Is it legal to brew beer at home in Australia?
In Australia, it is legal to produce beer, wine, or cider for personal use without requiring a license. Excise manufacturer licenses are granted for free by the ATO.
How To Brew Beer At Home?
To brew beer at home, you need malt (brewing sugar from malted barley), water (Australia’s water quality is ideal for brewing), and sanitized equipment and ingredients. A homebrew kit contains malt extract, hop oils, and yeast sachets.
Homebrewing Regulations and Process
- The Craft Brew Kit is designed to make 8.5 liters of beer using a 1.3kg Craft Brew can.
- Most states permit homebrewing up to 100 US gallons of beer per adult per year.
- Home brewers in Australia can produce up to 50 liters of beer per week for personal use.
- To sell beer, a Producers/Wholesalers Licence is required.
- Some countries prohibit homebrewing due to alcohol prohibitions or to protect commercial breweries.
Brewing Beer and its Rebirth
- In the US and the UK, there is a resurgence in craft and micro-brewing sectors despite beer sales decline.
- There has been a significant growth in breweries in the UK from 142 to 1,285 between 1980 and 2014.
- Beer has a rich history with various cultures independently inventing it through alcoholic fermentation of starch sources.
Breweries Around the World
- Cities like New York are marking their presence in the craft beer scene.
- Zahra Tabatabai in New York tries to revive her family’s brewing roots from Iran.
- Anchor Brewing offers a diverse beer menu, including unique flavors like Strom Chaser.
Evolution of Brewing Industry
Despite taxation and legislation, brewing has evolved from a commercial operation to a popular hobby in the UK, Australia, and the US.