I would like to see some agreement with the shipping companies ( Fedex, UPS ) the relax the restrictions on shipping beer for competitions. Also, maybe a deal could be struck with them for contracted shipping rates at a discount.
AFAIK, we have talked to private shippers and they didn’t show much interest becasue the volume was so small they wouldn’t make much money on it. While I don’t think that avenue has been ruled out, I believe that at this point the focus is on legislative changes.
I agree - my use of the word “dithering” was one better suited for conversation and not the written word. It has a derogatory inference, and I did not mean to imply the By Laws were unimportant. I did qualify that it was valuable work, but in my opinion (and I am not speaking for the AHA GC, just myself), other issues at the time required greater attention. The old BOA was combining and becoming the BA, and the focus was appropriatly shifted to actions that assisted in making the AHA a healthier organization.
My apologies for my choice of words. But I also stand by my contention that the priorities we shifted to were more important. I have read and re-read the AHA GC By-Laws probably more times than most, as it provides me with direction, and serves as a reminder to what is expected from those of us who serve on the GC.
Uh oh! 
Posted on FACEBOOK “The Old West regional database has been processed; four regions remain in the processing queue (South, Great Lakes, Northeast, and Canada). It takes 3 to 4 hours to process each database for the winners list. Good luck!” I think you need to approve a faster computer for Janis… ;D
Actually, I think Janis needs another Janis!
How about getting it legalized to transport wort that has had yeast pitched to it, having no or little krauzen, with a measurable specific gravity of at least 1.040. As I understand it once any yeast is pitched its illegal to transport in any state. It might make things nice for some people that like to brew together and split batches or teach people etc.
No reply on that eh? Why is there a law regarding wort thats had yeast pitched to it in the first place… it can’t be any worse than transporting alcohol and we do that everytime we make a beer run. 
Is there a law? I’ve heard anecdotal evidence, but never seen an actual law quoted. It seems a bit hard to believe, since right after pitching yeast there isn’t any alcohol. And if there is a law, why not just wait til you get home to pitch?
I don’t believe it’s an issue in transporting, and I haven’t see the law.
but I do think it is related to licensed establishments “giving” away non-taxed beer. Wort is no problem.
In Michigan I have been told that it is legally beer once the yeast is pitched.
+1, I’ve heard or read it, not only Michigan but all states.
Not the case in Virginia. The exact definitions are…
“Alcoholic beverages” includes alcohol, spirits, wine, and beer, and any one or more of such varieties containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, including mixed alcoholic beverages, and every liquid or solid, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine, or beer and capable of being consumed by a human being.
“Beer” means any alcoholic beverage obtained by the fermentation of an infusion or decoction of barley, malt, and hops or of any similar products in drinkable water and containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume.
…so you’d have to wait a while after yeast pitching before it could be defined as “beer”.
That’s what I’ve heard, too, and what Dean is referring to. But I’ve never actually seen the law to read it for myself. In addition, as I mentioned, there isn’t any alcohol at that point. It’s certainly possible that it is a law, but it’s also kinda shaping up to be an urban legend.
The definitions are probably different from state to state and county to county. Perhaps the local governing website will shed some light on this issue.
You may be right about that Denny. But, using the definitions that Hokerer found, how would a person prove the alcohol level is less than the specified amount to be considered an alcoholic beverage if you were pulled over and questioned? The only way I could think of and was why I posted a minimum specific gravity (pick a number 1.0XX). Yeh, it too could still have alcohol content but most finished beers are below 1.036 even if you include the really big boys.
Dean, I’d think the burden of proof would be on the one prosecuting, not the defendant. In other words, they’d have to prove there was alcohol, not that you’d have to prove there wasn’t. But IANAL.
A single specific gravity will never conclusively tell you anything. Without a before and an after, there’s no way to know. If you’re saying if it measures less than 1.036, it’s got alcohol, what about unpitched worts for a Mild or a 60/- or a whatever. Plenty of styles below that number. If you then try and lower that number to account for those, then the “really big boys” suddenly don’t have alcohol (by the FG test) even though they actually have the most alcohol. A single gravity number as a criteria just doesn’t work.
I would like the AHA to provide guidance for sponsoring charity events that provide homebrew.
I’d like to be able to ship bottles to the NHC (or any competition for that matter) without having to lie about the contents, or feel like I’m doing something illegal.
I agree, that would be great. I don’t know how realistic it is to expect the AHA to be aware of every local regulation, but if it could be done, it would sure be a help.
The AHA is hard at work on that and it keeps getting closer. I hope we’ll have good news before long.