Imagine transforming that cosy corner of your garage or a quaint spot on your property into a personal brewery. In this sanctuary, the alchemy of water, malt, hops, and yeast unfolds at your fingertips. Picture yourself kicking back with friends, savouring your craft beers.
But hold that thought—brewing’s not just picking a recipe and stirring the pot; it’s like orchestrating a symphony in a bottle. There’s much to mull over before those first bubbles rise.
Let’s dive into the essence of homebrew spaces without getting lost in the hops. Here are five crucial insights to help you move from pint-sized dreams to pilsner reality.
The Legality of Setting up a Brewery at Home
The legality of setting up a brewery at home is a bit complicated because individual states set up their own “brew on premise” laws. If you want to open your brewery today, you’ll need to check the guidelines for your state before you accidentally do something illegal.
Here are some general guidelines for laws about home brewing:
- In all states, it’s legal to brew beer on your property if you’re not selling it
- In many states, it’s illegal to transport homebrews off the property
- If you don’t have a license, you’re subject to a production cap
- Home brewing methods, license requirements, and ingredients vary by state
- Some states allow you to sell beer from your garage if you have a license
As mentioned above, getting familiar with your state’s brewing laws is in your best interest before doing anything that could get you in trouble. It’s nearly always required to get a license and communicate with a local government body about the amount of beer you brew annually.
You’ll also need a permit to distil liquor, which is usually only granted if you want to open a commercial distillery. Distilling liquor typically requires more equipment, and you may be unable to fit this inside your property. Consider upgrading your property if you want to expand.
5 Things to Know About Constructing a Home Brewery
In this section, we’ll expand on the requirements necessary to set up a home brewery. We’ll look at laws that could prevent you from taking your home brewery to the next level.
1. You May Not Be Able to Brew Without a License
Some states make it easier or impossible to brew beers with a license, even for personal use. Of course, it’s less likely you’ll get caught if you don’t sell, but it’s something you should consider. No state lets you sell beer, even to friends and family, without a license.
Some states have harsher requirements than others for getting a license. 17 states control at least one aspect of alcohol sales, including Idaho, Ohio, and Montana. Moving to a different state may be necessary if you want to capitalise on less strict licensing and regulation.
2. You Can’t Sell Your Beer if You Can’t Transport It
While all states allow you to legally produce beer on-premise, over 25 states in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii, prohibit home brewers from transporting the beer they make. This means you won’t be able to move or sell your beer off-premise, even if you’re going a short distance.
Many breweries can still sell their beers on-premise, making the beer an exclusive item that can’t be taken home. While this scarcity could increase sales, it could also hurt your business. Keep in mind that this transportation rule also makes it impossible to sell online.
3. You Need to Stick to Strict Sanitary Requirements
The biggest issue with starting up an at-home brewery is keeping your batch sanitary. When selling consumables to the public, you’ll have to stick to strict hygiene requirements provided by the state. Your unfinished basement or garage won’t meet these requirements.
While it can be expensive to improve the quality of your dwellings, it’s not even close to being as pricey as renting out or purchasing a building off-property. And upping the sanitary of your beer is worth it. Not only does this improve its quality, but it also increases customer satisfaction.
4. You Probably Can’t Brew or Sell From a Rented Dwelling
Tenants maintain a rental property but aren’t automatically given the right to brew beer on said property. Most landlords are okay with you brewing your beer if you don’t make severe alterations to the house or make a massive mess.
On the other hand, it’s doubtful that you’ll be able to sell the dwelling you’re renting. Because of safety and privacy issues, some landlords won’t let you run any business from your home. However, if you’re selling off-premise, your landlord may give you the go-ahead.
5. You Need to Treat Your Brewery as a Business
If you upgrade your home brewery to an actual business, you must treat your operations like a company. This means getting a business license, preparing your financial documents, applying for a TTB Brewer’s Notice, and obtaining a brewer’s bond.
You’ll also need an EIN if you want to hire employees, an accountant to help you with tax and payroll, and a marketing team that can get the word out. Make sure you move to a more prominent place once you exceed certain profits, as it will allow you to scale.
In Conclusion…
Now that you’ve steeped in the essentials, the path to your home brewery is more clear. With regulations checked and equipment on stand-by, let the malt meet the mill. Embrace the journey from garage or backyard to goblet, where every sip reflects your craft and creativity.
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