Growlers at LCBO

[xocoatl]

Hoping that the mention of Growlers at the LCBO is actually going to mean growler fill stations setup.

I could see this being great for local craft beer if they allow the taps to switch up fairly often. Also gives more flexibility in trying to get in special US and other releases in kegs.

[beerstodiscover]

I've seen the Sultana Gold growlers at the Wilson & Dufferin LCBO for a while now. Looks like they come pre-filled and aren't moving very fast.

[El Pinguino]

Huh, never heard of Sultana Gold....

I can't think of an LCBO near me that would have the space to build in a growler filling station. They're all pretty packed for shelf-space as it is. Taking out part of a wall for potential growler fills....hmmm.

[beerstodiscover]

Huh, never heard of Sultana Gold....

I've only seen it at Wilson/Dufferin store, it's from Kenora, ON.

I http://www.momandhops.ca/growlers-now-lcbo/

[ChrisK]

I highly doubt that growler fill stations in LCBO outlets are anywhere near being a possibility even in the not-so-near future. My initial thought process makes me want to say that I wouldn't expect it to be implemented until breweries can fill growlers to go from standard draught lines, but given the degree to which the government leans toward helping themselves and the beer store before anybody else I could conceive of growler filling stations showing up in the LCBO or maybe even the beer store boutique locations before brewers are even considered for the ability to sell draught beer to go from their brewpubs without pre-packaging it in sterilized, heat sealed vessels.

If brewers want to play ball with the LCBO and deliver highly regulated, labled, bar-coded, tamper proofed, heat sealed, pre-filled growlers for retail sale to LCBO outlets then I guess they know what they're getting into, but I can't see myself considering a pre-filled growler from the LCBO over a 6-pack unless the price per volume is significantly lower and I expect to drink it all in a relatively short period of time. I doubt many brewers are able or willing to take on that risk/responsibility since at this point it essentially ends up being an oversized and potentially less practical version of the standard bottles they already sell.

[midlife crisis]

I highly doubt that growler fill stations in LCBO outlets are anywhere near being a possibility even in the not-so-near future. My initial thought process makes me want to say that I wouldn't expect it to be implemented until breweries can fill growlers to go from standard draught lines, but given the degree to which the government leans toward helping themselves and the beer store before anybody else I could conceive of growler filling stations showing up in the LCBO or maybe even the beer store boutique locations before brewers are even considered for the ability to sell draught beer to go from their brewpubs without pre-packaging it in sterilized, heat sealed vessels.

If brewers want to play ball with the LCBO and deliver highly regulated, labled, bar-coded, tamper proofed, heat sealed, pre-filled growlers for retail sale to LCBO outlets then I guess they know what they're getting into, but I can't see myself considering a pre-filled growler from the LCBO over a 6-pack unless the price per volume is significantly lower and I expect to drink it all in a relatively short period of time. I doubt many brewers are able or willing to take on that risk/responsibility since at this point it essentially ends up being an oversized and potentially less practical version of the standard bottles they already sell.

Don't get your initial point. I got a growler filled from a standard draught line this past weekend at a craft brewery.

[Kish84]

I highly doubt that growler fill stations in LCBO outlets are anywhere near being a possibility even in the not-so-near future. My initial thought process makes me want to say that I wouldn't expect it to be implemented until breweries can fill growlers to go from standard draught lines, but given the degree to which the government leans toward helping themselves and the beer store before anybody else I could conceive of growler filling stations showing up in the LCBO or maybe even the beer store boutique locations before brewers are even considered for the ability to sell draught beer to go from their brewpubs without pre-packaging it in sterilized, heat sealed vessels.

If brewers want to play ball with the LCBO and deliver highly regulated, labled, bar-coded, tamper proofed, heat sealed, pre-filled growlers for retail sale to LCBO outlets then I guess they know what they're getting into, but I can't see myself considering a pre-filled growler from the LCBO over a 6-pack unless the price per volume is significantly lower and I expect to drink it all in a relatively short period of time. I doubt many brewers are able or willing to take on that risk/responsibility since at this point it essentially ends up being an oversized and potentially less practical version of the standard bottles they already sell.

Don't get your initial point. I got a growler filled from a standard draught line this past weekend at a craft brewery.

I'd say for the last year I have only had freshly filled growlers from various craft breweries. Not to mention it doesn't have to be that specific breweries growler. However, pre-filled are available.

[ChrisK]

I highly doubt that growler fill stations in LCBO outlets are anywhere near being a possibility even in the not-so-near future. My initial thought process makes me want to say that I wouldn't expect it to be implemented until breweries can fill growlers to go from standard draught lines, but given the degree to which the government leans toward helping themselves and the beer store before anybody else I could conceive of growler filling stations showing up in the LCBO or maybe even the beer store boutique locations before brewers are even considered for the ability to sell draught beer to go from their brewpubs without pre-packaging it in sterilized, heat sealed vessels.

If brewers want to play ball with the LCBO and deliver highly regulated, labled, bar-coded, tamper proofed, heat sealed, pre-filled growlers for retail sale to LCBO outlets then I guess they know what they're getting into, but I can't see myself considering a pre-filled growler from the LCBO over a 6-pack unless the price per volume is significantly lower and I expect to drink it all in a relatively short period of time. I doubt many brewers are able or willing to take on that risk/responsibility since at this point it essentially ends up being an oversized and potentially less practical version of the standard bottles they already sell.

Don't get your initial point. I got a growler filled from a standard draught line this past weekend at a craft brewery.

Which one? I didn't think that was legal yet.

To address your confusion, my initial point was predicated on my impression that breweries could only sell pre-filled, branded growlers from their retail stores. This is what Amsterdam does and what Bellwoods did before they scrapped their growler sales due to impracticality. Hence, if breweries can't do it why would one expect LCBO growler fill stations any time soon?

As for pre-filled, heat sealed, branded, bar coded, etc, that was based on what I read in the aforementioned momandhops article about the growlers being sold at the LCBO. Specifically, this bit:

Regarding the question of freshness, Lake of the Woods owner, Taras Manzie, said they deliver the growlers directly to the LCBO locations frequently. “It’s tamper proofed with a heat seal and has all the bell whistles and trappings required by LCBO – ie language, date stamped, bar code, etc.,” added Manzie.

All of these stipulations stike me as something that would discourage many brewers from trying to sell growlers through the LCBO.

Hope that clears it up for you. I'm quite interested to hear which brewery filled a growler for you on the spot, though. Was it their own branded growler?

I'd say for the last year I have only had freshly filled growlers from various craft breweries. Not to mention it doesn't have to be that specific breweries growler. However, pre-filled are available.

Same thing: which breweries did this? I did not think this was allowed at all in Ontario.

[Napalm Frog]

I'd say for the last year I have only had freshly filled growlers from various craft breweries. Not to mention it doesn't have to be that specific breweries growler. However, pre-filled are available.

Same thing: which breweries did this? I did not think this was allowed at all in Ontario.

I've only seen this done at Indie Ale House for members of their Growler Club. Everywhere else I've been to has been pre-filled.

[Cass]

Pretty sure the Granite has been doing growler fills from the tap for years.

[midlife crisis]

Hope that clears it up for you. I'm quite interested to hear which brewery filled a growler for you on the spot, though. Was it their own branded growler?

Royal City, Block 3, Granite (if you ask nicely and you want the cask-conditioned stuff) ...

I am not trying to get anyone in trouble here but I don't think it's illegal, just based on those experiences. Out of courtesy I try to take my Block 3-branded growler to Block 3 but they will fill others, if standard size and clean.

[Chris]

Pretty sure the Granite has been doing growler fills from the tap for years.

Definitely... that's how most off sales were done when they first opened their retail sales.

[Belgian]

LNOL growler fills 'priced substantially cheaper', riiiight....

This will never happen at the LCBO, because Ontario is saving us from ourselves (and our savings.)

I do like to support brewery fills though.

[ChrisK]

Hope that clears it up for you. I'm quite interested to hear which brewery filled a growler for you on the spot, though. Was it their own branded growler?

Royal City, Block 3, Granite (if you ask nicely and you want the cask-conditioned stuff) ...

I am not trying to get anyone in trouble here but I don't think it's illegal, just based on those experiences. Out of courtesy I try to take my Block 3-branded growler to Block 3 but they will fill others, if standard size and clean.

Interesting. Every impression I got from Bellwoods' initial foray into growler sales made me think pre-filled growlers were required by law. I wonder what the actual case is now due to this inconsistency. Granted I wouldn't want to get anyone into trouble either.

[Rob Creighton]

Growler sales will evolve with common sense (hard to say in Ontario). Stainless steel growlers are becoming common. The US outdoor/creative set use them and there are now CO2 dispensing lids which will become better over time as well.

The issue though is brewers that won't fill other growlers. Once again...common sense...if you inspect it and rinse it...fill It!

Why does Ontario always have to be behind with weird irrational fears and a lack of common sense? Consumers don't want to own dozens of glass bottles (except the hoarding/collecting types). We tend to pick our favourite style and stick with it. I have seen growler sales quadruple by taking other growlers. Time to get with it.