TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – You could call it a "brew ha-ha" at the Capitol as a Senate panel debated whether or not a craft beer container known as a growler should be allowed in the state. Brewers are optimistic Florida will be catching up with the rest of the beer industry in the country.
The Senate committee wasn't sure if the 64-ounce container would be allowed on its own, or if they would further deregulate the law by allowing containers of all sizes, including 40-ounce beers.
Beer fans can stop by and see Michael Carbonell at Growler Country to fill up on their favorite libation. But Florida law puts a cap on what he and other beer businessmen can do.
"Not 64, you can do a gallon, you can do a quart, but you can't do a half of a gallon," Carbonell said.
Consumers can only fill up 32-ounces and 1-gallon beer containers known as growlers. The 64-ounce size in the middle, which has become the industry standard, isn't allowed.
Brewers have been complaining about the size discrepancies of containers for years, but lawmakers said this year they're ready to tap into the 64 oz. size.
The big beer names are backing the change, even though they have been concerned about craft brews cutting into profits in the past.
"We support the 64-ounce package, and frankly, we also support the deregulation of the container size," said Jose Gonzalez, with Anheuser Busch.
Senate Regulated Industries Chairman Rob Bradley basically made a guarantee that a change will be made.
"The highlight and the bottom line is that this is the year we are going to free the growler," Bradley said.
The optimism has local brewers buzzing.
"It is frustrating. It's obviously not logical and so it's nice to finally, hopefully, push this through, because I don't think there's any reason why it shouldn't be," said Nathan Stonecipher, with Green Bench Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg. "Others would disagree, if we already had a gallon, already had 32-ounces, what's the harm in a half gallon?"
Only Florida and Utah currently ban the 64-ounce beer growler.