Whos about to go illegal? (2008 Update)

[Schlenkerla]

BM - That's a pretty good list.

I'm at 85 for the year.

I'm the only drinker in the house, so as it is right now if I make what I have on hand for ingredients I'll add 10 more gallons, 5 off from going over. I still have two full months left... I probably won't SWMBO is due mid Dec.

I have close to 40 gal right now stockpiled as the little one will keep my winter brewing activities to a minimum. I don't want to run out of beer.

 

[Jaybird]

(I like this beer)

You mean your "FRIEND" likes this beer
JJ

 

[medic_35057]

At least you guys and gals can "legally" make up to 100-200 gallons per household. Here in the backwards state of Alabama our government only "legally" allows us to make 5 gallons total for the year, whether it be wine or beer.
Also, here is a link about a moonshine still that blew up in Athens, Alabama and the stupid sheriff thinks that wine is made in a still. Moonshine still explodes in Athens, 3 men burned - Breaking News from The Huntsville Times - al.com

 

[tom777]

I'm at 26 batches of beer and 6 batches of apfelwein so far this year; all 5 gallon batches for a total of 160 gallons. I don't anticipate going over, although it'll probably end up close. I've been brewing a lot lately as I was getting a large backlog of empty bottles to fill. With the 3 batches currently in primary, that "problem" will soon be solved and I'll be slowing down for a while.

 

[Anbrew]

I have this "friend" who brewed 190 gallons in a 12-month period once.

I think he told me now he has done 30 gallons in one month...

 

[Hagen]

I know a guy who's getting there. He got beersmith in March, so the maybe 5 batches brewed before then amount to maybe another 25 gallons, give or take 5. I don't know where he puts it all...


Name Style Type Beer Type Volume Date Brewed Rating Cost
Uber-Amber Irish Red Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 4/27/2008 35.0 $18.40
Nobalz American Pale Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 3/13/2008 35.0 $22.17
Cascade Tornado American IPA All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 4/20/2008 35.0 $21.97
Brown Bear American Brown Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 3/30/2008 35.0 $17.73
Oggs Strong Scotch Ale Partial Mash Ale 5.50 gal 7/4/2008 35.0 $28.85
Big Bubble Blonde Blonde Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 5/11/2008 35.0 $14.41
9-9-9 American Barleywine Partial Mash Ale 3.75 gal 8/23/2008 35.0 $29.18
Summer Breeze American Pale Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 6/15/2008 35.0 $25.12
Nobalz American Pale Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 5/18/2008 35.0 $22.74
Uber-Amber Irish Red Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 5/25/2008 35.0 $18.40
Brown Bear Southern English Brown Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 6/1/2008 35.0 $16.62
Blimey Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale) All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 8/15/2008 35.0 $19.01
Uber-Amber Irish Red Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 6/29/2008 35.0 $18.60
Witticisim Wit Witbier All Grain Mixed 5.50 gal 7/20/2008 35.0 $19.43
American Beauty American Wheat or Rye Beer All Grain Mixed 5.50 gal 7/27/2008 35.0 $18.47
Shelaleigh Oatmeal Stout All Grain Ale 6.00 gal 8/10/2008 35.0 $19.40
Brown Bear Southern English Brown Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 8/30/2008 35.0 $16.62
Uber-Amber Irish Red Ale All Grain Ale 5.75 gal 9/6/2008 35.0 $21.32
Dammerung Dunkelweizen All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 9/12/2008 35.0 $16.53
Black Bottle Pongolo Robust Porter All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 9/19/2008 35.0 $17.25
Egan's Tipperary Red Irish Red Ale All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 9/27/2008 35.0 $15.87
Witticisim Wit Witbier All Grain Mixed 5.50 gal 10/4/2008 35.0 $21.84
Highland Thistle Scottish Export 80/- All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 10/11/2008 35.0 $14.94
Oggs Strong Scotch Ale Partial Mash Ale 5.50 gal 11/1/2008 35.0 $28.59
Cascade Tornado American IPA All Grain Ale 5.50 gal 10/18/2008 35.0 $27.12

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

I always thought homebrewing was illegal.

 

[beerthirty]

Pink underware and green bologna for bad guys. We need more Sheriff Joe's.
If they come to bust your "friend" for too much beer, just sent the officers home with a corny.

Bite me you no knowing Joe Montanan. Oh and BTW he went to B&W stripes because the inmates were stealing the pinkies to wear on the street. The only decent thing he has done is chase illegals.
sorry bout that comment fifelee, but I have known of him for too long.

BM Is that the limit? I thought Carter made it 250 per year per person (at least I hope so), Or Joe might come knockin. At 10-15 per month I figured it was all good.

 

[scinerd3000]

i have only brewed a measly 70 gallons this year 130 more to go...

 

[scinerd3000]

unless apfelwein counts of course...then were all fuc*ed

 

[DeathBrewer]

well, since i often brew 20-25 gallons/week, but sometimes only go with 5 gallons/week so i'm going to estimate AT LEAST 500 gallons this year. of course, i brew in several different households

i need to start using my software with the sessions feature so i can log this ****. right now i just have a foot-high stack of papers....damn, death...at least get a filing system, sheesh

 

[bad coffee]

I wish the law were 100g/adult. I have 5 roommates...

I'm up to 29, waiting to get some free space and time to go all grain. then I'm gonna break (another) law...

 

[Dr_Deathweed]

I have a friend who's logged amount is approching 170... And I know for a fact he doesn't log every repeat batch he does

Hefty IPA 5.50 gal 1/3/2008
08-08-08 Russian Imperial Stout 11.00 gal 1/2/2008
Oatmeal Stout 11.00 gal 2/2/2008
AHS Ordinary Bitter 5.50 gal 2/8/2008
Apfelvein 5.00 gal 1/3/2008
Haus Pale Ale 11.00 gal 2/9/2008
Sacred Summit IPA 5.50 gal 3/16/2008
Hobgobblin II 11.00 gal 3/15/2008
Kerry's Kolsch 5.50 gal 3/26/2008
Willamette IPA 11.00 gal 5/2/2008
Americanized ESB 11.00 gal 5/2/2008
Amandas Kolsch 5.50 gal 5/21/2008
Karmeliet clone 10.00 gal 5/18/2008
Capt Smith Rye 5.50 gal 6/11/2008
American Wheat 5.50 gal 6/11/2008
Amandas Kolsch II 5.50 gal 7/27/2008
Belgian Wit III 11.00 gal 5/28/2008
Summer Chugger 5.50 gal 8/12/2008
09-09-09 5.50 gal 8/27/2008
Summer Chugger 5.50 gal 9/27/2008
Belgian Wit IV 5.50 gal 9/27/2008
Amandas Kolsch II 5.50 gal 9/27/2008

 

[dontman]

I am very recently back to homebrewing after a 12 year hiatus so I am not in danger of going past the limit but I am definitely trying to make up for lost time. I started back in mid-September and so far I have 2 batches mini-kegged 3 batches bottled, 3 in secondary, and 2 in primary. That's 50 gals in 4 weeks. Nothing even ready to drink yet. At this pace I would probably go over the limit over the course of twelve months but we'll see.

 

[tgrier]

My friend is in trouble!

• Stone IPA Clone AG Jan 2008 10
• BM Clone AG Jan 2008 5
• Grier Pale AG Jan 2008 10
• Apfelwien Jan 2008 5
• BM BM AG Jan 2008 5
• Session #1 AG Feb 10
• pale ale AG Feb 10
• Hefe AG Feb 10
• session#2 AG Feb 10
• Beechnut Pale AG March 10
• Pale ale AG April 10
• El Hefe AG May 10
• Pale Cascade AG May 10
• El Hefe AG May 10
• Beechnut Pale July 10
• Beenchnut Pale AG Aug 10
• El Hefe AG Aug 10
• GPA / Strong Pale AG Aug 10
• Whit AG Aug 10
• Basic Blonde AG Sept 10
• Texas Bitter AG Sept 10
• Pale Ale Sept 10
• Blonde Oct 10
• Pale Ale AG Oct 10
• IPA AG Oct 5

230

I cannot get this to line up .. but oh well

 

[TexLaw]

I can't imagine that I'll ever push the limit like I might've done in the old days. However, I have this friend that wonders why anyone here on this forum likes the idea of getting a tax bill in the mail (or of TX getting a subpoena). It's not like folks have to show up at your home.


TL

 

[Chad]

I think we need some sort of Cap 'n' Trade agreement where those of us who don't approach the legal limit can sell or donate our excess allotment to others. Free market politics at work. Who'll swap me a couple of ounces of Hallertauer for the leeway to brew another 25 gallons?

I'm at about 40 gallons for this year, so who's willing to deal?

Chad

 

[DeathBrewer]

you have any northern brewer?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

The way I see it is this, you have to have 201 Gallons of HomeBrew in "service" (tapped or aging) for this law to have any teeth whatsoever.

Otherwise, how is the ABLE commission gonna have any way to prove anyone has brewed anymore than what is available?

I mean, it's not like we get our stuff tax exempt and there is any record of the raw materials we have consumed. Furthermore, if tickets were available to show what was bought, how could it be proved beyind a reasonable doubt the materials were used for beer and not, perse, bread or otherwise?

 

[ohiobrewtus]

I'm *always* about to go illegal. Of course I never go over the 200 gallon limit

 

[Grinder12000]

Of course is whole conversation is like a friend of mine that made $35,000 playing online poker. I got mixed up on what forum I was reading.

Darn feds!! always want to wreak everything.

 

[Lost Pirate]

Not even close! I've only done 35 gallons this year.

 

[Tonedef131]

I broke 200 gal a couple batches ago, but that includes ciders and meads. Also, that is just what was brewed at my house, I do ten gallon batches and often split them with fellow homebrewers.

 

[peterfuse]

thank god we have no laws like that. not that i would even get near 200g a year.

How would the police even measure how much youve brewed and would they strictly enforce it?

 

[homebrewer_99]

My "friend" is up to 155 gals so far for 2008...

 

[Bopper]

Hey perhaps we could take a page out of AlGore's playbook for folks like Biermuncher. I'm not going to hit 200 gallons this year probably, so maybe we can start a company to consolidate and sell Homebrew Offsets for those busy beavers who go beyond their limit.

Ohh, great idea...kind of like trading emmissions!

I'm only at 55 gallons

 

[Dadrick]

PA Title 47

…Malt or brewed beverages may be produced by any person without a license if such malt or brewed beverages are produced not for sale and total production does not exceed two hundred gallons per calendar year. Malt or brewed beverages produced in accordance with this paragraph may be used at organized affairs, exhibitions, competitions, contests, tastings or judging provided it is not sold or offered for sale.

So…

Me – 200gal
SHMBO- 200gal
Daughter/SiL moved back home (he’s in Iraq) - 400gal
Son in the Army (official residence is here) - 200gal
Another Son in the Army (official residence is here) - 200gal

So I guess I’m good to 1200 gallons… only 1190 to go. (total noob):rockin:

I think we need some sort of Cap 'n' Trade agreement where those of us who don't approach the legal limit can sell or donate our excess allotment to others. Free market politics at work. Who'll swap me a couple of ounces of Hallertauer for the leeway to brew another 25 gallons?

I'm at about 40 gallons for this year, so who's willing to deal?

Chad

I like your way of thinking. Maybe I could get enough people donating parts for a B3 20gal system, any takers?

 

[TexLaw]

Otherwise, how is the ABLE commission gonna have any way to prove anyone has brewed anymore than what is available?

I mean, it's not like we get our stuff tax exempt and there is any record of the raw materials we have consumed. Furthermore, if tickets were available to show what was bought, how could it be proved beyind a reasonable doubt the materials were used for beer and not, perse, bread or otherwise?

This is something like the deposition I was in, one time. This was a trade secret case, and the deponent had left my client's company to work for a competitor. The big issue in the case was whether the deponent had taken papers, plans, drawings, etc. from my client to bring to his new employer. The attorney taking the deposition asked the deponent, point blank, if the deponent had taken any such information and given it to his new employer. The deponent answered, all full of himself, "sure I did, but you'll never be able to prove it." That was the end of the deposition, and the case settled, quite favorably for my client, within 48 hours.

Admissions are even better than records of raw materials, a raid on your house, or anything like that. You can argue back and forth all day about what certain records might mean or what might have happened to all that grain, but someone will take an admission and stick it right up your ass.

Also remember that this isn't just some sort of ATF or FBI issue, it's also a tax issue (i.e., you are supposed to pay taxes on what you brew over the limit). You are probably right if you think the guys with guns do not want to fool around with some homebrewer, but the IRS lives for this sort of thing. When they send you a tax bill for brewing more than 200 gallons because you posted something here just so you can whip it out and show everyone how big you are, that'll kill your buzz a heck of a lot faster than some fuddy-duddy lawyer advising you to quiet down. If you demand proof about the tax bill, and they show you a copy of your post here, that ought to pucker you up in a big hurry.

Don't think the "friend" bit even comes close to getting you out from under the IRS, either. The next question will be "so, who's your friend?" Pick your poison.

Guys, I'm just trying to give you a little free advice. If you want to brag about what you or some "friend" is doing, just don't do it in writing. And, remember, this is all in writing! I am amazed at how quickly the forum will point out an underaged poster or a distilling thread, but then everyone comes in to flaunt how they have brewed more than the legal limit.

Brew strong, brew long, but keep your friggin' head in the game.


TL

 

[McKBrew]

How about moving this thread to another location? I'm willing to respect what TexLaw has to say, he definately has the experience.

 

[Bopper]

How about moving this thread to another location? I'm willing to respect what TexLaw has to say, he definately has the experience.

Secret Chit chat maybe? However, I'm sure big brother could get in there.

 

[bad coffee]

hey BM, (or anyone else who knows the answer) what software does your friend use to keep track of their brewing? I'm getting tired of the pencil and paper method...

B

 

[Bopper]

hey BM, (or anyone else who knows the answer) what software does your friend use to keep track of their brewing? I'm getting tired of the pencil and paper method...

B

Looks like an Excel spreadsheet to me but I could be wrong.

 

[Evan!]

I use ProMash, so my brewing sessions are always recorded.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

......Guys, I'm just trying to give you a little free advice. If you want to brag about what you or some "friend" is doing, just don't do it in writing. And, remember, this is all in writing! I am amazed at how quickly the forum will point out an underaged poster or a distilling thread, but then everyone comes in to flaunt how they have brewed more than the legal limit.

Brew strong, brew long, but keep your friggin' head in the game.


TL

I hear you, and point well written. Either way I am screwed no matter what. Title 37 here in OKC (one of 3 states in the union that doesn't allow HB) only applies to wine or cider. Somehow I don;t think Barleywine is included in that description since it is "cereal mash" based.

 

[sflcowboy78]

i am good. i have only brewed 35 gal to date. i might make 50 this year. money and time have been tight.

 

[BierMuncher]

...I am amazed at how quickly the forum will point out an underaged poster or a distilling thread, but then everyone comes in to flaunt how they have brewed more than the legal limit.

Brew strong, brew long, but keep your friggin' head in the game.

TL

Just for the record, I'm a chronic liar with a vivid imagination and nothing I say can be believed...ever.

 

[6fiddyv]

Well my "Friend" has a total of 13 batches this year, each was 5 gallons=65 so no where near the limit.

 

[2nd Street Brewery]

I'll be in the 120 to 130 gallon range.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I'm only looking at 40, but dumped 5 with 5 more (to brew) soon. I think I'm good.

 

[beerthirty]

Just for the record, I'm a chronic liar with a vivid imagination and nothing I say can be believed...ever.

I remember you telling me how you had mounted a 40G single tier to a baby buggy.