My buddy and I have been homebrewing for about half a year. My sister is getting marrid in June, and has commissioned a couple batches for the reception. (All the batches have been quite good, but I guess I’m a little biased.) This gave us the idea of selling batches for other people’s special occasions: Super Bowl parties, bachelor parties, graduation, brisses, whatever. Imagine, a completely unique batch made especially for you. We’d be a nanobrewery. But we have no idea what hoops the gummint wants us to jump thru before we can sell it. I’d rather not end up like Uncle Jesse and the rest of the Dukes, always running from the law, etc. Any ideas? Also, what’s a fair price for 5 gallons (48 12oz bottles) of exquisite hand crafted, one of a kind beer? $100? $75? Unique labels, too!
I only ask because the ATF makes me nervous. But now that Reno is leaving…
Hello BigDaddyD,
I’ve been homebrewing all grain for over a year now. I’ve learned EVERYTHING HOMEBREW from the folks on the following message board:
http://hbd.org/forums/index.html
They will have your answer, for sure. I hope you find it as useful as I have.
Burp,
Zymurgy
I used to brew beer, and made some for friends’ special occasions. While I never sold it, I do know that in my state anyone selling alcohol is supposed to have a liquor license. If you’re planning on setting up a (legal) business, I’d look into this.
because the ATF is under Treasury.
But, licenses are a must. Both federal and state, and possibly local. The bad news is, many states limit the number of licenses, and often a statutory change is necessary for a new one. Guess who doesn’t want new licenses issued, and who pulls the strings…
I don’t remember the costs of federal licenses offhand, but it would be difficult to avoid losing money from the fees, let alone other business costs.
Under current statutes, you are allowed to make only so much for consumption by yourself and your immediate family (aunts, uncles, grandparents don’t count). A brewer’s license costs, I think, $5,000 per year, and that’s just the federal bite. Could you get away with it, once, by claiming ignorance if the ATF cracked down on you? Mmmmmaybe, but I’d hate to bet the farm on it. At the very least, your legal fees would cost you more than you made in profit. As a gun dealer, I understand only too well your well-placed paranoia about the ATF. Not a group of folks whose attention you want to attract…