BeerBorg

Apparently, unbeknownst to me, every time I've left the house with homebrew, I've been breaking the law. Yesterday, Governor Haslam signed HB859 (the “Homebrew bill”) which will allow homebrew to be served outside of the brewer’s home. The new law was written to legalize the public sampling/demonstration/exhibition of homebrew, in the effort to lobby the American Homebrewer’s Association to bring their convention to Tennessee.

The Homebrew bill affirmatively provides that no license or permit shall be required for the possession, transportation or storage of homemade beer and places no cap on the amount of homebrew possessed/transported/stored so long as the quantity of beer made in a calendar year does not exceed 100 gallons (for one member households) or 200 gallons (for two+ member households). However, homebrewers should note that homebrew that is transported outside of your residence must “be clearly identified as homemade beer.”

Hmm... I guess I better revisit my labelling prowess... Where's ibasterd when you need him?!?

The restriction on serving homebrew outside of the maker’s home was also lifted by the Homebrew bill. Homemade beer may be consumed (a) at any private residence or (b) other private location where the possession and consumption of beer is permissible. Moreover, the exhibition, demonstration, judging, tastings, contest, competition or sampling of homebrew may be held at any private residence or licensed premises. No fee may be charged to consume homebrew but an entrance fee may be charged for an “exhibition, contest, or competition.” If a homebrew event is being held at a permitted premise, the homebrew must be stored separate from any other alcoholic beverages and must be clearly identified as homebrew.

Of course, there were some tradeoffs and compromises. Unfortunately, the law as it is currently implemented only applies to low-grav beer currently defined as not exceeding 5% alcohol by weight (6.3% Abv). On January 1, 2017, with the revised definition of beer becoming effective from the prior legal efforst, the Homebrew bill will apply to beer not exceeding 8% alcohol by weight (10.3% Abv).

All in all, great news for the TN homebrew scene. We can get back to being able to serve homebrew at festivals, we can make a run at getting the AHA, and we can not worry about getting arrested for taking our beer out of our home. Sounds great to me...

You'd look good in prison garb.
So those of you with cars full of homebrew during our Nashville visit were breaking the law? Awesome......we were all rebels.

Beer-lord wrote:So those of you with cars full of homebrew during our Nashville visit were breaking the law? Awesome......we were all rebels.

And we broke the hell out of too!!

"We're wanted men, we'll strike again, but first let's have a beer"

From Jimmy Buffett's Great Filling Station Hold Up.

Inkleg wrote:"We're wanted men, we'll strike again, but first let's have a beer"

From Jimmy Buffett's Great Filling Station Hold Up.

AMEN!

Paul and Chuck had an accomplice. They had Swen transport it!!!

I guess we won't make mention of the "dry" counties we may have passed thru hauling contraband.

Outlaws, every one of you.

I'm proud to have 'served' with you guys.

I'll mention again that part of the reasoning behind this law, outside of the obvious, is "the effort to lobby the American Homebrewer’s Association to bring their convention to Tennessee." Sounds like another good Nashville meetup opportunity... Of course, the Southern Brewers Conference in Aug '16 would be another great time to visit Music City...

Wow! Hard to believe the laws are so restrictive there. In NJ I just took it for granted we could brew any beer we wanted.

I'm pretty sure I've broken the law in New York State and New Jersey, too.

Come and get me, copper!

And nobody here ever illegally ships beer.........

except when entering contests