[tmaurer]

Are there laws forbidding pouring home brew at a beer tasting event?

I live in PA.  I was told it was illegal., and I'm just wondering about the logic on that.  Is it a public health issue?  After all, home brew clubs gather and have tastings.  Whats the difference?  Any thoughts on this?

[thatguy314]

Are there laws forbidding pouring home brew at a beer tasting event?

I live in PA.  I was told it was illegal., and I'm just wondering about the logic on that.  Is it a public health issue?  After all, home brew clubs gather and have tastings.  Whats the difference?  Any thoughts on this?

The governement wants to tax you as much as they possibly can.  Only seriously nagging your politicians (and explaining that they're not really going to make any money off of homebrewers) will get them to abandon the attempts to extort more money from you.

[dbarber]

Are there laws forbidding pouring home brew at a beer tasting event?

I live in PA.  I was told it was illegal., and I'm just wondering about the logic on that.  Is it a public health issue?  After all, home brew clubs gather and have tastings.  Whats the difference?  Any thoughts on this?

I live in PA and my club the Lehigh Valley Homebrewers have poured our homebrew at several events.

[dak0415]

I think the question should be - "Who told you it was illegal?"

[beerrat]

From what I understand is it can't be sold, and if public, the place needs to be licensed to serve alcohol. Other then that, not aware why it would be illegal.

Split Rock resort hosts a beer festival in PA every year, and in the past the local home brew club served their home brew for tasting.

[dirk_mclargehuge]

I imagine it would also depend on the event.  If there was a cover charge and all other alcoholic drinks were sold, I'm sure you could give away your homebrew.  However, if the cover charged allows people to get their alcohol free, then it would be illegal, because you would be selling homebrew.

You will have to several people in Alcohol control unit, and you might find one or two that will say yes.  Last year, a club in Midland wanted to pour their beers at a fundraiser with a cover charge and free drinks.  Texas Alcoholic Beveage Commission Agent told them it was illegal to transport home brew (It's not, and they told her so.), and said they didn't have the proper permits to sell alcohol anyway.

[Malticulous]

From the AHA site.
"Malt or brewed beverages may be produced by any person without a license if such malt or brewed beverages are produced not for sale and total production does not exceed two hundred gallons per calendar year. Malt or brewed beverages produced in accordance with this paragraph may be used at organized affairs, exhibitions, competitions, contests, tastings or judging provided it is not sold or offered for sale."

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/government-affairs/statutes/pennsylvania

[tmaurer]

I think the question should be - "Who told you it was illegal?"

The guy who is helping set up the event.

Here is a little more about the event: http://pintsforpets.com/

It's a charity event that requires a ticket to get in.  Once in, you can sample beers from breweries.  The event is held in a ball park where alcohol is normally served.  The reason I'm asking is that a LHBS sets up a booth there.  I was wondering why he couldn't have a few home brews there as samples.

[Gary Glass]

In most states, a public event that charges a fee to get in to consume alcoholic beverages where there is no additional charge per drink could not legally serve homebrew, because as an untaxed alcoholic beverage, it cannot be sold.  For example, we cannot serve homebrew at the AHA booth during the Great American Beer Festival.

[Mikey]

Slap an Anheuser-Bush sticker on your corny and tell people it's experimental beer.

[tmaurer]

OK thanks for the info.  It seems silly, but then again, much of what the government does seems silly to me.

[tumarkin]

In most states, a public event that charges a fee to get in to consume alcoholic beverages where there is no additional charge per drink could not legally serve homebrew, because as an untaxed alcoholic beverage, it cannot be sold.  For example, we cannot serve homebrew at the AHA booth during the Great American Beer Festival.

Like most alcohol laws, this varies by state. In Florida it's definately a no-no. But check with your local BTAF or equivalent.

[majorvices]

In Nashville, Tenn they have a brewfest every year and one of the brew clubs (I think its Music City Brew Club) has a tent and they pour beers. The line is usually pretty big because they are pouring some of the best beers at the fest.

I'd check with the distributor who is handling the event, they will have a better idea of what is legal and what is not.

[colinhayes]

much of what the government does seems silly to me.

that sums it up really well.

[phillamb168]

much of what the government does seems silly to me.

that sums it up really well.

True, but you're a responsible person. Government regulations exist to keep idiots and people of bad intention from hurting those who can't fend for themselves  just like Rhineheitsgebot, which existed at the time because people were putting REALLY nasty stuff in their beer and people were getting sick. Just my $0.02, and of course that doesn't mean government is always right.