Florida craft beer lovers may soon be able to purchase 64-ounce growlers.
Breweries can currently sell 32-ounce and 128-ounce beer jugs, more commonly known as growlers, but nothing in between. The 64-ounce growler is illegal in Florida, but legal in every other state.
“We’re kind of looked at like, ‘Really Florida? Really?’” said Brandon Nappy, tactical marketing manager at Swamp Head Brewery.
House Bill 301, which unanimously passed its first subcommittee Feb. 18, is clean and simple: It authorizes the sale of 32-, 64- and 128-ounce growlers as long as they are properly sealed and labeled.
The push for 64-ounce growlers — among other issues — has become a public debate between the state’s craft breweries and beer distributors. Florida runs on a three-tiered alcohol system, which separates manufacturer, distributor and retailer to preserve competition within each tier.
But HB 301 has little to no opposition.
Mitch Rubin,executive director of the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, which represents various beer distributors, said he’s optimistic about it becoming law.
Sponsored by Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, the bill is now going to be discussed amongst the Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
Its companion bill, Senate Bill 186, legalizes the 64-ounce growlers, but also tackles a brewery’s ability to have tasting rooms. Current law states that a brewery can serve its beer to customers only if the taproom promotes Florida tourism.
Nappy said some critics call this a loophole.
The distributors say it allows breweries to act as manufacturers and retailers while cutting out distributors, therefore disrupting the three-tiered system.
SB 186 would clarify the law to make it easier for breweries to have their tasting rooms, said Josh Aubuchon, executive director of the Florida Brewers Guild.
“I am cautiously optimistic,” Aubuchon said. “There is still some opposition.”
Opponents want to limit the number of locations where a brewery can have a vendor’s license.
“They’re supposed to be in the brewery business,” Rubin said. “They’re the producer.”
Rubin said breweries can have a vendor’s license, but the licenses should be limited to avoid direct competition with retailers.
“It needs a little bit more work,” Rubin said, but he’s optimistic about this bill, too.
SB 186 unanimously passed through its first committee and will be heard in the Commerce and Tourism Committee on Monday.
“I think there’s definitely a possibility of the bill going through in one form or another,” Nappy said about HB 301.
If the growler debate was settled, Nappy said it wouldn’t change the way Swamp Head operates. It would, however, demonstrate awareness for the state’s craft beer industry – something that brewers have been relentlessly working toward for years.
[A version of this story ran on page 1 - 4 on 3/12/2015]
Correction: The original article said breweries can sell 28 oz growlers. The correct number is 32 oz.
Both 32-ounce jugs and one-gallon jugs of beer, sold at Swamp Head Brewery, are legal container sizes in Florida. Lobbyists are trying to legalize the 64-ounce size beverages.
