For 111 days from March 26 until July 15 B.C. bars and restaurants were legally permitted to fill growlers of draft beer for customers to take away.
But few people knew, or were able to take advantage of it.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 because the temporary rule change by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch was designed to help restaurants, which were take-out only at the time, to be able to sell beer from kegs that were opened prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. The temporary permit was reversed in a July 13 policy update that extended the sale of packaged beer and wine from stores until Oct. 31.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of restaurants and brewery tasting rooms had surplus draft beer around, so they were allowed to use that to fill growlers,B次元官网网址� said Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association. B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 [advertised], because you donB次元官网网址檛 want to [advertise] something you will run out of.B次元官网网址�
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In the meantime, it stoked a small discussion in the industry as some customers liked it, said one rep from a local craft brewery. Some restaurants also abused the rule, which was supposed to be limited to a 1.9-litre growler or a 650ml bomber.
B次元官网网址淭here was examples of mason jars and other containers being used that were not laid out by the liquor regulation,B次元官网网址� said Ken Beattie, executive director of the British Columbia Craft Brewers Guild.
Growler fills have now reverted back to only those establishments with a brewery manufacturing licence, which is the way breweries have always liked it, Beattie said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been the lifeblood of new breweries to have growler sales, and tasting rooms,B次元官网网址� Beattie said. B次元官网网址淭he guild of brewers advocated for it to protect the product, which is best fresh off the tap, the best beer you can have, and it drives traffic to ensure sales.B次元官网网址�
In fact, for as popular as they are at many breweries, growlers are likely to be phased out at some breweries around B.C.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 because the reliance on growlers has decreased thanks to the advancement of mobile packaging companies which show up to can and bottle beer at small breweries, Beattie added. Having their own in-house packaging is a cost many brewers canB次元官网网址檛 afford. Other advancements B次元官网网址� such as the B次元官网网址渃rowler,B次元官网网址� a one-litre can B次元官网网址� are also changing things by holding large amounts of beer, like a growler, but keeping it fresher for longer.
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The reality is there arenB次元官网网址檛 a lot of requests for the right to serve growlers that the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association is hearing about, Tostenson said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 getting into their turf, itB次元官网网址檚 really the domain of the brewers and itB次元官网网址檚 not a fight that weB次元官网网址檙e [taking on],B次元官网网址� Tostenson said.
