Statement of Elmer Steingass Supporting SB-102

Summary

A statement of Elmer Steingass supporting SB-102, on homebrewing in Ohio. The statement describes the author as a homebrewer for nearly 25 years and a member of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Governing Committee. It discusses Public Law 95-458 and 27 CFR, Section 25.206, which limits homebrewed beer to 100 gallons per calendar year with one person of legal age residing on the property and 200 gallons with two or more. It states that the Ohio Liquor Law is silent on homebrewing and that a Homebrew Con in Minneapolis, MN in 2017 brought an estimated $3.98 million in economic impact. In closing, it says the author worked six years as a brewer at Hoppin' Frog Brewery in Akron, Ohio.

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                             Statement of Elmer Steingass
                                   Supporting SB-102


My name is Elmer Steingass. I am a constituent of State Senator Kristina Roegner in
the 27th Senate District in Ohio and Scott Wiggam in the 1st House District in Ohio. I am
an avid homebrewer of beer, having done so for nearly 25 years I am a member of the
of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), the national organization for
homebrewing hobbyists, based in Boulder Colorado, and serve on its fifteen-member
Governing Committee. The AHA Governing Committee serves as a portal for
communications between the nearly 40,000 AHA members and the AHA. It also makes
policy suggestions to the AHA staff. I am also a certified beer judge and have judged
numerous competitions around the country over the past 19 years.
As a bit of background, in 1978, Congress enacted Public Law 95-458 (HR 1337) which
amended the Internal Revenue Code to permit the production of homebrewed beer for
personal or family use without the payment of tax. This was signed by President Carter
and is codified in 27 CFR, Section 25.206. It limits the amount of beer that can be
produced by an individual to 100 gallons per calendar year if there is one person of
legal age residing on the private property where the beer is being produced or 200
gallons per calendar year if there are two or more people of legal age residing on the
private property. It also permits the removal, transportation, and serving of the
homemade beer from the premises where it was made for organized affairs, exhibitions,
and competitions such as tastings and judging. Under 27 CFR, Section 24.75, adults
may produce wine for personal or family use in the same amounts as beer. For the
purposes of clarification, mead and cider are considered to be in the same category as
wine. Pursuant to the above referenced federal law many states have amended their
liquor laws to comply with the provisions of this federal law. It should be noted that the
Ohio Liquor Law is silent with regard to all aspects of homebrewing, making the Federal
Law the controlling statute.
Each year, the AHA holds a national convention known as Homebrew Con. This event
rotates to different cities around the U.S and draws in the neighborhood of 3000 AHA
and members to the host city. It also brings in millions of dollars to the economy of the
host city and additional tax revenue to the state’s coffers. For example, the recent
conference held in Minneapolis, MN in 2017 brought in and estimated $3.98 million in
economic impact with an estimated $186,000 in state tax revenue and $100,000 in local
tax revenue. There are also various homebrewing competitions held around the country
so that homebrewers can get important feedback on their beer, ciders, and meads. It
should be noted that events such as Homebrew Con, which normally hosts the final
round of the yearly National Homebrewing Competition, is closed to the general public.
One must be a member of the AHA to attend Homebrew Con. Furthermore, all other
homebrewing competitions are restricted to beer judges, stewards, and staff running the
competition and are closed to the general public.
Ohio has held three Homebrew Con events in the past: Cincinnati in 1989, Cleveland in
1997, and most recently again in Cincinnati in 2008. The 2008 Cincinnati event was
almost cancelled at the last minute due to an issue with the Ohio Department of Liquor
Control (ODL) who raised concerns about transporting and serving untaxed alcohol at
the event, even though it was an event that was not open to the general public (a
person has to be an AHA member to attend Homebrew Con) and despite the fact that
this was permitted under Federal Law. They required a special liquor permit to be
issued for the event and the ODL very nearly didn’t issue it once the AHA and the event
coordinators agreed to purchase the permit. SB-102 resolves this issue by eliminating
the permitting requirements for closed events like those mentioned above. This would
also open the door for holding another Homebrew Con in Ohio in near future and we are
eyeing Cleveland again as the possible venue for the event. A Homebrew Con in Ohio
will not be possible unless we amend the current liquor law to permit this event to
happen.
I would note that SB-102 is revenue neutral. It imposes no financial burden on the State
of Ohio, Ohio taxpayers, or the ODL. It will however permit organized events like a
future Homebrew Con to take place in Ohio which will generate substantial local and
state tax revenues from things like hotels and merchants. Furthermore, all
homebrewing competitions are self-funding through the entry fees and require no
monetary support from state or local entities.
In closing, many homebrewers eventually work their way into the professional field. I
worked for six years as a brewer at Hoppin’ Frog Brewery in Akron, Ohio. One of the
homebrewing clubs I belong to has had at least seven brewers move up to the
professional ranks and open their own breweries. These homebrewers, and I include
myself here, made their decisions to do so following feedback they received from their
peers at various competitions held around the country. Amending the Ohio Liquor Law
to codify what is permitted by the federal statute that legalized homebrewing will allow
others to make sound decisions on a pro brewing career through feedback they receive
from legal Ohio homebrewing competitions and conventions


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