Changing the California law on Growlers?

Have you ever wondered why you can only get a growler filled from the brewery whose logo is on the container? It's because California state law only permits breweries to refill growlers from its own shop, making it illegal to fill up a growler with a Stone Brewery logo with Monkey Paw's Howler IPA. Well it seems that times are a changing'.

California law makers are trying to make it easier for for beer lovers like us to refill our growlers at any brewery we choose. Assemblyman Wesley Chesboro, D - Arcata, represents a huge stretch in northern California that is home to many craft breweries. Among the group: Lost Coast, Six Rivers, Anderson Valley, Bear Republic and Russian River, where beer lovers from across the country line up for hours for the annual release of Pliny the Younger. (First two weeks of February) Chesbro's bill would allow breweries to refill a growler from another brewery by covering the old logo with a sticker reflecting the new beer inside.

While I am all about supporting local breweries, it hard to justify to the wife about having a cabinet full of different 64 ounce containers. The last time I was at Alpine Beer Company they didnt have any Nelson in bottles but they did have it on tap and for growler fills. Living in Chula Vista makes it difficult to travel out to Alpine for on a regular basis and with times being tough, it turned me off having to pay for yet another growler on top of the fill.

Chris Walker, a lobbyist who represents the California Craft Brewers Association, said "This bill (Assembly bill 647) is good for the industry; it's good for our consumers." The issue seems to be bipartisan as Republican Brian Jones of Santee echoed his vote by proclaiming "Cheers!"; the bill cleared the Assembly Governmental Organizational Commitee on Wednesday with a unanimous vote. Next time I'm heading out to Alpine, I hope I can bring in my growlers from Ballast Point, Monkey Paw or Stone and get them filled. Cheers!

Now serving any and all Craft Beer

 

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