More Legal Paperwork & Lagers

Technically, I'm not registered yet.  There was an issue with the Secretary of State with my Articles of Organization - I forgot to include the check (D'oh!).  However, I did apply for and receive my EIN (Employer Identification Number) today, which will be used for tax purposes and will assist me in opening my bank account.  So far the small payments here and there for supplies haven't been bad, but I'm growing weary of having to keep track of them and to keep them separate from my personal expenses.  Having a separate bank account, however, will make that much easier.  That's my next step - an ATM card and a checkbook.

In non-related news, I purchased a used chest freezer today, which will assist me in making lagers.  Lagers require much lower fermentation and aging temperatures than ales, so "room temperature" doesn't work for those.  I'll modify the chest freezer for my lagers with a replacement thermostat to reach optimal temperature (around 50 degrees).  The chest freezer will tide me over until I get my refrigerated fermentation tanks.  Mmmm... lagers...

Last night was a grueling beer evening (work, not drunkenness): 1) I made a wheat beer, 2) I bottled my summer ale, and 3) I transfered the pale ale from primary fermentation to secondary fermentation (with the help of my able quasi-voluntary assistants).  All in all, it was exhausting, but fun.

We're Official (Almost)

I have filed the necessary paperwork with the Secretary of State for the registering of "Post Office Brewing Company, LLC."  It'll take a week or so to get the copy with the state seal on it, but as soon as they receive it, I'll be registered.  Registering the brewery as an LLC has many advantages.  From a purely legal perspective, an LLC (or Limited Liability Company) is significantly easier to maintain and manage, but providing the same liability protection as a corporation.  Since I'm not looking for investors or many partners anytime soon, an LLC will be perfect.  Why register as anything, you may ask?  For one, liability reasons.  Mainly, however, it allows the company to have a separate bank account and separate tax filings. It basically makes my life a lot easier, by not forcing me to keep track of "business" expenses and "personal" expenses as I build the company.  Plus, if someone offers me $1 million dollars for the company at some later date, the transaction would be easy and simple (wishful thinking, huh?)

Anyway, I've taken the first legal step to establishing this company and I look forward to the further building as the weeks progress.

As a side note, my amber ale (haven't named it yet) was bottled a few weeks ago and its now ready.  Did I mention it was delicious?  Well, it is.  Tonight I will be both brewing a new batch of wheat beer and bottling my summer ale.  The latter will be ready just in time for the mid-August heat and early fall porch-sitting.