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Brad Dahlhofer

Brad Dahlhofer

NewBee
Registered Member
Dec 20, 2007
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Ferndale, MI
www.bnektar.com
I was recently e-mailed about how to start the process of starting a meadery. I thought my answer may help some others that want to know. So, here's a copy of what I wrote.

The government is going to classify you as a winery. So focus your research as if you were opening a regular winery. The federal government organization that regulates the wine business is the TTB (www.ttb.gov), and your local state government alcohol enforcement agency will vary by state. A google search for "alcohol laws in STATE" (insert your state) will likely bring you to the site you need. If you're in an urban area, you'll likely need zoning approval and other inspections/approvals from the local government. The state might also require a Food Manufacturing license. In Michigan, it's the Department of Agriculture that issues these. Your state may vary. Since 9/11, it's also require to be listed as a Food Processing establishment with the FDA due to the anti-terrorizm act.

Start in this order:
- Talk to your local government about what you want to do, and where. Without their consent, it won't matter if the Fed/State government approve your license.
- Start the Fed application. Most states require the Fed license before they'll issue a state license.
- Once you've begin the Fed application process, start on the State license.
- Begin marketing campaign. You want to build up a demand for your product before you even have it. It'll make for a successful opening day.
- Continue with all other licensing requirements (Dept. Agriculture, etc.)
- Get your formulas ready to submit so you can send them as soon as your Fed license is approved. (may take a month or more to get approval)
- After formula is approved, start your meads.
- Once formula is approved, use the ONLINE COLA website to submit label approval. Online Cola is MUCH faster. Usually takes days instead of weeks/months.
- Once you have Fed label approval, the State will likely need to approve too. Your state may vary.
- DON’T PRINT YOUR LABELS UNTIL YOU HAVE LABEL APPROVAL - Trust me.


There are many other things to consider, maybe we can keep this thread alive with other words of wisdom from other commercial meadmakers.
 
This sounds like the beginning of a good thread. Brad, how about these topics -- drawing up a business plan for the process of applying for loans to initially fund the business, and working with local zoning laws in designing the meadery?
 
How is your Meadery zoned in your town, Brad? Industrial, light industrial, restruant...?????? Maybe a pool hall......8)
 
We are out in the country, so zoning was not an issue for us. HOWEVER....

In Buncombe County, NC any new construction that is to be used commercially must have a handicapped bathroom, ramp, and parking space. No exceptions.

So even though we built the meadery on our own property and have no employees, we do have all of those handicapped items. It's rather amusing (and sad considering the cost) to see our paved handicapped parking spot in a neighborhood with dirt roads, cows, chickens, turkeys, and (of course!) foxes running around.
 
It's like that here, too, Jason. In fact, there's a guy in the Sacramento area who goes around to find older places that aren't to-the-letter ADA compliant and sues them. He's closed down many a small business over the years.
 
wildoates said:
It's like that here, too, Jason. In fact, there's a guy in the Sacramento area who goes around to find older places that aren't to-the-letter ADA compliant and sues them. He's closed down many a small business over the years.
Click to expand...

And who he is "helping"? :confused:
 
His pocketbook?

The more of us that make mead and share it with our friends--assuming it's good!--the more of a market there will be for it when folks are going for a bottle of something a bit unusual to go with dinner or a picnic or whatever.

My wine-drinking friends are certainly intrigued, and can't wait to taste mine when it's ready to share. The only mead I've found locally has been Chaucer's (although my son did pick up some Heidrun in San Francisco, which he wouldn't have done if it weren't for me making it), and I think that if we had some Fox Hill or BNektar or some Redstone mead available people would remember trying mine and buy a bottle.

That's the plan, anyway, since meaderies tend to be small businesses, and I'm all in favor of supporting small businessmen/women whenever possible.
 
Great post Brad... you are a light at the end of the loooong tunnel:)
 
wildoates said:
... and I think that if we had some Fox Hill or BNektar or some Redstone mead available people would remember trying mine and buy a bottle.
Click to expand...

Yes, let's get these meads out in CA! I have already introduced a handful of people to Rabbit's Foot. That is a fun place to visit.

Back more on topic, would it be better to set up a space out in the country-ish where zoning is less an issue, or deal with the hassle of a city but have a more accessible location? Do you guys plan on having significant foot traffic or are you mostly going for distribution? Would people randomly walk into a meadery if they saw it down the street from a bar?
 
akueck said:
Yes, let's get these meads out in CA! I have already introduced a handful of people to Rabbit's Foot. That is a fun place to visit.

Back more on topic, would it be better to set up a space out in the country-ish where zoning is less an issue, or deal with the hassle of a city but have a more accessible location? Do you guys plan on having significant foot traffic or are you mostly going for distribution? Would people randomly walk into a meadery if they saw it down the street from a bar?
Click to expand...

I would. :)
 
Wow. Thanks Brad. Very helpful and informative!
I'd love to get a very small operation going...working up to it in about 2 years. It's really great to be able to map the steps out like that. How else would we know what order to do things in?
I've been looking into the farm-winery option. Here in Virginia if you keep your own bees and/or grow your own fruit for at least some of your mead you can go this route. It allows you to have a tasting room, sell your product from your "farm" and also sell it at remote locations...festivals and such. Does anyone know anything about this option?

-Sunny
 
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