Ohio Updates and Clarifies its Homebrew Laws

Chad on January 19, 2022

By Pete Johnson, Brewers Association

With the Governor’s signature, Senate Bill 102 has become law (effective March 22, 2022) and represents a significant win for Ohio homebrewers.

Although the legislation addresses a variety of alcohol issues, those relevant to home brewing include the following:

Allows a homebrewer to brew or ferment homemade beer or wine without obtaining a liquor permit if specified conditions apply.
Allows a homebrewer to serve homemade beer or wine for personal consumption to the home brewer’s family, neighbors, co-workers, and friends on private property, and at certain events without a liquor permit.
Allows a person to conduct, sponsor, or host a homebrewing event if the person:
- Is a homebrewer or fraternal organization that does not hold a valid liquor permit and hosts the event on private property or the premises of the fraternal organization; or
- Is a small brewery, winery, microdistillery, club, or a restaurant associated with a winery, microdistillery, or small brewery and the person hosts the event on the permitted premises.

Prohibits a person who is hosting the event from taking certain actions, including selling any homemade beer or wine.
Exempts a liquor permit holder that hosts an event for home brewers from the restrictions on the interrelationship between alcoholic beverage manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
Exempts a person with an opened container of homemade beer or wine that is served on private property or at a home brewing event from the Open Container Law.