CCB Growlers

Was there today and didn't really notice? I cot a crowler filled today. If that kinda helps.

 

The real-time, online tap list is for the back bar, which has about 25 taps. They fill crowlers/growlers at the front bar, which has fewer taps (the lineup there is on placards), but still a lot of great choices. Cheers!

 

It's just a glitch, happens from time to time. That being said, selection was fairly weak tonight compared to CCB standards. Bottles in the fridge were Milkmaid, puppy's breath, impey barbicane and collemella was back.

 

Do they fill growlers from other places (like a growler from MN) in Florida and do they fill 1/2 gallon growlers...I see a lot of the mini growlers and then the gallon growlers...just curious

 

No 64oz growlers (stupid law, ongoing legal fight, long story). CCB will fill growlers from other breweries (unlike Funky Buddha) as long as they are 32oz or gallon. They also do crowlers...big ass cans. They are 32oz, cost a dollar extra. They are basically a disposable growler. Great if you're flying or shipping since they weigh so much less than a glass growler.

 

Yeah the DIPA went quickly, been gone for days not sure if they plan on having more bottles during beer week. It's still on draft.

 

@FLBeerGuy. If you are looking for one for personal consumption, I have an extra you can have, no charge.

 

Yes, this. Crowlers rule! (As an aside, I enjoyed the run-down of reasons the Funky Buddha bartenders gave for why they will not -- not cannot -- fill outside growlers: "Uhhh, it's a state law." "Well, you know, it's because of, uhhh, health reasons." I wanted to get my Sam Kinison on: "Sssssaaaaaaayyyyy iiitt!! Say, 'We just want you to buy our glass!!'")*

*Those who get the Sam Kinison reference also will be in the running for the current thread on "Oldest BA Member" ...

 

I get the reference, but I'm not that old!

I promise you, wanting to sell the growler is not the reason we don't fill other growlers. We do get asked a lot, so we included it our faq's.

Q: I have a lot of growlers at home from other breweries. Will you guys fill them?
A: We’re proud to say that we fill only Funky Buddha Brewery growlers for two reasons. The first is Florida law requires us to fill only 32oz or gallon sized vessels, with no exception for any other sizes. Since we cannot say with accuracy what a vessel is that we did not produce ourselves – nor can we tell our staff with absolute certainty which growlers are “OK” and which aren’t – we choose to only fill our own.

Secondly, and more importantly, sanitation and cleanliness is important to us, especially with a glass bottle we’re going to put our beer in. Many people trade our growlers across the country, and an unsanitized growler that’s being shipped in the mail while not refrigerated is a recipe for spoilage. So, instead of cleaning and sanitizing growlers to order, we choose to swap your growler with an already cleaned and sanitized one when you come in. By doing this, we can ensure the quality of our beer in growlers will remain consistent. We think it’s worth the effort, and we hope our customers do to.

 

I bet I clean my growlers better than you do. I've got a great process. Why not examine the growler. If it looks like shit don't fill it. If it is clean fill it?

 

You mention that due to Florida law, you can only fill 32oz or gallon growlers. But I was under the impression the law essentially was any vessel up to 32oz or gallon. Hence the reason CCB has those 16oz El Catador Club "pint to go" growlers and The Cigar City Brewpub has done 16oz swingtops before

 

@funkybuddha, I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to comment. It's your business; they're your rules. I don't agree with them* but that's neither here nor there. (And maybe it was my server's very first night.) I like your beers very much and look forward to having pints there again if I get back down that way (seems silly to cut off my nose to spite my face).

* I DO agree with @ZAP. In my experience, the VAST majority of craft-beer drinkers are meticulous with their growlers (and it's usually olfactorily obvious when someone hasn't been).

 

Zap: you may, although we are pretty thorough. There are times we get really busy, so having to inspect every growler that comes in and make a judgement call isn't always easy. We knew it wouldn't always be a popular decision, but end of the day we know that the our beer is going into a 100% clean & sanitized growler. Also, for I've been told, you can't put in another growler unless it is properly labeled as yours.

Bartos: you're correct. It's nothing between 32oz and a gallon. Strange, but I think all else is fair game.

Mhorridge: maybe a new server or quite possibly we didn't effectively communicate the rule with them. Either way it would honestly make our lives much easier to accept all growlers, but we do stand by our reasoning to give the beer the best chance to taste good. Yes, most craft people (like those on these boards) treat their growlers a little better, but 90% of our regulars are those just learning and getting into craft.

Thanks for enjoying our beers and introduce yourself if you ever see me behind the bar!

 

Not trying to be an ass here...I am not sure on your laws in Florida in regards to labeling but as for the cleanliness of the growlers come on...it takes two seconds to hold the growler up and look into it....I'm not really buying the "we're too busy to inspect" argument..

 

Sorry, you don't agree. Let me use an example. Customer comes in and thinks his growler his growler is fine, however we don't. So now we are arguing with a customer on something that can be interpreted two ways. It just isn't worth it, so we make a blanket rule. Either way, we won't make everyone happy (case in point in this forum).

 

You can tell a growler is sanitized by looking at it? I wish I had that ability.