A new option for beer drinkers in Delaware: Liquor stores can now fill and sell 64 ounce growlers. Previously, selling the glass or porcelain jugs of beer was limited to local breweries and brew pubs.
Lawmakers, brewers and retailers toast new growler sales law.
Lawmakers, brewers and retailers toast new growler sales law.
[flashvideo file=http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/growler-bill.flv image="none"/]
Governor Jack Markell joined local brewers at the Fordham Old Dominion brewery in Dover Thursday to sign the bill which enjoyed bipartisan support. It was passed by the State House and Senate in less than a month.
The bill’s House sponsor, Representative Debra Heffernan (D-Bellefonte, Claymont, Edgemoor), says selling growlers benefits everyone.
“This is a win-win for craft breweries, especially in Delaware, because they get a wider distribution of their product, for liquor stores because they get to supply a product that our customer wants, and it’s a win-win for the customer because we get to have great craft beer,” said Heffernan.
[caption id="attachment_44198" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Gov. Markell, flanked by bill sponsors Sen. David Sokola and Rep. Debra Heffernan , holds up the newly signed "growler law"."]
Craft brewing has become a part of Delaware's business landscape. Delaware’s capita per brewery is 10th in the nation with small, independent breweries in each county.
Ed Mulvihill, director of Sales and Marketing for Peco’s Liquors in Brandywine Hundred says the new law means greater exposure for smaller breweries.
“Twin Lakes for example, we have people come in all the time and ask for their other beers that are only available on draft," said Mulvihill who would have to inform them that the beer was not available in his store. "This will give them the opportunity to brand themselves in a way where costumers will be like ‘Well, I really like the Pale Ale that comes in a can, let me get a growler of the Tavern Stout.'”
Many smaller brewers only distribute their beers in kegs. Jesse Prall, President of the Delaware's Brewer's Guild as well as a brewing supervisor for Dogfish Head Brewery, says this will make it easier to get their beer out to the general public.
"It's huge for every brewery in Delaware," said Prall.
Representatives from a handful of Delaware's breweries were present to celebrate the signing. Many might expect that companies in a growing industry would have adversarial attitudes toward each other, but the opposite is true in the First State.
"They are a friendly community" said Markell. "They are competitors but they get along and help each other out. It really is a great feature of the brewing community in Delaware."
The bill signing comes during American Craft Beer week which celebrates the small and independent brewing industry around the country. In 2012, craft brewing saw the opening of over 400 new small or independent breweries as well as a 17% increase in sales over 2011. In Delaware, three new breweries are in planning or have recently opened.
