OLCC Response on Homebrew Competitions

I noticed a post this morning on the OLCC’s official blog (www.olccblog.blogspot.com), explaining the agency’s new stance on homebrew competitions. Here is the post in its entirety.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission was recently asked whether certain public competitions involving home made alcohol products were in compliance with the law. We provided guidance to the State Fair and other licensees which stated that such competitions were not authorized because they did not fall within the requirements of this statute ORS 471.403 clearly states that the Liquor Control Act (including the requirement for a liquor license) applies except for beer “brewed in the home for home consumption and not for sale”.

In consultation with the Department of Justice, we have received an initial analysis of the statute regulating home brewing (ORS 471.403) which also indicates that the law only allows for consumption of home brews in the home. The home brewers lose their exemption to craft brew without a license when the home brew is consumed outside of the home.

The Department of Justice’s guidance certainly requires us to look at the competitions in a different way than we have before. It’s completely understandable that home beer and wine makers would be disappointed. We know how important the home brew and wine competitions are for artisans and professional hopefuls. We expect a final analysis from the Department of Justice next week. Although we are hopeful that there may be some other way of interpreting this statute to allow these events to continue, we anticipate that the initial analysis will stand.

The OLCC is already working with Representative Mike Schaufler and Senator Floyd Prozanski to draft language for legislative consideration in the next session.

We ask that those people who are concerned with this issue help us gain support and cooperation from the legislature to get the law revised and in effect in time for next summer’s fair season.

It looks like the OLCC wants to make sure we know it was the Department of Justice and not them that took away our homebrew competitions.

Small jab aside, I’m going to take Denny’s advice and stay positive. As of now, there is no reason to believe the issue will not get resolved in an amicable fashion, even if it doesn’t happen as quickly as we all would like. After all, the wheels of change are slow and all that bosh.

Right now, it looks like a resolution next summer is the most realistic scenario. So, my suggestion is to start brewing your Barley Wines, RIS, Flanders Reds, Oud Bruins and Lambics now. By the time competitions are re-legalized, we should all have some fantastic, well-aged brews to enter.

Cheers!
Kevin