Legality Question - Releasing a small batch to a bar

Jim is pretty awesome, call and get his email for sure. Then let us know what happens and where we can go drink the beer!

 

Just read this interview with Lauren Salazar and she mentions using Home Plate Stout in a few upcoming blends for GABF

http://embracethefunk.com/2012/06/26/lauren-salazar-of-new-belgium-qa/

 

Where was it suppose to be brewed?

 

Holy shit, we had no idea!

Thanks!

 

I'm sure all this depends on what state you're in, and there are some odd laws out there, most of them having to do with the three tier system.

For example, I know that here in California, breweries can do special one-off releases to bars... but they can't advertise them. This results in all kinds of weirdness, like during beer festivals, the breweries can put up a picture on their Facebook page of the tap list of a given bar, so you know that their such-and-such beer is available at the place, but they can't say "We'll be on hand at Joe's Bar pouring our rare barrel-aged blahbetty blah." Or at least that's what one of the brewery guys told me. It has to do with the three-tier thing of breweries not being able to market off-site to the general public. So who knows... there's all kinds of weird rules out there. Welcome to the land of the free.

 

did you get the other prizes offered, the Red Sox tickets and the swag?

 

When you become a rich and famous brewer don't forget the little people.

 

Great reading on this thread. I hope you get the publicity that you deserve. Congrats on the win.

The ending "this was your first competition" is way cool! I've been homebrewing for 10-12 years and never entered any competition. I've thought about it a few times, but that's it.

 

Beginner's Luck!

I kid, congrats on winning the contest.

I hope to enjoy one of your beers one of these days, cheers!

 

I don't see how this would be illegal. I bet they have a small pilot system they can make a bunch of kegs with and it would be like brewing any other new beer. Wormtown did this exact thing for a homebrew competition last year: http://www.wormtownbrewery.com/blog/?p=734

 

I just bottled a Maibock two weeks ago (yeah, May has come and gone... I'm late), and am thinking about my next brew. No decision yet. If I were to enter a competition I'd consider doing it with this Maibock. It's the third time I've brewed it because I really like it, and it is well liked by everyone else who gets any of it.

 

Don't waste time with Underlings!

 

They should throw it in the long shot mixed pack.

 

How important is this to you? It sounds to me that you would have a legitimate cause of action against Boston Beer Company and Jacob Wirth. If they don't resolve the issue for you, you should consider hiring an attoney.