Brewing beer in HK?

[Malanna]

Hi I'll be moving from Australia to HK in Jan. One of my hobbies here in Oz is brewing my own beer using a keg and bottle system. I'm concerned that the temp. + humdity will proclude me from continuing to do so in HK. Has anyone had experience of brewing beer in HK? Is it worth bringing my equipment with me?

Thanks

[jayinhongkong]

Not sure if homebrewing is legal here. I have visited the Hong Kong Brewery, but I guess they have the equipment to control their brewing environment (too bad their beer sucks). If you manage to brew some here and your beer's any good, I'd love to try some

[Krad]

Pretty sure homebrewing is legal, but I don't think you'll get very good results. Humidity and temperature are high, you're going to have problems regulating temp, and the water quality in HK is not ideal, so you'd have to end up filtering pretty heavily or using bottled.

But let us know how it works, would be interested to see what comes out.

[jayinhongkong]

http://www.customs.gov.hk/eng/major_...brewing_e.html

Hong Kong's water is actually pretty soft compared to most places in the world. I recommend a Brita filter to remove solids and chlorine.

[cb1118]

hmmm...it is a free city. so you can pretty do much what you like to do for your hobby.

I personally study how to make "fruit wine".
it sounds like you are already professional at brewing beer.
so I think you won't have problem doing it.

however, finding materials are very difficult.
there is no way to import materials from the USA due to anti-terrorist laws"
(not allowing to export any chemical to individuals)

and it's very difficult to find the required materials from China since you are not the locals and very hard for you to talk to someone in the "wine/beer forums" in China web sites....(all are in chinese)

good luck to youi!

[Boris]

There is a remedy to the temp and humidity problem . Its called air con !!!!
With this magic aid to production your brew should be perfect every time.

[Skyhook]

G'day Malanna,

Bring the essential items that are required to brew your beer, buy the large items like the 1 gallon containers though, as you can buy them here anyway.

Set up a spare bedroom with all your beer making aparatus assembled, and leave the 1hp room airconditioner on with the door shut until your beer has gone through its fermentation stages, prior to bottling.

I find it hard to believe that brewing your own beer for your own consumption is illegal, I am sure I've heard about beer brewing supply shops located in central.

Go for it mate.

[jayinhongkong]

Legal Requirements for Home Brewing


In accordance with the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance 2000 with effect from 28 July 2000, you are allowed to perform home brewing without a licence provided that :-



your age is 18 or over;
the manufacture of liquor is not by distillation and not for sale;
the manufacture of liquor is in premises which are used by you exclusively as your place of residence and which constitute a separate household unit;
at any particular point of time, you do not keep or are not in possession, anywhere in Hong Kong, of liquor purported to be manufactured from home brewing of a total quantity exceeding 50 litres;
at any particular point of time, a total quantity exceeding 50 litres of liquor purported to be manufactured from home brewing should not be kept in any premises where home-brewed liquor is made; and
the liquor so manufactured, unless for immediate consumption, is stored in sealed containers marked legibly the words "Home Brewed, Not for Sale" or words to the same effect.


For the purpose of home brewing in any premises conducted in accordance with the above conditions, you are allowed without a licence to possess in those premises any utensil or apparatus, other than a still or part of a still, for manufacturing the liquor, together with fermenting or fermented materials not exceeding 60 litres.
Subject to all the above requirements for home brewing, you are also not required to pay duty on the liquor so manufactured.

Please be reminded that in contravention of the requirements for home brewing, you will be liable to prosecution and the liquor manufactured will then not be exempt from duty.

Further enquiries on home brewing

[cb1118]

G'day Malanna,


I find it hard to believe that brewing your own beer for your own consumption is illegal, I am sure I've heard about beer brewing supply shops located in central.

Go for it mate.

Hi Skyhook,

can you tell me where is the brewing supply shops in Central?
thx.


whether it is legal or not....I think there is no way someone has time to check every household about brewing or wine making.
besides, one must experience this before mastering the process, so home brewing is an essential part of the learning.

as long as one is doing it for his own use, it should be ok (there is no commercial value to the results)

[reinkarnation]

found that coopers exports to singapore, taiwan and china but sadly not hong kong.

ibrew.com.sg the singapore branch, but i'd guess the delivery fees will be higher then the actual items.

www.coopers.cn
unfortunately can't read it... anyone help?