'Glitch' cancels homebrew contest at state fair
EUGENE, Ore. - Home brewers in Oregon are reacting to the news that the state is putting a stop to the homebrew beer and winemaking competitions at this year's Oregon State Fair.
The competition has been held for more than 20 years, but an old state law forbids judges from tasting amateur beer.
At the Home Fermenter Center on Monroe Street in Eugene, Jim Stockton said they've been selling home brewing supplies for more than 30 years.
"Home brewing has always been a big hobby here in the Willamette Valley," he said. Stockton has also been a judge at the state fair competition over the years and said the cancellation surprised him.
KVAL News went to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission office in Eugene to ask why, since the law has been on the books for about 30 years, they are interpreting it differently now.
"The law came up as a result of, I believe, it was Parks and Recreation had a question that was presented to the Department of Justice," OLCC inspector Mark Jaehnig said. "The Department of Justice came to us for clarification and under the statute, we found that home brewing is specific to staying at home. The law says home brews can not be available to the public and are not for serving the public."
They also discovered that the judges are considered 'the public."
"That's where the glitch came in," he said.
The homebrew competitions have been canceled at all state and county fairs this year. When asked if it's OK for someone brewing beer at home to serve it to people in the neighborhood, Jaehnig said, "I think that the law provides for that. I don't think that you're going to find the OLCC is going to be knocking on doors to determine whether or not you're having a neighbor over to taste test your product."
The law also puts a stop to wine-making competitions.
Jaenig said the phones have been ringing off the hook at the OLCC.
He said he expects lawmakers will be considering changes to the law. "I think that there will, in the future, be a clear distinction between the judges and the public," he said.
He thinks Oregon will see some changes in the law made by the time the state fair rolls around in 2011.
