Hard Cider and Mead Liquor License Application
NJ Liquor License Attorneys
Recent legislation has allowed for the issuance of a Class A Manufacturer’s License to those individuals or entities who produce alcoholic beverages like cider or mead. Previously, no license existed to cover the production of these alcoholic beverages. Recent interest and demand for these beverages led to the enactment of N.J.S.A. 33:1-10(f). While only a few cidery and meadery licenses have been issued since enactment, it is likely that more and more licenses will be issued in the coming years. For more information on how to obtain a cidery or meadery license, contact the ABC liquor law attorneys at Proetta, Oliver & Fay. Former ABC Deputy Attorney General, William C. Fay, IV, represent clients in all ABC related matters, including obtaining Class A Manufacturer’s licenses. Call 732.858.5857 today.
N.J.S.A. 33:1‐10.2f
Under New Jersey law, the cidery and meadery license permits the manufacturing of hard cider and mead. The cidery and meadery license allows the licensee to sell and distribute these products to wholesalers and retailers licensed in New Jersey and elsewhere. Additionally, a licensee is entitled to sell their products at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for consumption on or off the premises and to offer samples. “Direct ship” is not permissible for a cidery license but is permissible for a meadery license, either within this State or elsewhere. In essence, these licenses allow the holder to act as a manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer, all at once. This can prove to be quite a powerful tool for businesses looking to pierce the market.
However, for retail sales, a cidery or meadery license must be wary to not act like a restaurant or bar. The sale of food must be limited to packaged crackers, chips, nuts, and similar snacks to consumers (these can also be offered gratuitously. A fee to obtain this license is $938.
How Much Hard Cider Can Be Produced?
The cidery license allows the licensee to produce up to 50,000 barrels of 31 fluid gallons of hard cider per year. The holder of this license shall be entitled to manufacture hard cider in a quantity not to exceed 50,000 barrels of 31 fluid gallons capacity per year.
How Much Mead Can Be Produced?
The meadery license allows the licensee to produce up to 250,000 gallons of mead annually. In regard the “direct ship” privileges, the licensee can only ship up to 12 cases of mead per year, subject to regulation, to any person within or without this State over 21 years of age for personal consumption and not for resale. Moreover, a case must not exceed nine liters in volume.
What is Hard Cider?
“Hard cider” means a fermented alcoholic beverage derived primarily from apples, pears, apple juice concentrate and water, or pear juice concentrate and water, which may include spices, herbs, honey, or other flavoring, and which contains at least one half of one percent but less than eight and one half percent alcohol by volume.
What is Mead?
“Mead” means an alcoholic beverage primarily made from honey, water, and yeast, and which may contain fruit, fruit juices, spices, or herbs added before or after fermentation has completed, except that the ratio of fermentable sugars from fruit or fruit juices shall not exceed 49 percent of the total fermentable sugars used to produce mead.
New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control Attorneys
For more information on how to apply for and obtain a cidery or meadery license, call the ABC licensing attorneys at Proetta, Oliver & Fay. We may be reached 24/7 at 732-858-5857.
