Legalizing a homebrewery

[Blkandrust]

Just curious,has anyone done this?Is it a long and expensive process?On the road to attaining my goal of opening a micro this seems like a neccessary step.I quickly browsed the ATF site but didn't find much useful info.I am sure there is a ton of paperwork involved.I know that attaining a liquor license in Va is fairly expensive.I have also heard that the ATf charges a $6.00 tax per barrel of beer sold!Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[brewmonkey]

You probably had some problems with the ATF because they do not handle that portion of the business anymore. It is now done by the TTB. I spent an hour on the ATF site one day after years of using it before I found out they changed it around.

http://www.ttb.gov/

The ATF charges $7 per bbl produced below 1MM barrels at which point it becomes IIRC $18 per bbl.

I am not sure why you would have to obtain a liquor license unless your state requires it or you plan on serving your beer on premises.

The first thing you need to do is get the "book" from the ATF on opening a brewery. It should have all the forms and a list of things you will need to do in order to open a brewery. Things like filing your brewers bond, which is at least $1,000 and not exceeding $500,000 where your bond is determined by figuring 10% of your tax liability.

Then there is what is called a Statement of Process and you must file one for each recipe you will be brewing before they will grant a permit.

In addition to the ATF you will have State jurisdictions to deal with and possibly local. At the state/local level you will be dealing with a lot of sanitation concerns. They will probably want a detailes plan of how you are going to be dealing with effluents as even a small brewery can wreak havoc on the wastewater system in town. Properly disposing of effluents is easy, but even in a small brewery can be costly if you do not have a good plan in place.

There is also stuff like a site inspection from the ATF. They will want to have a floor plan/layout included with your application and they will inspect it when they come on site. You will need to have what is called a "Tax Determination Tank" where all your beer must go before it is packaged. That will help you determine your volume for taxes.

There is a ton more that must be done and below is alink to some of the forms for things like the bond filing, renewel, release as well as for the Operating Permit, statements of process, bottling labels and so on.

http://www.ttb.gov/forms/5000.htm#alcohol

Good luck. It may seem like a lot to do but once you get your hands on the ATF publication for starting a brewery you will see that it can be done.

Edit: I forgot to add that in some states, counties & cities they consider a brewery a production plant and require a manufacturing license as well.

[Blkandrust]

Thanks for the great reply,Brewmonkey.I found it very informative and inspiring.Would I be able to obtain the "book" through the ATF's site?Looks like I have some surfing to do:) Thanks again bro.

[kevin]

I'm just curious but are you thinking of making beer and bottling/kegging it and distributing to local paint stores or are you thinking of having people come to your house kinda like a pub?

[Blkandrust]

Originally posted by kevin
I'm just curious but are you thinking of making beer and bottling/kegging it and distributing to local paint stores or are you thinking of having people come to your house kinda like a pub?



I am planning on distributing it locally to paint stores and/or restaraunts.My house is already like a pub,a free pub:D

[brewmonkey]

I would check both the ATF and the TTB's site and if you cannot find it then call the "local" field office in your area and ask for one. I know every year I was in attendance of the Craft Brewers Conference the ATF had tons of them at their booth.

Something else to look in to would be New Belgium Brewing and Bell's Brewing. They might have some info written in ther history about what and how they did it as they both started in the basement of someones home. I know Larry has given a discussion on his "homebrewery" several times and it is a very good one. Look at both those breweries now!!!

[Bruno_78]

Also, I know in my area, I cannot run a brewery out of my home due to zoning issues.

[Blkandrust]

Originally posted by brewmonkey
I would check both the ATF and the TTB's site and if you cannot find it then call the "local" field office in your area and ask for one. I know every year I was in attendance of the Craft Brewers Conference the ATF had tons of them at their booth.

Something else to look in to would be New Belgium Brewing and Bell's Brewing. They might have some info written in ther history about what and how they did it as they both started in the basement of someones home. I know Larry has given a discussion on his "homebrewery" several times and it is a very good one. Look at both those breweries now!!!




In the documentary "American Beer" there is an excellent piece with Larry Bell,also Sam from DFH.Both are inspirational to listen to as they explain how they got started in the business.However,I found the piece on Dave Hoffman from Climax Brewing of New Jersey to be the one that really makes you believe that having your own micro is possible.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Bruno_78
Also, I know in my area, I cannot run a brewery out of my home due to zoning issues.

This is the first problem that came to mind for me.