Florida Brewers Seek Approval for Half-Gallon Growlers

Brewers and consumers are seeking a change to the state’s container law.

November 26, 2013

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida brewers are hoping that lawmakers will soon pass legislation that allows half-gallon growlers, the Associated Press reports.

Currently, Florida’s container law permits 128-ounce or more and 32-ounce or less growlers — but not 64 ounce growlers.

"It's such a stupid law," said Ben Davis, owner of Intuition Ale Works. "You can come in here and buy a gallon, you can buy a quart, you can buy two quarts, but I can't sell you a half-gallon. And it's the industry standard. You go to Colorado, you go to a brewery there and say 'Hey, I want a growler of X beer,' they don't ask you, 'Hey! Do you want it in a quart or do you want it in a gallon?'"

Last spring, a bill that would have legalized half-gallon growlers in Florida died when it failed to reach a vote in the state’s House Business and Professional Regulation Subcommittee. Committee chair Debbie Mayfield said she isn’t against permitting 64-ounce growlers but prefers to address the craft beer industry as a whole.

"That industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, and in Florida we just want to make sure we get our share," Mayfield said. "We just want to make sure that we aren't going to get road-blocked."

As a result, she intends to assess a number of issues, including bonding, taxes, distribution, licenses and contractual agreements with distributors, as well as legalization of half-gallon growlers.

Brewers say they believe Mayfield's intentions are good, but they don't want the legalization of half-gallon growlers to become part of what could become a major battle with distributors.

"We probably should stick to some of the more basic issues initially. Baby steps," said Rep. Dana Young, who is working to legalize growlers. "So we pass the growler, hopefully this year, perhaps clear up some of the ambiguities in the existing law relating to breweries and tasting rooms and brew pubs, but not do anything that's way out there."

That would be fine with distributors, said Mitch Rubin, executive director of the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association.

"We support 64-ounce containers …" said Rubin, adding his group wants the bill on containers to also address their sanitization as well as standards for labels and sealing.

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