In this thread on forbidden SDMB topics, DrDeth posted a list of mock titles of threads that would surely get locked. The last on the list is, “Can you really brew your own beer at home?”
The implication is that home brewing beer is illegal and therefore discussion of it is not allowed. Is this the case?
Nope. Home brewing is a thriving hobby in the States. It’s home distilling that’s illegal.
:eek:
Otherwise, I’d be somebody’s “girlfriend” in prison. Assuming I got caught. And I didn’t die in the power struggle.
Actually, I think Jimmy Carter signed into law the bill that allowes “homebrewing”.
But I’m far, far… too drunk to look it up right now.
Up to 200 gallons per year for a “head of household.” I was usually in violation by about April. 
It’s Australian home brewing laws that are right up there in the “dumb laws” stakes. Well, they were until the 70s, when common sense prevailed, and they were repealed.
For years, it was illegal to brew anything more than “light” beer. I forget what the cut-off was, but probably something like 2.5% alc/vol. This meant there were no premade kits, but people used to make their own rotgut stuff in the bathtub, using baking gear rather than the brewing variety. Finally, in the early 70s, a company hit on the obvious answer, and marketed a “light” beer kit. It carried a big warning saying something along the lines of “This is a LIGHT beer kit only. Therefore, do not add more than 250g of malt or sugar, as this will exceed the allowed alcohol level.”
Told everyone exactly how to do it. Nice one.
The government knew it was beaten, and dropped the law.
Isn’t it up to the states? I know that in Georgia, home brewing was illegal until sometime in the late 80s or early 90s. At least that’s when the first home brewing stores opened, due to the legislature repealing some law…
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/beer-faq/part3/ The FAQ is pretty old but say’s US fed law is 100 gallons per person or 200 gallons per household per year. States can have more restrictive laws.
I daresay this puts me in mind of… a Simpsons gag!
Homer: Oh, who am I kidding? I am slow.
Marge: Oh, Homey, if you feel so bad about yourself, there’s always things you can do to feel better.
Homer: Take another bath in malt liquor?
Marge: There’s that…or you could take an adult education course.
Homer: Oh, and how is “education” supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home wine-making course and I forgot how to drive?
Marge: That’s because you were drunk!
Homer: [remembering fondly] And how.
As others have said, there is a thriving business in home brewing kits in the U.S. In addition there are contests at county fairs and such for best beer by a home brewer. There may be some counties where it is illegal since there are still some counties where alcohol sales are not permitted.
Well, I’m not sure that’s the deciding factor. I remember reading an article about a vineyard/winery in a dry county in Texas - plus isn’t one of the big bourbon distillers in the southern US in a dry county? (And you can’t sell homebrew anyway so I’m not sure the law would apply in that respect. I homebrewed in a dry town (not county, mind you) for a few years, and it seemed like the only issue was that no one could sell alcohol - you could even bring your own wine to restaurants there.)
I seem to remember reading something about homebrewers in Utah but of course I can’t remember a thing about it right now.
Home brewing is huge in the U.S. There are brewing clubs in every major city.
Looking at the link, I see that DrDeth didn’t actually say that that thread would be locked, just that it would be “watched like a hawk”. The implication being that a legitimate thread about home-brewing could easily turn into a thread that encouraged moon-shining, blowing up your house, etc.
I have no idea whether he’s right that the mods would actually be that concerned about that topic.
At the risk of throwing cold water on the OP, DrDeth provided two lists (although I would agree that his separation could have used a bit more emphasis). Between his first list of threads to be closed automatically and the second list that included the beer title, he inserted the line
bolding mine
I haven’t brewed for 10 years… my roommate took off with all of my brewing equipment! = )
However, back then, I thought the limit was 100 gallons a year. Then again, I was reading this from a homebrewing manual written in the 70’s or early 80’s.
I wish I knew the name of the book (gone with said roommate). I had pictures of people with Gabriel Kaplan style fros making beer.
Given home brewing is legal in at least some of the US, best to default the assumption it is.
Jack Daniel’s is made in a dry county.
Homebrewing, under federal law, was legalized during the Carter years.
However, there are a few states (Iowa, where I live, is one of them) who have not specifically recognized it at the state level. My understanding (and IANAL) is that Iowa could decide at some point, to make homebrewing illegal.
http://www.beertown.org/statutes/iowa.htm
There are movements to try and legalize homebrewing at the state level in all states.
http://www.beertown.org/homebrewing/legal.html
In some respects, this is more of a case of symbolic recognition than a real worry about being busted for homebrewing. I brew numerous gallons every year…there are hombrew supply shops in Iowa. I’m not worried 
*California state statute § 23356.2 allows the manufacture of beer for personal or family use, and not for sale by a person over the age of 21. The aggregate amount of beer with respect to any household shall not exceed 200 gallons or 100 gallons if only one adult resides in such household. * 
Best-of-Show - Orange County Fair (Barleywine), Southern California Regional Homebrew Championships (Porter), Las Vegas Winterfest (Munich Helles)
Ah… that is good then. I didn’t want to believe that you guys were that far behind the times :). Thanks all.