Is Home Brewing Legal?

Sometimes when you hear of someone doing something a bit "shady" out of their home, your first question might be whether or not what they're doing is actually legal.  For instance, when you hear of someone exploring hydroponics gardening, or growing vegetation indoors in a water solution rather than outdoors in soil, you may immediately wonder if they're growing something illegal.  When you hear of someone interested in home brewing, you might ask the same types of questions.  As it is, there are many people who use hydroponics gardening for just a hobby, or for homeschool projects.  There's nothing wrong with it in of itself.  The same could be said for home brewing.  Making your own beer or wine out of your house is not illegal, except in just one or two areas of the country that don't allow it.

For example, in Alabama there is actually a law against owning and using apparatus for the sole purpose of home brewing alcoholic beverages.  This seems like a strange law since there are actually many stores that operate in the state of Alabama that specifically offer home brewing equipment and supplies.  So it would seem that Alabama's law is one of those odd laws that is not respected or enforced, however, it's never recommended that one flaunt even the strangest and seemingly most outdated law there is.

Most states allow home brewing of up to 100 gallons of beer per person over the age of 21 in the household, with a 200 gallon limit.  If you're very unsure of the laws in your own local area, you do well to check with your country clerk's office or local police department.

Note too that it is absolutely illegal to allow anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol at all, and to have that person help you in the process of home brewing.  This means even if they live under your roof and are on your property at the time.  This also applies to those outside your family as well.  Never let your kid's friends or kids from the neighborhood anywhere near your home brewing project, and definitely don't even allow samples or taste tests.

And of course you need to be mindful of driving or operating a car when you're testing your home brewing product.  Even sitting in your own driveway with the keys in the ignition just listening to the radio can be considered operating a vehicle, so be careful! 

Most people who take up home brewing as a hobby are just looking for a fun and interesting way to create a product, just like someone that loves to cook or bake.  They're not drunks or alcoholics, and don't typically overindulge even when they have gallons and gallons of homemade beer at their disposal.  The law recognizes this and is therefore lenient with those pursuing this hobby.  So yes, for the most part, home brewing is legalwith just a few restrictions and exceptions, so go ahead and indulge!