg I think you would be better off with a still.

 

[CrookedTail]

I was curious about doing this as well. I was wondering what the licenses cost, as well as the restrictions on the location of the brewery. I've read that you cannot brew commercially in a dwelling (ie your home), but then I've read about a local nano brewery that brews out of his garage so I'm kind of confused as to the requirements.

 

[chefmike]

There are both federal regulations and state regulations (which vary across the nation).

Some states merely require a different address and entrance to allow a business to run, but this varies widely and can be influenced by a number of factors.

 

[Mongrel]

I was curious about doing this as well. I was wondering what the licenses cost, as well as the restrictions on the location of the brewery. I've read that you cannot brew commercially in a dwelling (ie your home), but then I've read about a local nano brewery that brews out of his garage so I'm kind of confused as to the requirements.

Below Grade Brewing, one of Bend's newest breweries, brews in his basement and sells pints/growler fills at the farmer's market. Surprised me that he was able to get his basement licensed as a brew pub, but TTB & OLCC approved.