WV celebrates growler fills

On June 12, 2015, a new law took effect allowing beer retailers in West Virginia to begin filling and selling growlers. Prior to the new law, only brewpubs were allowed to sell growlers.

Hundreds celebrate first day of growler sales

Quite spontaneous celebrations broke out at craft centric bars and restaurants across the state as craft beer fans showed up in mass to get growlers filled with fresh draft beer.

An enthusiastic crowd appeared early for growlers at Black Sheep Burritos and Brews in Charleston. People were lined up for fills from late afternoon through early evening. Black Sheep serves as the primary outlet for beers from Charleston Brewing Company, which does not have its own taproom.

Senator Walters champions growler legislation

In his State of the State address back in January, WV Governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced that he would propose legislation to help the state’s small breweries, however, his measure was silent on expanding growler fill options for retailers. Working with State Senator Chris Walters, Charleston craft beer enthusiast Rob Absten drafted language that would open up growler sales to beer retailers, including both on- and off-premise licensees.

Senator Walters then introduced this growler bill and it was eventually incorporated into the Governor’s bill, which passed the legislature in March. The new law took effect June 12.

To help commemorate the day, Charleston Brewing Company released a special beer for the occasion: Walters Wheat. The beer was named after growler bill sponsor Sen. Chris Walters.

Chuck Johnson, a local attorney who helped support craft brewing industry interests at the legislature, was also in the crowd at Black Sheep.

“It looks like a most enthusiastic start to the growler law,” he said. “It will be good for the craft beer industry in the state.”

Charleston resident and craft beer fan Dave Mincer had a big smile on his face. Mincer, who dropped into Black Sheep to purchase a growler said, “It’s a great day for craft beer in West Virginia. Everybody wins.”

Charleston Brewing Company brewer Ryan Heastings was about as happy as a man could ever be.

“Look at this crowd,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. A couple of years ago, who could have believed something like this would happen. It shows that the West Virginians have the same enthusiasm for craft beer as you find everywhere else in the country.”

WV law allows growlers of various materials, but only in two sizes: 64 and 32 ounces. Accounts have the option of refilling any growler or of filling only their own bottles. Licensees must obtain an additional license endorsement from the state ABC and pay a small annual fee.

Each growler must be labeled with the date filled, type of beer, and selling account’s name, in addition to the Surgeon General’s warning. Once filled, growlers must be sealed with tape. Once sealed, the growler may not be opened and consumed on the premises at which it was sold.

As would be expected, on-premise accounts are the first to take advantage of the new law. Bars and restaurants already have draft systems and sanitizing sinks installed, so it is very easy for them to offer growler fills.

It will probably take at least a year before the effect of the new law can be assessed in grocery, convenience, and liquor stores. In those types of accounts, draft beer systems will have to be installed. Separate growler filling stations will have to be established behind the counter or in some other non-public area.

Several convenience/beer stores have already announced they will soon be filling growlers. Coopers U Bolt in Vienna and Lynn’s Carryout in Elkins have both been very anxious to join the ranks. Many others will surely follow them.

The craft beer community got excited back in January with Governor Tomlin’s announcement that he would help improve the business climate for small breweries. The bill that passed gave small breweries lower license fees and more operational flexibility, in addition to authorizing retailers to sell growlers.