San Diego Breweries Growler Policy

If I recollect correctly, the breweries should have no problem filling blank growlers, ie those without any brewery names/markings etc. If a growler contains any of the brewery names, for e.g., Alesmith, Societe, etc, you can cover the name with a white paper/label etc, and there should be no problems. I fill my growlers sparingly, being content with consuming most of the beers on draft, on the premises of the brewery, so it is possible my answer may not be the most accurate here. I'm open to enlightenment from more experienced beer consumers in this regard...

 

LOL, if only it were that simple in CA... stay tuned for future responses. I stopped following who will fill what type of vessel, but it's pretty ridiculous overall.

 

californiagrowlerfills.com

I run the spreadsheet – it’s all user-submitted data, so take everything with a grain of salt.

 

As far as I know the law doesn't prohibit that anymore, but it's of course up to the breweries. They may not want to do it and they are allowed to refuse it. Check Eric's (from KRBC) explanation on this matter: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/kern-river-growler-fill.153899/

 

Isn't there a swingtop versus screw cap issue at play as well?

 

After having just returned from there and visiting multiple brewery tap rooms, I am still confused. SageO's spreadsheet is very helpful to determine who fills what, but why there is no uniformity is unclear. I can say that some have a different filler system that does not allow them to fill all growlers. Some prefer to use and fill specific types of growlers because of better seals which keeps their beers fresher, longer, and do not want their beer in an "inferior" growler such as a screwtop.

 

Why am I only just finding out about this full list? Fantastic stuff! Thanks for managing it.

 

I'm pretty sure everybody will agree with you on this point.

 

There are local brewers who are trying to get a generic "San Diego" growler that can be filled most place. One of the problems as said above is the way each breweries growler filling system is designed.

I think eventually most breweries will be on the same page but we shall see. Overall this is a very recent interpretation of the law and I think it's just taking time for everybody to see how it plays out.

 

Here's a concept. Have the San Diego Brewer's Guild sell growlers. A swing top and a screw top. Each nondescript yet with the required safety warnings. Fillable anywhere in San Diego. Suddenly Alpine doesn't need to worry about running out of growlers on a busy weekend. One screw top and one flip top, and you're good to go. Any brewery in San Diego at any time......

 

Good news! They already make a generic growler that can be filled at any brewery in CA.

 

But not everybody fills that type of growler....

 

I think the point of the response was that there doesn't NEED to be just a regional San Diego growler. Any blank growler with the correct labeling can be filled by any brewery in the state. Regionalizing glass just continues to put restrictions on it. The problem isn't the glass, it's the breweries not wanting to budge on their practices.

 

Sazmusik45 pretty much nailed it.
But to add, other breweries/liquor stores/gas stations in states with no growler fill laws do not have trouble filing any kind of growler. It seems the "we can't fill that style of growler" is a problem exclusive to some CA breweries when it's convenient to them.

 

Agreed and that's a great point. Unfortunately right now the way it is and the way it should be are two different things.

 

I think there's an echo in this thread. We're all saying the same thing, right?

 

I'm late to the party, but all CA breweries can legally fill your blank growler, but might not want to because (1) the law/regulations are confusing, and/or (2) the brewery wants you to buy its growlers. A good primer of applicable labeling laws restricting the sale of growlers is here: http://www.californiacraftbeer.com/...4/01/Clarification-on-Growlers-v.5-091213.pdf

 

^it's not just that they want you to buy their growlers but this nonsense: http://russianriverbrewing.com/growler-filling-policy/ because we all know that putting Blind Pig in a blank growler would totes destroy Russian River's #brand