TTB permits

June 22nd, the permitting process began. It actually started before that, but it started again after I signed the lease to the current place in Ballard. Since I had done the paper work before, this time it was much more straight forward, although it sucked writing everything out again. I was kinda surprised as to everything that I needed to fill out, because of the size that I am, but I guess they make no distinction between bigger and smaller breweries so everyone gets to do the same. It kind of reminded me of taxes. The 1040 is simple – 2 pages, it’s all the other peripheries that are more time-consuming. All in all I finally sent in:

A cover Letter – you know to look a little professional, I think they just throw that away though without reading it.
Brewer’s Notice. Easy Peasy.
Brewer’s Bond. Easy once I fount a bonding agency (*see below).
Bond Rider. I had to change the address on the bond.
Personal Questionnaire. Had to include finances and even 5 references.
Environmental Info. really? This is just a glorified homebrew gig.
Water Quality Info. Again, really?
Diagram of the Brewery. Hopefully I got technical enough for them.
Description of the Brewery. Again, I hope I got technical enough.
Security at the Brewery. Two big locks and a fence. Will it be enough?
Copy of my lease.
Copy of my business formation letter.

With really nothing to say about a lot of these things, I hope what I gave them is acceptable. If not, I’ll get to re-do and re-send (or re-fax). Hopefully it won’t come down to that though.

* about the bond, I probably could have just sent the the amount for the bond but chose not to. Instead I found the agency by randomly clicking one of those google ads in my gmail account. I think that’s the first time that a targeted ad actually enticed me to click it.

So it’s been exactly a month since I sent that in. … and I am still waiting for them to get back to me. I expect to hear from them probably within 2 more weeks, when they’ll do a phone interview. Can’t wait to answer all the questions they have to ask!