Legalizing Hobby Distilling in the US

[varocketry]

Brewhaus:

This article will help you learn about crowd sourcing sites:

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/crowdfunding-sites/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

It’s All About Strategy
When it comes to putting your dreams or your startup plans into motion, it’s important to know which things to do in the correct sequence. If crowdfunding is the way to go for your project, choosing the right crowdfunding site is definitely a crucial step.

Be wary of the fees you will be forking out, and the rewards, perks and benefits for each site. Be reasonable with your funding goals. And don’t make the mistake of leaving it all to the crowdfunding sites to do all the marketing for you.

At the end of the day, you are putting yourself out there, convincing people to part with their money to help fund your thoughts, concepts and ideas. Run a marketing campaign on social networks like Facebook, or at least try to challenge yourself into making a viral YouTube video. To sum it up, make your project and its marketing campaign interesting, attractive, realistic and most importantly, unique. All the best then, dreamers!

[jarheadshiner]

Way to go Rick! Keep up the good work. Any advice on the best way to try and get the story picked up by other papers? I realize that you being a business owner in the industry is a much more appealing story than just a hobbiest but any advice would be appreciated.

[RandyMarshCT]

Way to go Rick! Keep up the good work. Any advice on the best way to try and get the story picked up by other papers? I realize that you being a business owner in the industry is a much more appealing story than just a hobbiest but any advice would be appreciated.

+1
I'm going to contact someone at my local paper and see if I can get a story up here too.

[HDNB]

Brewhaus, TChowdrey:

Hey, the fund-raiser idea a few posts up made me think of how to really do something like that.

How about a KICKSTARTER project or one of the clone sites?

Just getting the exposure would be a great win, the funding would be an incredible bonus.
The ad guy, Tom, would be a great strategy guy to provide guidance on the messaging to use and content of supporting presentation including an engaging video.

The participation levels can range from grateful thanks to t-shirts to a still post-legalization based on level.

What do you think?

that's exactly what i was trying to say, however poorly.

I'd buy a t-shirt or a flask or something like that for an "inflated" price to support the cause. Brewhaus has a great logo, co- brand it with some catchy stuff from the ad-man and get a graphic artist to do some trick images. all of the retailers and manufacturers doing the same would create awareness and money. if someone loves their mile-hi flute or hillbilly still they will support the brand, and the cause.
they all have on-line stores, add a catagory..... and then add a donation line to the checkout.

i buy things like flasks and t-shirts to promote my business from a local "trophy shop" that does embroidery and engraving on anything. items like this are inexpensive and can be had in small quantity so as to not overburden anyone with a big overhead, and supporters "get" something for their support.

keep up the great work with the news people, they ALWAYS need a story. guerrilla marketing 101.

[HDNB]

Way to go Rick! Keep up the good work. Any advice on the best way to try and get the story picked up by other papers? I realize that you being a business owner in the industry is a much more appealing story than just a hobbiest but any advice would be appreciated.

phone them. they are desperate for stories. i ended up writing a weekly column for 5 years shamelessly promoting my business (thinly disguised as an industry angle) just by phoning in and writing an article once. they were hooked on the free fodder from there on in. the HDA can do press releases and send them to every news outlet in the land. the more submissions, the more controversy, the more interest.

anyone can do this.

[jarheadshiner]

I'm not a great writer but I will give it a shot. Just don't wanna stick my foot in my mouth and do more harm than good.

[Stainless dude]

Great article Rick, and kudos for those helping the cause..

[wv_cooker]

Yes sir Mr. Rick very good article. The Dallas News is also big enough to bring some decent exposure. Hope we can figure out how to get more and more. I have noticed the TTB seems to be shy about discussing their actions. This can be a good thing also. Thanks Rick for doing what you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

A big move in getting the word out there- http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20 ... -hobby.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Need to get your project/effort picked up by the AP, then it would spring up all over the place, as AP affiliates would put the article in their individual publications.

AP info:
Where can I send a press release?
Send the press release in the body of an email (no attachments) to info@ap.org. If you have a story of local significance, send your idea to the appropriate regional desks listed on the Contact Us page. The regional desk will send it to the appropriate local bureau.

How do I contact a reporter or editor?
Many of AP's reporters and editors are now on Twitter, which can be the best way to reach a journalist directly; check the lists at http://apne.ws/A8cS5L" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. You can also send an email to info@ap.org with the name of the journalist in the subject line, and it will be forwarded along.

List of >>>Bureau Chiefs<<<
Also, here is a list for AP's U.S. and Worldwide Bureaus/Correspondents: >>>CLICK HERE<<<

[Brewhaus]

As you can imagine, we are being overwhelmed today. We are really getting things rolling now- the story was run by the local NBC news today- http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Hobbis ... 84681.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Before I send a press release to the AP (we have a basic 'HDA launch' press release to put out today), does anyone have a suggestion on whether we would be better to contact them with our PR or a link to the newspaper story and NBC story?

Rick

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

I would think that AP would rather put their own story together to distribute to AP affiliates, but I don't know that for certain. Call your local AP bureau chief and ask him how their normal process works on doing stories.

[Brewhaus]

I am getting onto it now.

Latest update- I was just contacted by the local Libertarian party, as they are interested in our cause and would like to work with us to push it on a state level. They have invited me to speak at their next meeting.

[bentstick]

This should see things start to move a bit quicker not fast but it is going to help pick up the pace,good for all involved in this hobby, and a big thanks for everyone out there thinking of how to pitch and ways to get this out to the people that can help in the push!

[Brewhaus]

Definitely. With a story out there in the newspaper and on the news, now is when we need people to contact their local newspaper or news station to direct them to the existing stories. Let's get this thing national! Also, send the links to your Representatives and Senators and tell them that you want them backing this.

[dan]

Tom / Rick, et al.... from an email sent to Tom and just my opinion.

-Dan

I am very interested in joining your cause but had a few questions for you and I guess more specifically John Barleycorns’ interpretation of how the law needs to read. Why would you need to put restrictions on the equipment that people choose to use for home distillation? I got started in this hobby over three years ago because I saw a video on YouTube of Mike Haney running his Hillbilly Flute. So I did a bunch or research on homedistiller.org and decided to build my own version of OD’s Magic Flute with five plates instead of four like the hillbilly flute. I have to tell you that a 4” column needs a lot of distillate on the plates to function and works on a 15.5 gallon boiler but not very well. If you make a Ferrari of distillation why would you want to limit yourself on the size of boiler? There is no restriction on people making wine for personal consumption that says you can only make 15.5 gallons at a time. To my knowledge grapes only ripen once per year in the northern hemisphere and if people want to max out their opportunity they make the whole 200 gallons at once.

I started this hobby so that I could express myself artistically by working with copper and building my own equipment. I also highly value my time and if I am going to do something I want to do it as effectively as possible in the least amount of time. I started with a 15.5 gallon keg that I converted to a boiler and learned from my own experiences. I now have a 100 liter or 26 gallon boiler so that I can run my wash in one charge and save about two hours on my run time.

Under JB’s proposal I would still be illegal. Why would I contribute to a cause that does not serve my needs? And I believe many others. There is no restriction on how much beer you can make at once. What if you had a one barrel or two barrel brewing system that you used with friends and got together once a month to make your own beer and split it up between you?

I think one homedistiller.org member said it best (keep it simple stupid – or KISS). This sixteen page document that was written by JB could have been said in one or two pages. Why do you need to register your distillation equipment but not your winery or brewery equipment? More regulation and oversight by the government. Is there a national firearms registry where everyone with a gun needs to register their weapon? NO

Here in Oregon people are allowed to share their homemade beer or wine and are not limited to PERSONAL or FAMILY consumption in your own home. Once again this seems to be setting up the hobby for failure or limitations because we as hobbyists want to share our products with others so we can educate others on how much fun it is to make a really good product. More than half of my enjoyment of this hobby is sharing with others outside of my own home and I have to tell you people really like it and think it is really cool even if it is illegal. The ability to share product is also very appealing to the large craft beer brewers here in Oregon and there are many competitions that will result in a large brewery like Widmer Bros. collaborating with home brewers to bring a new product to market.

By supporting JB’s proposal I think you are doing a disservice to the industry because we do not want to be unnecessarily confined or regulated. Why not just say :
§ 5012 – Exemptions

(a) Distilled spirits
Subject to regulation prescribed by the Secretary, any adult may, without payment of tax, produce distilled spirits for
personal or family use and not for sale.

(1) The aggregate amount of distilled spirits exempt from tax under this subsection with respect to any household
shall not exceed that amount which is distilled from the beer and wine that is legally produced within a household
under § 5042 (a)(2) and § 5053 (e) of this Part.

For purposes of this subsection, 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 distilled spirits may be
sold to individuals, whichever is greater.

Period. "."

I have a Bourbon and Bones BBQ fundraiser coming up and would love to promote the cause but I have my reservations and concerns over the small stuff.

[stillin]

You start tryin to convince lawmakers to approve unlimited size boilers and all this hard work is gonna die right then and there!

[googe]

Awesome work on the media coverage , keep up the good work everyone, got really excited when I watched that!.
I agree with stillin!,don't give them any ammo. A 15 gal keg to small for a plated column is bullshit, I run one all the time as do many many many many people in this hobby. It provides more than enough likker for our needs.

[Bushman]

I think one of the big concerns is safety as that is brought up in a lot of the info I have read on reasons for not legalizing it, maybe there should be a mandatory class on how to safely run a still before allowing permits. I say this because it is amazing how many people jump into it before researching and learning everything about what they are doing.

[dan]

You start tryin to convince lawmakers to approve unlimited size boilers and all this hard work is gonna die right then and there!

Stillin-

The limit is the amount of wash/mash you can produce in a year. If I want to run it in ten different batches instead of 20-30 that should be my choice. All I am saying is that I don't want to be stilling every weekend and the most I have ever made was four generations of sweetfeed in one year @ twenty gallons each plus a 10 gallon rum wash. In an entire year. Let the only restriction be the amount of wash you can make per year and spend as much time or as little as you want running it through your own equipment. very simple, with no registration and no license. Your not asking permission to make any alcohol, that is already legal to do. Just make it legal to distill in any way you see fit the beer you are already legally able to produce. the cost of big equipment will prevent the majority of people from going bigger than 15.5. have you ever seen a 15.5 gallon gas tank on a F350 pick-up truck? give me a fu..ing break.

Dan

[rad14701]

You start tryin to convince lawmakers to approve unlimited size boilers and all this hard work is gonna die right then and there!

Just make it legal to distill in any way you see fit the beer you are already legally able to produce. the cost of big equipment will prevent the majority of people from going bigger than 15.5. have you ever seen a 15.5 gallon gas tank on a F350 pick-up truck? give me a fu..ing break.

Dan

What, exactly, does home distillation for personal consumption have to do with an F350 Ford truck...???

[stillin]

You talking logic Dan. Remember you dealing with politicians, all logic goes out the window when you deal with those folks. They're on a different planet than me and you.

[bentstick]

Well here we go Again,Really

[dan]

You start tryin to convince lawmakers to approve unlimited size boilers and all this hard work is gonna die right then and there!

Just make it legal to distill in any way you see fit the beer you are already legally able to produce. the cost of big equipment will prevent the majority of people from going bigger than 15.5. have you ever seen a 15.5 gallon gas tank on a F350 pick-up truck? give me a fu..ing break.

Dan

What, exactly, does home distillation for personal consumption have to do with an F350 Ford truck...???

Nobody tells you what kind of car to drive or how big the gas tank needs to be but you still need a license to drive it. Keep the rules simple and not overly complicated. Why do we need to get specific on the size of boiler? It cant be any bigger than 200 gallons right? If you are going to be specific on the size of boiler then how about specifying what exact type of still to use because some are a lot more complicated than others and you just might need an advanced degree to run one of those fancy ponu stills.

[Brewhaus]

Boiler size is something that the feds want a limit on, mostly because they feel that it will help to separate hobbyists from sellers. In the bill that is currently being discussed the Senator was talking 8 gallons, but we pushed to 15.5 (beer keg size). We needed something that we could give valid reasoning for, and 15.5 gallons is rather simple to defend. Anything larger is much more difficult to give reasons for allowing, as it does get into a level where you can produce enough to sell. We have built equipment for very small start up commercial operations that ran 25 gallon boilers, so it is tough to suggest that a 25 gallon still cannot produce enough for selling. Remember, if we want this legalized then we will have to play on their terms, as they get to make the rules. Trying to play hardball will demolish any hope of getting the law changed, as they will simply refuse to work with us.

Now, on a happier note, the Houston Chronicle has picked up the story that was in the Dallas Morning News today, so the story is definitely spreading!

[bentstick]

Awesome! and it will just be the beginning! News stories will catch on wait until the National news gets wind.
And thank you for the explanation on size of boiler.

[goose eye]

You telling me there some distillery out there
making a living on a 1/2 barrel outfit.
I don't believe it.
Real easy to run the numbers with no suger added.

So I'm Tole

[Brewhaus]

It is also on wn.com (World News Network), but I think they may just post any story submitted by a writer. It is still added exposure, though, and on a very highly ranked news website.

[John Barleycorn]

This sixteen page document that was written by JB could have been said in one or two pages.

*sigh*

Why do you need to register your distillation equipment but not your winery or brewery equipment? More regulation and oversight by the government.

The proposal includes a proposed exemption in "26 USC § 5179 – Registration of stills" ... and includes the various arguments that justify the exemption.

[Jasper]

As you can imagine, we are being overwhelmed today. We are really getting things rolling now- the story was run by the local NBC news today- http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Hobbis ... 84681.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Before I send a press release to the AP (we have a basic 'HDA launch' press release to put out today), does anyone have a suggestion on whether we would be better to contact them with our PR or a link to the newspaper story and NBC story?

Rick

This is all great news, Rick. Thanks for sharing and for pushing so hard.

One quick question/idea, have you contacted the brewing network by any chance?? I know they have a gigantic listener base and i bet they would love to interview you on their show. It would probably be a good way to get further exposure/support from the homebrew community.

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Brewhaus]

I have now contacted them. Thank you for the suggestion!