Tag: California growlers

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California Growler Update

To get back into grade school book report mode. “What I learned at the Beer Blogger Conference about changing beer laws”

So here goes. Craig Hendry (who I sat next to for a few sessions during the conference) from Raise Your Pints Mississippi painted a grim picture of craft beer in his state. First to sign up for prohibition and last to repeal on the state level. Hovering around 40% of the counties are dry and ridiculously low ABV and ABW limits on beer created and brought into the state.

But as he talked, the tone grew ever hopeful. Beer festivals are taking place. Some government officials are willing to buck the religious dogma and back craft beer. Even Tennessee is pushing hard to be the eastern home of Sierra Nevada.

Now Raise Your Pints even has a lobbyist! Fine tuning a law here hopefully won’t require that level of pushing and shoving but what I gleaned most was that if this challenge is to succeed I need the California Small Brewers behind the cause to get this done.

And more importantly, I learned that you REALLY have to listen to the people on the other side of the argument. Because we all want to be heard and maybe there is a compromise to be found that can move forward speedily whereas an “all or nothing” mentality will just stall. Sound like anyone in Washington DC we know?

This one session really created hope. There are people in this country fighting bigger fights against entrenched foes and all we in California need to do is nip and tuck a little here and there.

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California Growler Challenge – June Update

Here is what has happened in the first half of the year. It may not seem like much, but considering that I am brand new at this and I can’t devote loads of time to it, the progress ain’t half bad.

-started an electronic petition
-got a Facebook page up and running
-created a letter to your representative template
-raised awareness

Now it is time to try to get some bigger guns in the fray. So here is where YOU come in (yet again). If you know anybody in the following areas: recycling, California tourism, beverage container manufacturers or a politician, start telling them about the “Brewed in California” growler idea. Ask for their feedback. See if the idea has a fatal flaw or needs to be tweaked. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, sign them up and get them involved. If we can get a coalition of people and groups and businesses, we stand a better chance of succeeding.

I am going to start by reaching out to the Container Recycling Institute and see what she thinks of the California growler.

And to make the conversation clear, here is what I perceive as the need.
To change current law so that any participating brewery can sell a “Brewed in California” growler alongside their own branded growler. This growler could be legally filled by any participating brewery in the State of California as long as the beer information is attached to the growler via a sticker or other means.

and the why?
Two reasons. To create craft beer tourism options for the State of California while also creating an incentive to re-use one container repeatedly thus helping the recycling cause.

And if you haven’t written your state representatives, then do so! It can be done online! Let them know you care.

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California Growlers

The March edition of my 2011 Beer Challenge is going to go all legal. I apologize if this puts anyone to sleep.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 25200-25206

This is the main section that hurts the growler cause

25200. All beer sold in this State shall have a label affixed to the package or container thereof, upon which shall appear the true and correct name and address of the manufacturer of the beer, and also the true and correct name of the bottler of the beer if other than the manufacturer. No manufacturer, importer, or wholesaler of beer shall use a container or carton as a package or container of a beer other than such beer as is manufactured by the manufacturer whose name or brand of beer appears upon the container or carton, or use as a package or container of a beer a container or carton which bears the name of a manufacturer of beer or the brand of any beer other than those of the manufacturer of the beer contained in the container or carton.
If I am reading it correctly. The container must have the brewery name on it and the beer inside must be made by that brewer. Thus a growler is stuck. It can’t be blank. And once Brewery A puts the logo on and then only A brand beer can go in.

In my mind that leaves only one option. An addendum exempting Made in California growlers needs to be attached to this section of code.

25202. Manufacturers’ names, brand names, print, or markings first placed on returnable beer containers or cartons made of wood or fiber board shall not be obliterated, mutilated, or marked out without the written consent of the manufacturer whose name, brand, or printed markings is to be obliterated, mutilated, or marked out. This section does not apply to wood or fiber board containers or cartons of a beer manufacturer who has discontinued business and production and is no longer a licensed beer manufacturer.

This section rules out stickers as I read it. So the path of least resistance would be one standard California growler with a tag tied to the handle with the brewery name and beer name with ABV. That way we only need to amend one rule.

Let me know what your interpretation of these two rules are and what may be a good way to proceed. I am ready to hear all opinions.

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California Growlers

Phase two of the operation to bring California growlers is to get the word out while I seek to figure out how to either amend the current law or add a piece to make this dream a reality.

First things first, go to the online petition HERE and sign it if you didn’t click on the widget on the side of the page.

Then start telling people that Whole Foods in New York sells growlers of different beers from different breweries. Heck, even a pharmacy chain has an outlet that sells it in Brooklyn. Why can’t California do that?

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2011 Challenge – California Growlers

Last year in a post on FoodGPS, I proposed the creation of a Brewed in California growler. This year I have challenged my shy self to raising awareness of what I consider an opportunity for the State of California to promote tourism and the craft beer industry. (And maybe help close a small part of the budget gap in the process)

As with last years challenge, this won’t be easy and may not be finished in one year. It is government after all. Putting things off is their specialty. But that’s why it’s challenging.

Two items to start:
1. I want to show you the actual wording of the California law so that alternate legislation can be crafted.
2. Get an online petition going (thanks internet) so that I can contact legislators with some muscle behind me.

Both items will pop up in February so keep your eyes peeled!