I want your beer, not your bottles!

[nsflatlander]

Sorry ahead of time for the rant, but I'm curious how others feel.

I'm at a point now where I've become a bit frustrated with the differing policies brewpubs in the maritimes have for growlers. I know that there are laws surrounding what can and can't be done, but can't all the breweries get their friggin act together and follow a common practice? The tipping point for me was today when I went to a brewpub, I'd never been to before on the other side of NS from where we live (I'll leave it nameless). My wife and 6 month old in tow happened to be in that area, so we stopped in at the brewery (yes, my wife wanted to be there too), and I had no way to get any beer. We couldn't stay for a pint because there were other family members waiting at the cabin, and the place didn't have bottles, and refused to fill my growlers which were from another brewery. Their policy is only to fill their own growlers. Give me a break...I'm up to 9 growlers from 7 different places and I just can't justify buying another one that I'll probably only use once every 3 or 4 years. Yes, I asked if I could bring it back the next day for the deposit, but in their case, it's not a deposit. You buy and own the growler, end of story.

I know some places will only exchange pre-filled growlers, but who really knows how long it's been in there. I bought a friend a hand blown silver handle one once as a gift from NYC, I doubt he'd be about to exchange it. And then some places will fill any growler as long as it meets the 1.89 liter requirement. Which to me, makes the most sense. The primary reason I'm at your establishment is the beer, not your glassware or shwag. I just don't understand all the discrepancy. I mean, can you imagine going to Superstore with a reusable bag, or heaven for bid, a plastic one from Sobeys, and be told you couldn't use it? It's a legal vessel for transportation for crying out loud. Are you meaning to tell me that if a tourist from another province or country, came into your brewpub with his own growler that you would refuse him beer. It just doesn't make good business sense.

To all the brewpubs out there. I salute, support, and just plan love what you are doing for beer in this province, but I really just want to drink your beer. I have enough "growler souvenirs." If I come into your pub at a time when you aren't overly busy, why the heck wouldn't you want to sell me your beer if I have a legal vessel?

I have a suggestion to those who might be listening. Why not get together and make a growler that can be used at any establishment in the maritimes. It could have a list of all the brewpubs and their locations.

[chalmers]

I'm in 100% agreeance with you.

An NS (or Maritimes) growler would be a great idea, one that we've bandied about plenty of times. The problem is that all of the breweries and brewpubs would need to be on board. Which I doubt would happen.

Plus there's the ridiculous laws that prohibit the filling of a growler at a brewpub during operating hours (or something like that, I could me wrong). Which requires either a call ahead to reserve a growler, or brewpubs filling multiple growlers in the hopes of selling them that day, otherwise the clock has started ticking on their lifetime.

You should definitely send the above comments to the brewpub owner/manager directly, to let them know they lost out on a sale or two because of their decision.

And maybe we should get in the ear of local brewpubs and breweries again to adapt some predictable rules to do with growlers. The NS Craft brewery association (or what's the proper name of this group), let's contact them.

[mikeorr]

Plus there's the ridiculous laws that prohibit the filling of a growler at a brewpub during operating hours (or something like that, I could me wrong). Which requires either a call ahead to reserve a growler, or brewpubs filling multiple growlers in the hopes of selling them that day, otherwise the clock has started ticking on their lifetime.

I believe it's a liquor regulation, which prevents the filling of a growler in a licensed area (during regular business hours?). I'm not sure if NS is alone with this rule or not, but I did see the Gahan brewpub on PEI filling growlers just the other weekend while I was there, so I'm pretty sure they don't have the same regulation against it.

Michael.

[nsflatlander]

I'm not sure if this is the final law that was agreed to because it says "draft", but it gives us a glimpse: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/pdf/agd-liqu ... owlers.PDF

Right or Wrong, I won't name names so as to not implicate, but I know of 4 breweries I've been to in the Maritimes that have filled my growlers on the spot. I applaud you!

As for the filling the night before, I don't see anything in the policy about filling the night before. Unless it's hidden in the legal jargon of section V. However, I don't have a problem with it, as long as the brewery is willing to exchange any growler on the spot. I can live with making reservations if I have to, because it protects the brewery against overstocking filled growlers, but I'm sick and tired of the line "we'll only honor growlers from ours and said one other brewery" when the one I'm holding is from literllaly 50 yards away. Suck it up, quit making the consumer pay for your differences of opinion!!!

[mr x]

You'll be facing an uphill battle on this one, but good luck!!

[jason.loxton]

I get that the initial customer investment is supposed to create loyalty and create a disincentive to people switching, but it also costs beer sales. I don't know how it works out in the calculus (maybe it still slants in favour of the brewery), but using myself an example, I have not purchased beer from both Garrison and Big Spruce because of their growler policies. I was actually in Garrison and ready to buy, but since I don't live in Halifax anymore, buying a growler made no sense. I walked out and went to Propeller, where I could pay the deposit and return before I headed back to Cape Breton the next day. I am very interested in trying Big Spruce's beers, but I drink a lot of different brands, and at an almost $25 initial investment for a 6 pack ($15 for the fill, plus the purchase price of the growler), I find myself sticking to offerings from the classic NS micros and upstarts like Boxing Rock, rather than the brewery just down the road, because of the lower cost of experimentation. (Sad, but true.) I wish I could just walk in to all these places with my cash and growler in hand (or pay a deposit and return the growler). Maybe if enough people are vocal...

[nsflatlander]

Hey Jason, I like both of the places you mention in your post for different reasons. However, I don't understand your comment about Garrison. What were you planning to use if you didn't have a growler and weren't willing to buy one? They have bottles too so I really don't understand. I'm from New Glasgow and had all my growlers filled there countless times.

[Jimmy]

Hey Jason, I like both of the places you mention in your post for different reasons. However, I don't understand your comment about Garrison. What were you planning to use if you didn't have a growler and weren't willing to buy one? They have bottles too so I really don't understand. I'm from New Glasgow and had all my growlers filled there countless times.

I think he's referring to the fact that he would have to purchase the growler to own at Garrison, whereas he could return the one at Propeller for his deposit before heading home.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

I like the propeller system. I recently returned three growlers, walked out with a bottle of dipa and twenty bucks in my pocket.

Garrison does give growlers away/sell then at a discount, which is why they don't refund.

[CurtisD]

I'd be happy if Pump House would sell & fill growlers, period. I want to drink IPA at home, dammit!

[mr x]

Are Garrison growlers cheaper?

[chalmers]

I'm not sure what sort of discount you're talking about at Garrison, either. A 1.89L glass bottle from La Naufrageur in Gaspe is $2. You buy it, but it is refillable (actually, only exchangeable). The sticker shock isn't quite as big when you show up empty-handed.

[chalmers]

Also, keep in mind brewpub does not equal brewery (with respect to nsflatlander's link, and comments re: 4 breweries filling on the spot). The regulations in your link were for brewpubs (ie, most beer produced is for on-site consumption).

[NASH]

I'm not sure what sort of discount you're talking about at Garrison, either. A 1.89L glass bottle from La Naufrageur in Gaspe is $2. You buy it, but it is refillable (actually, only exchangeable). The sticker shock isn't quite as big when you show up empty-handed.

Jesus, more power to 'em. They cost ~ $6 each

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Garrison gives out coupons to get their growlers for $4 in the dal student agenda. Or they used to.

[NASH]

I'm not sure if this is the final law that was agreed to because it says "draft", but it gives us a glimpse: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/pdf/agd-liqu ... owlers.PDF

Right or Wrong, I won't name names so as to not implicate, but I know of 4 breweries I've been to in the Maritimes that have filled my growlers on the spot. I applaud you!

As for the filling the night before, I don't see anything in the policy about filling the night before. Unless it's hidden in the legal jargon of section V. However, I don't have a problem with it, as long as the brewery is willing to exchange any growler on the spot. I can live with making reservations if I have to, because it protects the brewery against overstocking filled growlers, but I'm sick and tired of the line "we'll only honor growlers from ours and said one other brewery" when the one I'm holding is from literllaly 50 yards away. Suck it up, quit making the consumer pay for your differences of opinion!!!

The regulations are pretty straightforward; no growlers/fills permitted within the licensed premise of a "Brew Pub" during business hours. Period. If a brewpub fills them in a non-licensed area you'd be able to buy them any time. We fill directly from the taps in the pub therefore we ask folks to place an order ahead of time, I won't permit the glass in the brewhouse so there won't be any washed, sanitized and counter-pressure-filled ahead of time. We don't fill ahead of time hoping to sell them because of shortened shelf-life associated with the nature of filling directly from the faucet. Other brewpubs that allow the glass in their brewhouse; more power to them. Some ignore the regulations and just fill them any time on the licensed premise. We sell the glass because we're not in the bottle washing business. That said, for the time being we have to take them on trade and deal with washing them until they change the regulations. Once that happens, you'll be expected to walk in the door with a clean jug to be filled from the taps. We're a tiny brewpub with no space, no staff room, no extra storage space etc. Ya just can't expect small breweries to setup properly for bottle washing, and if a brewery isn't setup for bottle washing you can't expect them to return your cash for a dirty bottle. IMO, the consumer should always be responsible for cleaning their own jug to bring to the brewery for a fill. If you want to compare it to shopping bags, try bringing your filthy bag back to the grocery store to exchange it for a new clean one, it's your own responsibility to make sure your bags are clean enough to carry your food safely.

Personally, I don't give a fuck who does or who doesn't fill jugs from other companies. It's their own decision. If you don't like their policy, don't buy their beer.

FYI: The A&G Authority stated about 6 months ago they were working on changing regulations to permit "Brew Pubs" here to fill them in the licensed area during business hours. We haven't heard anything since though

[nsflatlander]

Also, keep in mind brewpub does not equal brewery (with respect to nsflatlander's link, and comments re: 4 breweries filling on the spot). The regulations in your link were for brewpubs (ie, most beer produced is for on-site consumption).

Sorry, my bad, I was using the words interchangeably and I should not have been.

[canuck]

Personally, I think that not only them not filling your "other" growler ridiculous, I think that they are totally shooting themselves in the foot as well! IMHO, it should be a no brainer that you can show up with another growler and get it filled. Do they not want customers to enjoy their beer? I can go into Big Tide in Saint John with a Propeller, Garrison, Rock Bottom, etc growler and get it filled no problem at all.

[nsflatlander]

I'm not sure if this is the final law that was agreed to because it says "draft", but it gives us a glimpse: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/pdf/agd-liqu ... owlers.PDF

Right or Wrong, I won't name names so as to not implicate, but I know of 4 breweries I've been to in the Maritimes that have filled my growlers on the spot. I applaud you!

As for the filling the night before, I don't see anything in the policy about filling the night before. Unless it's hidden in the legal jargon of section V. However, I don't have a problem with it, as long as the brewery is willing to exchange any growler on the spot. I can live with making reservations if I have to, because it protects the brewery against overstocking filled growlers, but I'm sick and tired of the line "we'll only honor growlers from ours and said one other brewery" when the one I'm holding is from literllaly 50 yards away. Suck it up, quit making the consumer pay for your differences of opinion!!!

The regulations are pretty straightforward; no growlers/fills permitted within the licensed premise of a "Brew Pub" during business hours. Period. If a brewpub fills them in a non-licensed area you'd be able to buy them any time. We fill directly from the taps in the pub therefore we ask folks to place an order ahead of time, I won't permit the glass in the brewhouse so there won't be any washed, sanitized and counter-pressure-filled ahead of time. We don't fill ahead of time hoping to sell them because of shortened shelf-life associated with the nature of filling directly from the faucet. Other brewpubs that allow the glass in their brewhouse; more power to them. Some ignore the regulations and just fill them any time on the licensed premise. We sell the glass because we're not in the bottle washing business. That said, for the time being we have to take them on trade and deal with washing them until they change the regulations. Once that happens, you'll be expected to walk in the door with a clean jug to be filled from the taps. We're a tiny brewpub with no space, no staff room, no extra storage space etc. Ya just can't expect small breweries to setup properly for bottle washing, and if a brewery isn't setup for bottle washing you can't expect them to return your cash for a dirty bottle. IMO, the consumer should always be responsible for cleaning their own jug to bring to the brewery for a fill. If you want to compare it to shopping bags, try bringing your filthy bag back to the grocery store to exchange it for a new clean one, it's your own responsibility to make sure your bags are clean enough to carry your food safely.

Personally, I don't give a fuck who does or who doesn't fill jugs from other companies. It's their own decision. If you don't like their policy, don't buy their beer.

FYI: The A&G Authority stated about 6 months ago they were working on changing regulations to permit "Brew Pubs" here to fill them in the licensed area during business hours. We haven't heard anything since though

Thanks for the view point Nash. I tend to agree and understand most of what you say. Washing skunky growlers just doesn't make sense in an establishment like yours. Sounds like hoping or pressuring A&G authority to let "Brew Pubs" fill any growler where and when it suit their situation, is the best bet. Fingers crossed.

Your comment about "If I don't like their policy, don't buy their beer." wasn't really an option for me in my situation. The place I was at says on their site that they have 64 oz jugs, but doesn't post any policy. I made the mistake of assuming (yes my fault) that I would be able to fill my growler, so I didn't have beer for the day. I did write them simply to explain how their policy affected a possible customer. Same reason why I wrote this post.

Thanks.