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New-Bee.... Question...

Barrel Char Wood Products

saulie

NewBee
Registered Member
Feb 25, 2008
2
0
0
Wow... I am a new-bee again.... Sad...

So... I have looked around for this... On my other site I know it is better to look around before asking... I hate anwsering the same question dozens of times...

So...

1) Is there a limit to how much of a home brew(wine, beer, mead, etc.) one can have in their home by state (us)?

What are the (if any) rules for mailing or transporting home brew (wine, beer, mead, etc.). Lets say I live in virginia and want to get a bottle to Missouri, Florida and Michigan... What are my limitations?

thanks.
saulie.

saulie@contactjuggling.org
Solitoj@hotmail.com
 

gbobeck

NewBee
Registered Member
Nov 15, 2007
60
0
0
41
Chicago, IL
saulie said:
1) Is there a limit to how much of a home brew(wine, beer, mead, etc.) one can have in their home by state (us)?

One site I found is http://www.beertown.org/homebrewing/legal.html . You should be able to check the regulations for your state.

As I found at one forum (http://www.winepress.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=24709):
The Federal limit is 100 gallons per year for a single person, 200 gallons per year for a household including two or more adults. That is the production limit - there is no limit on how much you can have on hand.

saulie said:
What are the (if any) rules for mailing or transporting home brew (wine, beer, mead, etc.). Lets say I live in virginia and want to get a bottle to Missouri, Florida and Michigan... What are my limitations?

One site which had the various state wine shipping laws is http://www.wineinstitute.org/initiatives/stateshippinglaws

As for shipping services:

FedEx will not ship wine from consumer to consumer http://www.fedex.com/us/wine/transport.html?link=4 . UPS has a similar policy. However, it may be possible to get around the rules.

USPS does not permit alcoholic beverages to be mailed. See http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/sending.htm

EDIT: You may be able to ship mead to some states through a local winery. You might want to ask at your local homebrew shop and/or local winery
 

gbobeck

NewBee
Registered Member
Nov 15, 2007
60
0
0
41
Chicago, IL
gbobeck said:
saulie said:
1) Is there a limit to how much of a home brew(wine, beer, mead, etc.) one can have in their home by state (us)?

One site I found is http://www.beertown.org/homebrewing/legal.html . You should be able to check the regulations for your state.

As I found at one forum (http://www.winepress.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=24709):
The Federal limit is 100 gallons per year for a single person, 200 gallons per year for a household including two or more adults. That is the production limit - there is no limit on how much you can have on hand.

Ok, quick followup...

From http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/usc_sec_26_00005042----000-.html
Here is the Federal law concerning home brewing of wine.

United States Code Title 26, Subtitle E, Chapter 51, Subchapter A, Part I, Subpart C, § 5042
...
(2) Wine for personal or family use
Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary—
(A) Exemption
Any adult may, without payment of tax, produce wine for personal or family use and not for sale.
(B) Limitation
The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this paragraph with respect to any household shall not exceed—
(i) 200 gallons per calendar year if there are 2 or more adults in such household, or
(ii) 100 gallons per calendar year if there is only 1 adult in such household.
(C) Adults
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “adult” means an individual who has attained 18 years of age, or the minimum age (if any) established by law applicable in the locality in which the household is situated at which wine may be sold to individuals, whichever is greater.
(3) Experimental wine
Subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any scientific university, college of learning, or institution of scientific research may produce, receive, blend, treat, and store wine, without payment of tax, for experimental or research use but not for consumption (other than organoleptical tests) or sale, and may receive such wine spirits without payment of tax as may be necessary for such production.
...

The similar law (United States Code Title 26, Subtitle E, Chapter 51, Subchapter A, Part I, Subpart D, § 5053) for beer is located at http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/usc_sec_26_00005053----000-.html
 

Yo momma

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 14, 2007
934
3
0
52
Flint, Michigan
I live in Michigan and have tried to ship some samples out to Oskaar for judging, to no avail. I t seems that the post office has grown wise to the whole "it's vinegar" thing. I wish there was a way to get bottle sent to other people without jumping through so many hoops or spending $200.00 is gas to get it there. If anyone has ideas about how to send it I would appreciate the feedback. I hope this does not interfere with your post Saulie.
 

Angus

Lifetime Patron
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Aug 19, 2005
908
0
0
55
Milwaukee, WI
Hello Saulie,

saulie said:
What are the (if any) rules for mailing or transporting home brew (wine, beer, mead, etc.). Lets say I live in virginia and want to get a bottle to Missouri, Florida and Michigan... What are my limitations?

With respect to shipping alcohol of any type, it is illegal to use the USPS.

Fedex has the following restrictions:

Only properly licensed wholesalers, licensed dealers, licensed distributors, licensed manufacturers or licensed importers may ship alcohol (wine) via FedEx services. Consumers may not ship wine or alcohol of any type via FedEx services.

UPS has the following:

UPS provides service for other alcoholic beverages (beer and spirits) on a contract basis only. For shipments containing beer or spirits, shippers must enter into an approved UPS agreement for the transportation of beer or spirits as applicable, must be licensed and authorized under applicable law to ship beer and spirits, and may ship only to licensed consignees. UPS accepts shipments of beer or spirits only among and between a limited number of states.

As you can see, shipping alcohol of any sort is therefore not going to happen unless you are a licensed producer or distributor. Sorry.

Of course, you can ship "yeast samples" anywhere in the US without any issues, agreements or licenses. The easiest way is to go onto UPS.com, enter the details and pay for your shipment, print the label, package everything up and then drop it off at a local UPS office. Be sure to describe your yeast sample as such and make sure it is in the appropriate packaging.

Angus

P.S. - The AHA has their Legislative Affairs person working on getting the Federal laws changed this year to allow for the shipping of limited amounts of alcoholic beverages. This is a large organization, so there may be a chance. If you want to support their initiative, sign up for a membership at Beertown.org. You get a bunch of benefits, including 6 issues of Zymurgy a year, and you could be helping to combat the oppressive control of the distributors.
 

beachfrontmeadman

NewBee
Registered Member
Feb 15, 2008
174
0
0
38
www.myspace.com
i have also managed to ship some "bottled water", i didn't label it as anythin in particular, but i wrapped it very well, from what i can tell it shipped very well,
 

DaysOfOld

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 17, 2007
65
0
0
44
I too have recently successfully shipped the same invoice as Medsen Fey using one of the major common shipping companies. And it arrived at its desination across the country within a timely and speedy manner, much to the delight of the receiver.
 

Angus

Lifetime Patron
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Aug 19, 2005
908
0
0
55
Milwaukee, WI
beachfrontmeadman,

The products we are describing are not "contraband". They are samples of yeast, honey, vinegar etc.

Please be very careful. Nobody on GotMead is condoning or encouraging the breaking of State or Federal laws in the shipment of alcohol. We are merely providing suggestions on the safe method of sharing liquid samples.

Angus
 

saulie

NewBee
Registered Member
Feb 25, 2008
2
0
0
Wow. thank you to everyone that has responded.

Some very good information here. I am greatly appreciative.

Saulie
 

Oskaar

Got Mead Partner
Administrator
Dec 26, 2004
7,874
8
0
34
The OC
BTW it is legal to remove from the premises and transport for the purposes of Evaluation, Competition, etc

Here are three links that contain additional information:

http://www.gotmead.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=412&topic=5877.msg47557#msg47557

http://www.gotmead.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=412&topic=3631.msg30844#msg30844

http://www.gotmead.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=412&topic=5952.0

Note that it is under the condition that whatever is transported is not to be sold or offered for sale.

25.206 Removal of beer.
Beer made under §25.205 may be removed from the premises where made for personal or family use including use at organized affairs, exhibitions or competitions such as homemaker's contests, tastings or judging. Beer removed under this section may not be sold or offered for sale.

Most of the commercial meads shipped for competitions bear labels stating not for sale or resale.

Cheers,

Oskaar
 

Johnnybladers

NewBee
Registered Member
Feb 13, 2006
301
0
0
48
Am I understanding that shipping homebrew (with no sale/resale involved of course) is legal, but might be against certain corperate policies for some shippers? I will soon have some samples that I like to get out to helpful members for critique (after I contact them to verify their willingness).
 

gbobeck

NewBee
Registered Member
Nov 15, 2007
60
0
0
41
Chicago, IL
Johnnybladers said:
Am I understanding that shipping homebrew (with no sale/resale involved of course) is legal, but might be against certain corperate policies for some shippers? I will soon have some samples that I like to get out to helpful members for critique (after I contact them to verify their willingness).

As I understand the rules, Unless your state has laws against it, federal law permits you to ship your homebrew to others for non-commercial purposes. However, USPS strictly forbids (read: makes it a legal no no to do) the mailing of any alcoholic beverage (as well as a whole slew of other stuff), and the other carriers place restrictions in order to stay within state laws as well as not deliver alcoholic beverages to minors.

In short, it is not just against some corporate policies for some shippers to ship out homebrew... it can be against state and federal laws too.
 
Barrel Char Wood Products

Viking Brew Vessels - Authentic Drinking Horns