Brewers Notice
A brewers notice is the TTB registration required for any business engaged in the production of beer or other malt beverages in the United States, authorizing the brewer to produce at a specific premises.
In Plain English
A brewers notice is the beer equivalent of a DSP for spirits or a bonded winery for wine. Any business that brews beer in the United States must file a brewers notice with the TTB before beginning production. Unlike basic permits for spirits and wine, brewers notices are technically registrations rather than permits, but they serve the same gatekeeping function. The application requires information about the brewery premises, equipment, ownership, and planned production volumes. Brewers notices have specific tax brackets based on production volume, with reduced rates for smaller producers thanks to the Craft Beverage Modernization Act. The number of active brewers notices has exploded from around 1,400 in 2005 to over 9,000, reflecting the massive growth of the craft beer industry.
Technical Detail
Brewers notices are authorized under 26 U.S.C. 5401 and regulated under 27 CFR Part 25. The application (TTB Form 5130.10, Brewer's Notice) requires: brewer identification, premises description, equipment and process description, and estimated annual production volume. Brewers notices use the format "BR-XX-NNNNN" for identification. Tax rates vary by production volume: the first 60,000 barrels for qualifying brewers are taxed at a reduced rate. Brewers must maintain records of production, inventory, and tax payments. Unlike spirits producers, brewers are not required to post a bond if their expected annual tax liability is below a threshold (currently $50,000 under CBMA provisions). Brewers notices are specific to a premises and must be amended for location changes.
Why It Matters
Brewers notices track the health and growth of the American brewing industry. New brewers notice filings indicate new breweries opening, while cancellations may indicate closures. For equipment suppliers, ingredient providers, and brewing consultants, new brewers notices represent early-stage prospects. The production volume associated with a brewers notice helps classify a brewery as a microbrewery, regional, or large-scale operation, which is useful for targeting appropriate services.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Do homebrew operations need a brewers notice?
No. Federal law allows individuals to brew beer at home for personal consumption without a brewers notice (up to 100 gallons per adult per year in a household, maximum 200 gallons). A brewers notice is only required for commercial production.
Can a brewery also distill spirits?
Not under a brewers notice alone. Distilling spirits requires a separate DSP permit. A business can hold both a brewers notice and a DSP at the same or different locations, but each activity requires its own authorization.
How long does it take to get a brewers notice?
Brewers notice processing times vary but are generally faster than basic permits for spirits or wine. The TTB has worked to streamline the process for small brewers. Typical processing can take 45-90 days, though this varies based on application complexity and TTB workload.