Alcohol has been brewed domestically throughout its 7,000-year history beginning in Mesopotamia, Egypt and China. Knowledge of brewing beer and wine was passed on from the Egyptians to the Greeks and finally to the Romans.
Mass production of brewed beverages began in the 1700s with the Industrial Revolution. New innovations, like thermometers and hydrometers, allowed increases in efficiency. French microbiologist Louis Pasteur explained the role of yeast in fermentation in 1857, allowing brewers to develop strains of yeast with desirable properties (conversion efficiency, ability to handle higher alcohol content).
While the sale or consumption of commercial alcohol was never prohibited in the UK, throughout the first half of the twentieth century, as it was in the USA, homebrewing was circumscribed by taxation and prohibition. People did however need to purchase a home brewing license.
Home winemaking
In the UK, on April 1963, the UK, removed the need for the 1880 brewing license. Australia followed suit in 1972.
In 1920, the United States outlawed the manufacture and consumption of alcoholic beverages "for beverage purposes." As a result of this prohibition breweries, vineyards, and distilleries across the United States were closed down or placed into service making malt for non-alcoholic purposes.
When prohibition was repealed, home wine-making was legalized, however a clerical error omitted the words "and/or beer" from the document which was eventually passed into law so homebrewing remained illegal until 1978 when Congress passed a bill repealing Federal restrictions on the homebrewing of small amounts of beer. However, the bill left individual states free to pass their own laws limiting production.
Brewing culture
There are many reasons for homebrewing. It can be cheaper than buying commercially made liquor. The brewer can adjust a recipe to their own tastes or create flavors not otherwise available or adjust the calories and create something less fattening. Some people even enjoy participating in competitions to test their skill and creativity.
Europe
Many countries in Europe allow home brewing of wine and liquor as long as it is created for private use and not sold to the public. Some require licenses and some don’t.
North America
US States remain free to restrict, or even prohibit, the manufacture of beer, mead, hard cider, wine and other alcoholic beverages at home. For example, Ala. Code § 28-1-1 addresses the illegal manufacture of alcoholic beverages in Alabama, and no other provision of Alabama law provides an exception for personal use brewing. Interestingly, several homebrew stores operate in Alabama, so the status of homebrewing as an enforcement priority with the Alabama Alcoholic Control Board is unknown.
However, most states permit homebrewing, allowing 100 gallons of beer per person over the age of 21 per year and up to a maximum of 200 gallons per household annually when there are two or more adults residing in the household. Although how much produced by a private individual is usually impossible to calculate. Because alcohol is taxed by the federal governments when sold, homebrewers are restricted from selling any beer they brew. This similarly applies in most Western countries.
Canada
Making beer for home consumption is legal in most Canadian provinces. Liquor laws are regulated provincially, while the federal government has laws about taxation and importation of beer, wine and other liquors. There are also restrictions on selling homebrews.
Australia and New Zealand
In Australia individuals may manufacture their own alcohol without paying excise provided that they do not employ the use of a still. Permission is required to own a still larger than 5 liters, regardless of whether it is being used to produce alcohol. To operate any size still for the production of alcohol (even for personal use) requires an excise manufacturing license and excise must be paid at the rate of approximately $65 per liter of alcohol produced. It appears that they are trying to prevent someone from creating a larger operation and thus preventing them from creating enough to distribute.
New Zealand lifted the ban on home distilling in 1996, and it is now legal to distill spirits for your own consumption. Homebrewing and winemaking are both legal as well. It is still illegal to supply or sell any alcoholic beverage without the appropriate license.
South Africa
In South Africa individuals may produce an unlimited quantity of fermented beverages at home. They are not permitted to sell these beverages or give them to staff.
Singapore & Hong Kong
Homebrewing in Singapore and Hong Kong is legal without a license within limits.
Japan
The legality of homebrewing in Japan is a grey area. Technically it is legal to homebrew up to 1% alcohol only - but high street store Tokyu Hands and various internet suppliers sell homebrewing equipment and kits with instructions translated to Japanese detailing how to make beer with much higher alcohol levels.
Brew Your Own
Beer, like everything is going up in price. Buying a six pack can really start to be expensive. As can imported lagers and other beers. Why put up with that? You can save money by brewing your own.
Many stores and mail order companies sell kits and the ingredients you need to get started.
