Dec 15, 2021

Homebrew Laws By State: Can I Make Beer?

Protect yourself by familiarizing yourself with the homebrew laws by state.

Nowadays, everyone seems to want to DIY everything. After all, you can learn how to do almost anything yourself with the help of the internet! Many want to flex their skills and learn how to make their own beer. After all, you probably have sampled enough lagers and ale in your past to know what would make a great recipe!

Many people enjoy homebrewing because it is a great way to save money and make your own beer. You can even make wine at home as well! But what about the legality of making your own alcohol? In this blog post, we will talk about how you can legally homebrew in different states across the US.

Alabama: In Alabama, it is legal to homebrew as long as you are not distilling your own alcohol. You can find more information on the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau website.

Alaska: Alaska is one of the most homebrew-friendly states in the US. It is legal to homebrew without any restrictions, and there are no limits on how much beer you can make for personal consumption.

Arizona: Arizona has some pretty relaxed homebrew laws- it is legal to brew up to 200 gallons per year for personal consumption. You do not need a license or permit to homebrew in Arizona.

Arkansas: Arkansas also has very lax homebrewing laws- you can legally up to 100 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption without a license or permit.

California: In California, you can homebrew up to 100 gallons of beer per year without a license or permit. However, you must be 21 years or older to homebrew in the state.

Colorado: Colorado has some pretty relaxed homebrewing laws- it is legal to brew up to 200 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption, and there are no restrictions on the type of beer that you can make. You do not need a license or permit to homebrew in Colorado.

Connecticut: Connecticut also has very lax homebrewing laws- it is legal to brew any amount of beer for personal use without a license or permit.

Delaware: Delaware does not have any specific homebrewing laws, but you must follow federal law.

District of Columbia: No tax shall be levied and collected on any alcoholic beverage exempt from tax under the laws of the United States, or on any alcohol sold for nonbeverage purposes by the licensee under a manufacturer's or wholesaler's license in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Council.

Florida: Florida does not have any homebrewing restrictions on the books- it is legal to brew up to 200 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption without obtaining a license or permit.

However, there are some requirements that you need to keep in mind if you are going to be brewing at home.

You must use potable water from either your own supply or bottled spring water for all steps involving heated liquid (mash and sparge).
You will also want an alcohol stove with a low BTU rating so as not to overheat the wort during the process.

Georgia: Georgia has some homebrewing restrictions- it is legal to brew up to 100 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption, and you must be 21 years or older to homebrew. You also need a license from the state in order to homebrew commercially.

Hawaii: Hawaii does not have any specific homebrewing laws, but you must follow federal law.

Idaho: Idaho has some relaxed homebrewing laws- it is legal to brew any amount of beer without obtaining a license or permit. However, you may only use malt beverages in your brewing process (no wine or spirits).

Illinois: Illinois allows residents to homebrew up to 15 gallons of beer per year without a license or permit. Commercial brewers in Illinois are allowed to make up to 30,000 gallons of beer per year.

Indiana: Indiana has some homebrewing restrictions- it is legal to brew up to 200 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption without a license or permit.

However, there are some guidelines:

You must be 21 years or older in order to homebrew in the state
You may only use starch based materials (no malt extract) during the brewing process
You also have to keep any equipment used for home brewing locked out from minors at all times

Iowa: Iowa does not have any specific homebrewing laws, but you must follow federal law.

Kansas: In Kansas, it is illegal to homebrew with anything other than malted barley or cereal grains as long as no spirits or hard alcohols are included in your recipe. You must also be 21 years or older to homebrew in the state.

Kentucky: Kentucky has some relaxed homebrewing laws- it is legal to brew any amount of beer without obtaining a license or permit. However, you may only use malt beverages in your brewing process (no wine or spirits). Commercial brewers are limited to producing 30,000 barrels per year.

Louisiana: Louisiana does not have any specific homebrewing laws, but you must follow federal law.

Maine: Maine allows residents to homebrew up to 200 gallons of beer per year without a license or permit. Commercial brewers are allowed to make up to 60,000 gallons of beer per year for sale.

Maryland: Maryland does not have any specific homebrewing laws, but you must follow federal law.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts has extremely relaxed homebrewing laws- it is legal to brew any amount of beer per year for personal consumption without a license or permit.

Commercial brewers are limited to producing 30,000 barrels per year in the state.

Michigan: Michigan does not have any specific homebrewing restrictions on the books- it is legal to make your own beer with no limitations as long as you do not sell what you produce. You also need a brewing license if you plan on selling your homemade beers in the state of Michigan (which costs only $25).

Minnesota: Minnesota does not have any specific homebrewing restrictions on books- it is legal to make your own beer with no limitations.

Mississippi: Mississippi has some homebrewing restrictions-

It is legal to brew up to 60 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption
You must be 21 years or older in order to homebrew.
You also need a license from the state in order to homebrew commercially.

Missouri: Missouri allows residents to homebrew any amount of beer without a license or permit. Commercial brewers are allowed to make up to 30,000 barrels per year for sale.

Montana: Montana does not have any specific homebrewing laws on books, but you must follow federal law.

Nebraska: Nebraska has some relaxed homebrewing laws- it is legal to brew any amount of beer without obtaining a license or permit. However, you must be 21 years or older in order to homebrew and may only use malt beverages (no wine) during the brewing process.

Nevada: Nevada allows residents to homebrew up to 100 gallons of beer per year if they are over 18 years old without having to obtain any kind of permit or license for personal consumption purposes.

Commercial brewers are allowed unlimited production so long as their breweries sell less than 40,000 barrels annually- this includes all establishments that produce alcohol on site regardless of sales volume .

New Hampshire: New Hampshire allows residents to homebrew up to 100 gallons of beer per year without a license or permit for personal consumption purposes. You must also follow federal law while brewing at home in the state of New Hampshire.

Commercial brewers are allowed unlimited production so long as their breweries sell less than 60,000 barrels annually- this includes all establishments that produce alcohol on site regardless of sales volume .

New Jersey: In New Jersey, it's not legal for residents under 21 years old and over 16 years old to brew any amount of beer for personal use without obtaining a license from the state first. Commercial brewers have no production limits in.

North Carolina: In North Carolina, anyone over 21 years old can legally brew any amount of beer per year for personal use with no restrictions.

Commercial brewers have an annual production limit set at 25,000 barrels and may only manufacture malt beverages for sale- no wine or spirits.

North Dakota: In North Dakota, homebrewing laws are more relaxed than most other states - it is not illegal at all (no license required) to produce any amount of malt beverages per year in the state of North Dakota so long as they remain on site and can only be consumed by people over 21 years old.

Commercial brewers have an annual production cap set at 20,000 barrels and may manufacture malt beverages and/or unfortified wines for off site sales.

Ohio: In Ohio, you must also follow federal law while homebrewing in Ohio, which is legal without any permits or licensing.

Commercial brewers are allowed unlimited production so long as their breweries sell less than 31 million barrels of beer annually- this includes all establishments that produce alcohol on site regardless of sales volume .

Oklahoma: In Oklahoma, you must also follow federal law while homebrewing in Oklahoma, where anyone over 21 years old can legally brew any amount of malt beverages per year for personal use with no restrictions . Commercial brewers have an annual production cap set at 200,000 barrels and may manufacture malt beverages and/or unfortified wines for off site sales.

Oregon: You must also follow federal law while brewing at home in Oregon, where homebrewing is legal without any permits or licenses.

Commercial brewers are allowed unlimited production so long as their breweries sell less than 20 million barrels of beer annually- this includes all establishments that produce alcohol on site regardless of sales volume .

Pennsylvania: In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for residents under 21 years old and over 16 years old to homebrew any amount of beer for personal use without obtaining a license from the state first. Commercial brewers have no production limits in Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island: has some relaxed homebrewing laws - it is legal to brew any amount of wine or malt beverages per year for personal consumption purposes without a license nor permit .

Commercial brewers have an annual production cap set at 200,000 barrels and may manufacture malt beverages for off site sales.

South Carolina: It is legal to make your own beer in South Carolina without obtaining a license or permit- this includes homebrewing up to 100 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption purposes only. You must also follow federal law while brewing in the state of South Carolina.

Commercial brewers are allowed unlimited production so long as their breweries sell less than 60 million barrels annually- this includes all establishments that produce alcohol on site regardless of sales volume .

Tennessee: It is illegal for residents under 21 years old and over 16 years old to homebrew any amount of beer for personal use without obtaining a license from the state first in Tennessee. Commercial brewers have no production limits in Tennessee.

Texas: There are some relaxed homebrewing laws in Texas. It is legal to brew up to 100 gallons of beer per year for personal consumption purposes without a license . You must also follow federal law while homebrewing in Texas.

Commercial brewers are allowed unlimited production so long as their breweries sell less than 125 million barrels annually- this includes all establishments that produce alcohol on site regardless of sales volume .

Utah: has some relaxed homebrewing laws - it is not illegal at all (no license required) to produce any amount of wine or malt beverages per year for personal consumption purposes.

Commercial brewers are allowed production up to 60,000 barrels a year with no restrictions on the number of off site sales.

Vermont: It is legal to make your own beer in Vermont without any permits or licenses- this includes homebrewing up to 200 gallons of beer per year. You must also follow federal law while brewing in Vermont.

Commercial brewers are allowed unlimited production so long as their breweries sell less than 15 million barrels annually- this includes all establishments that produce alcohol on site regardless of sales volume .

Virginia: It is illegal for residents under 21 years old and over 16 years old to homebrew any amount of beer for personal use without obtaining a license from the state first in Virginia. Commercial brewers have no production limits in Virginia.

Washington State: There are some relaxed homebrewing laws in Washington State. It is legal to brew any amount of wine or malt beverages per year for personal consumption purposes without a license . You must also follow federal law while homebrewing in Washington State.

In Wisconsin, it is illegal for residents under 21 years old and over 12 years old to homebrew any amount of beer for personal use without obtaining a license from the state first. Commercial brewers have no production limits in Wisconsin.

West Virginia: It is legal to make your own beer in West Virginia without obtaining a permit or license- this includes homebrewing up to 100 gallons of beer per year and 200 gallons if you're over 21 years old .

Wyoming: It's not illegal at all (no license required) to produce any amount of wine or malt beverages per year for personal consumption purposes in Wyoming. Commercial brewers are allowed production up to 60,000 barrels a year with no restrictions on the number of off site sales.